Study Abroad: A Gateway Drug

Last week I attended a Study Abroad Returnee conference called Lessons from Abroad.  The point of the conference was to help study abroad returnees reflect upon their time abroad and find ways to translate these life-changing experiences into academic and professional skill sets. Since reintegration is not always the goal, there were also discussions on ways to get another international fix. Study abroad vendors hugged the walls, ready with glossy brochures extolling rewarding internships and international graduate degree programs and, like drug dealers, promising an even better trip than the last one.

(C) 2011 Liane - Harvesting Slugs in Malaysia

Conferences such as these perform an important function. Returning home is often more of a shock than leaving, because while we assume that there will be a period of adjustment in the foreign culture, we often expect to slip back seamlessly into our pre-departure lives. You've changed and the people at home have changed as well. And they don't want to hear about your experienes. Really. An unintentionally amusing guide to "Marketing your International Experience to Employers," by Jean-Marc Hachey, author of The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas, warns that "very few people are interested in or able to understand your international experience." He suggests using language your future employer will be familiar with, for example, "able to deal with change" instead of "cross-cultural adaptability", or "political astuteness" rather than "diplomacy". You should also refrain from any discussion of how you may have learned from failure during your time abroad. Remember, American loves winners. Never mention your desire to travel or work abroad in the future. Focus on fitting in and say you're happy to be home. (He doesn't suggest wearing shiny red shoes and tapping your toes together to show cultural identification, but it may help.)


With suggestions such as these, is it any wonder that study abroad returnees often respond to re-entry by making plans to leave again? Based on anecdotal evidence and student feedback, I would say that 50-80% of students who studied at the University of Florida Paris Research Center either returned to the center for a subsequent program, later participate in another study abroad program, or work abroad through internships, job placements, and international aid organizations like the Peace Corps.

(C) 2010 Emily & Peace Corps: From Florida to Georgia (Republic of)

Study abroad, while not addictive, is undeniably habit-forming and may lead to further exploration and increasing dependence on the thrill of discovery of foreign lands, cultures, peoples, languages, and food. In fact, food figured prominently in almost every readjustment story at the conference, from the young woman who missed the nurturing ritual of her Bangladeshi host mother popping a lovingly prepared morsel of food into her mouth when she came home in the evening, the Senegal returnee who missed dinners sitting on the floor around the national dish that was eaten twice daily, the student who had taught in a Calcutta school whose landlord would bring up dinner to the apartment every night, to the young man who marveled at the weeknight family meals in Paris that would go on for 90 minutes even though everyone still had homework to finish.

Direct Enrollment
Many people are reluctant to study abroad again because of the expense. If you meet the language requirements, consider applying directly to a university of your choice. The cost is much less than going through a traditional study abroad program. The Université de Paris, subdivided into 13 universities, Paris I, II, etc., welcomes both undergraduate and master's level students.You can also apply for laboratory internships or you can audit classes at the University for continuing education credit (Formation Continue). See the Paris VII, Université de Paris Diderot - Paris 7, site for information in English on various programs.


Working and Volunteering Abroad
If you are a student or a recent graduate, you can get a work permit through CIEE.You are responsible for finding your own employment upon arrival.

You can get a head start on job opportunities by checking the online and paper classifieds FUSAC (France USA Contacts). English-speaking babysitters are always sought for summer holidays (and you might have the opportunity to go on vacation with the family).


The French government has a Teaching Assistant Program in France with 10-month paid placements in French schools.


For a list of volunteer international volunteer opportunities, see Volunteer Abroad or, for a long-term committment, the Peace Corps (see Emily above with her host brother, Beqa, in the Republic of Georgia)


Research Opportunities
Sometimes you just get lucky. When Liane returned from her semester in Paris, she applied for a position as an undergraduate lab assistant run by a French biology professor. She got the job, and six months later was part of a group of undergraduate and graduate students who went to Malaysia for six weeks to study snail DNA. Now she's looking forward to more international research expeditions and is considering graduate work abroad.


Like the travel junkie I am, if you hear of any good opportunities, let me know!