TRAVELLING ABROAD AS A STUDENT

Sonia Gamboa

Publicado en Capital Letter No. 4

Noviembre de 2003

Some students from our major have had the opportunity to travel abroad. Capital Letter interviewed few of them about their experiences. They did not want their names to be published in the article, so, we just numbered them.

Number one is a student from the English program; he travelled to Chicago from March to June, 2001. He told us that his experience was a little difficult because he had to work the whole period and he could not travel so much. Many Hispanic people live in Chicago, so he had little opportunity to practice his English. But his experience was very rich because he changed his vision about Americans.

Number two is a student from the English program too. She traveled on June 23, 2002 to Los Angeles (California), and she stayed there for five months. She walked the whole city trying to get work and finally she found one in Disney World. She also took a conversational course in Montebello High School. From that experience she thinks that the American people are very helpful, specially in the airports.

Our third student traveled in October, 2001 to Germany and lived there for one year. In her words 'it is interesting to learn about other cultures, because you may grow as a person and all of this helps to you to appraise your own culture.' At the beginning nothing was easy for her, but when the time passed she got used to the language, public transport, money, and the people. She told us that she felt good most of the times but sometimes homesick; however, she really enjoyed the trip.

The fourth student traveled to Germany as well; she stayed in Colonia for six months and arrived to Colombia in April, 2003. She considers her experience as a personal challenge in which she could know many things about herself while learning another language. For her, it was easy to get familiar with the functioning of the city, the transport, and the shopping areas.

For them traveling was difficult, however they could do it. They recommend people who want to travel to do some research regarding traveling plans and social security. Before leaving the home country it is necessary to get accommodation in the destination city. They think that everyone may travel if he/she wants; the only necessary condition is to make the efforts. Go ahead!