Studying abroad is important to me because directly prepares me for the types of careers I want to pursue. After graduation I want to further broaden my horizons by working with an international organization or by volunteering and traveling the world as an individual. I may end up working in a foreign country building housing solutions with an organization like Habitat for Humanity or I could design and implement disaster relief housing with an organization like the American Red Cross. The more travel and immersion experiences I have, the easier it will be to adopt this international lifestyle. Being comfortable in foreign cultures and understanding how other nations approach housing crises from a cultural perspective will be critical to volunteering and working abroad. My study abroad goals all work towards these larger, life-long goals of international work.
One of my more specific study abroad goals is to get better at adapting to foreign environments, something I already consider myself fairly good at. Over the years I’ve developed the ability to take my sense of home with me wherever I go, bringing comfort and resilience with me to school in Indiana, home in New Jersey, or work in upstate New York. I want to learn how to adapt my sense of home to foreign environments in addition to the domestic ones I’m already comfortable in. One difficulty I expect to face is combatting the feeling of vast physical distance between myself and the people in my other homes in the United States. This may be difficult because I’ve never started a new home an ocean away, but I want to challenge myself. I think modern technology and a determination to meet new people will help me overcome this feeling.
I also want to balance my time appropriately while in New Zealand between academics and country exploration. Classes may appear to be more difficult abroad because of different teaching customs than those used in the United States. I think there will be a learning curve, meaning I’ll have to put a little more time into understanding how classes operate at the beginning of the semester before I can focus elsewhere. Once I can make time, however, I want to spend time with New Zealand’s culture in Christchurch and the country’s natural wonders at the national parks. One potential way to achieve this is to join an outing club or other outdoor adventure club at the University of Canterbury. This type of organization, designed for students with active course loads, will allow me to go off campus and experience the New Zealand countryside on a regular basis while integrating me with the local student community.
I love challenging myself and looking back at my accomplishments to realize how much I’ve grown. Successfully adapting to a different culture on the other side of the world and experiencing all the country has to offer will prepare me for my later goals of volunteering and working with international organizations.
Leaves of Living 