Collegiate Times

Studying abroad may be a challenge financially and logistically, but some students are up for the challenge and eager to immerse themselves in cultures that are very different from our own.

The following students were persistent in pursuing their dream to study abroad and received a $1,000 Scholarship from the ACC Academic Collaborative to help aid their education abroad.

Audrey Froelich, sophomore international studies major, is currently attending American University in Dubai. She left for her semester Jan. 12.

Froelich had her mind set on learning Arabic and learning more about the middle-eastern culture.

She spent a little less than a year planning her trip.

“There are scholarships, grants and even ways to do research through other companies and get paid for it,” Froelich said.

Froelich was disappointed that she wouldn’t learn much Arabic while in Dubai since the predominant language is English.

“If you really want to learn Arabic, don’t come to Dubai … if you want a really cultural experience, I would recommend Dubai … It is a purely international experience here,” she said.

Froelich also mentioned that Dubai is not a typical middle-eastern town.

“I was assuming a totally Arabic culture, but the university I am going to is very international … probably 10-20 percent of them are local … If you’re looking for a true middle-eastern experience I wouldn’t recommend Dubai, but I wouldn’t trade coming here for anything.”

Dubai is a city of “superlatives,” Froelich said.

From the tallest tower in the world to the best hotel and an indoor ski resort, the excessiveness can become overwhelming.

“Dubai has a lot to offer, but what everyone will realize that it does take a toll on your budget,” she said.

Shannon Harris, a junior majoring in animal and poultry sciences has found herself attending Curtin University in Australia.

Due to the international communication required to compile data for this article, AOL Instant Messenger was used.

While in Australia, Harris was quick to notice the difference between the United States and down under.

“Most every shop closes at 5 p.m. and nothing is open on Sundays ... Shopping for the first time was hard because I didn’t recognize any brands. They have ‘late night’ shopping on Thursday which goes to very late — 9 p.m.”

Harris also mentioned some of the environmental differences.

“Australia is really into global warming and environmentalist (issues) so we hear about it a lot. (This is) because of the massive ozone hole they have … the sun here is pretty strong and apparently … they have a high rate of skin cancer because of it,” she said.

The teaching style is also more relaxed and the education is not as rigorous. Harris noted that they called all their teachers by their first name and that she’ll attend class “maybe once or twice a week instead of three to four (times a week).”

Some major differences between Curtis and Tech were the meal plans and sports. There are no meal plans, but instead, students can pay for the food that they have on campus. There are also no varsity sports teams, just intramural ones.

Timothy Johnson, a junior majoring in agriculture and applied economics is having a very different experience from Harris. He is attending the University of the Free State in South Africa.

Johnson noted that the largest cultural change between South Africa and the states was the level of racism.

“People think we have racial tension in the states … they should really come to South Africa,” he said.
The Afrikaners influenced racial tension in the 1990s, but are no longer in power. However, Johnson said the stigma still exists.

“Afrikaners are not in power anymore, but their influence is still seen on campus,” he said.

Johnson said the new government in South Africa is promoting programs such as Black Economic Empowerment, which gives jobs to black people in order to promote more economic equality between the races.

However, Johnson’s school is still slow to integrate.

“Hostiles (dormitories) and classes are segregated … for the most part,” he said.
Johnson said he knows his experience in South Africa is one of a kind and has been a huge eye-opener.

“I kind of feel like I’m changing, it’s an experience that … has broadened my horizons as far as talking to different people … it’s a great experience to see things outside of the U.S.,” he said.

For Froelich, Harris and Johnson, their experiences abroad have all proven to be one of a kind and advantageous to their education.
For students interested in studying abroad, they can visit the office in Litton Reaves 1820.