Thomas Bayne (The Netherlands, 2017-18)

My biggest goal this year was to learn another language; I must unfortunately report I did not achieve fluency in any language. Dutch Culture is quite insular and University College Maastricht college culture is deeply international. Most European students attend there to improve their English, not to speak their home language. As such most of my friends and peers were only speaking English and the Dutch population is quite low at the college itself. In addition, Dutch citizens speak extremely fluent English and actively switch to English if they detect any hint of a foreign accent, making immersion difficult. Fortunately I did manage to pick up quite a lot of casual words and phrases in French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and German. As I spent most of time traveling through these countries I can safely say I’m conversationally adequate in these languages. It’s not exactly what I wanted, but I was happy to make the adjustment and I certainly had quite a few funny moments in train stations switching between 5 languages. This was probably the most surprising element of my year abroad; I didn’t expect English to be as extremely widespread as it now is.

In terms of an academic experience, my expanded knowledge of European political systems was quite certainly met. Many of my classes were devoted to the critical analysis of these systems and I feel immensely grateful and helped by this knowledge. In fact, the more socialist leanings of Western Europe and the help which this provides to the people (single-payer healthcare, high minimum wage, active social safety net) has led me to take a more active political stance back in America. I am currently volunteering with the Democratic Socialists of America and am working to provide expanded government services for the poor and unserved. This has actively changed the direction of my career; while I’m not fully committing to politics as of yet I am taking far more stock what companies I work for and how they conduct business.

In terms of travel through Europe I more than met my quota. I somehow managed to fit nearly 3 whole months of traveling in my short stay and have fallen in love with many of the countries and cities. In order to avoid boredom I’ll avoid listing all of them, but I’m happy to talk about my favorites. A little bit by accident I ended up traveling through Romania for 2 weeks and absolutely fell in love with the country. Transylvania is stunning, incredible hikes and stunning vistas. The cities are lively, affordable and packed to the brim with delicious food. Prague is my all-time favorite city and I cannot wait to go back. The mix of architectural styles from the past 400 years is beyond inspiring and worth a dozen more visits. 

The challenges I faced during my time abroad were mostly related to finances and loneliness. While I had enough money due to the immeasurable kindness of the Borton scholarship, I had no desire to waste any money. As such I worked quite hard to cook all my own meals, hunt for cheap modes of transportation, and in general be thrifty with all of my decisions. This allowed me to travel more than I would have otherwise. In regards to loneliness I had to learn how to  be more extroverted than I was used to and made an extra effort to meet new people and attend events solo. Both of these skills will be extremely useful in my return, especially considering I’ll soon be moving to a new city and living on my own.

In speaking to prospective Borton scholars the value of such an experience is perhaps most encapsulated within the value of distance. One’s perspective can widen and develop with the benefit of space and a critical view. For me this development has taken place in terms of “American” values and how I view them. The style of life in The Netherlands and Europe in general places less of a focus of the amount of money made and material possessions accumulated and instead on the ways you spend your time. There is much more of a focus on time spent with family and friends and the act of giving without the expectation of receiving anything in return. This attitude, especially as it applies to labor laws, has actively changed my perception of the way America should more forward. I believe America can protect and empower its workers to live a better life, not just to be the most profitable.

Giovanni Castillo (Spain 2017-18)

The value in studying abroad is not limited to lessons learned in the classroom; it includes lessons learned through experience. The process of throwing yourself into a new country, with new people and new customs, then proceeding to “figure it all out” is one of the most valuable and enjoyable things I’ve learned this year. “Figuring it out” is very general, and will vary in every study abroad experience. Whether it was navigating a vast network of public transportation in a new city or diving into the intricacies of a language I’ve spoken for many years, or one I knew only a few sentences of- I became addicted to figuring it out in every country I visited. The resourcefulness, adaptability and independence I developed allowed me to take full advantage of my year abroad. I thrived for the adventure of being in lands foreign to me, observing people foreign to me and learning about customs and social norms that are foreign to me. As a candidate for a bachelor’s degree in social psychology, every day was a new opportunity to learn about people and how their social context influences or dictates what they do.

I was afforded the opportunity to plunge into the heart of Catalan culture and society: Barcelona. It was a turbulent year in Catalonia, as this region is heavily divided on the desire to become independent from Spain. I often had classes canceled because of the massive demonstrations that would take place throughout the city, occasionally right in front of my university. I was frequently left in awe as I’d listen to a deafening cacerolada protest in which hundreds of people throughout the entire city would step onto their balconies and bang pots together to signal their displeasure. Although I felt it was not my place as a study abroad student to take a stance on such a divisive issue, I felt it was my responsibility to keep up with the happenings and try my best to understand both sides of the issue. This entailed watching the news, online research and talking to pro-union, pro-independence and pro-democracy individuals in order to get a better understanding for such a polarizing movement. This practice, I feel, is invaluable for Americans. Living in such a large country can unfortunately facilitate the dismissal of world affairs. I feel that in a day and age in which the world has been made smaller by transportation and information is more accessible than ever- we have a responsibility as de-facto representatives of United States to break the stereotype of the ignorant American, especially in a time when the face of our nation has done nothing to dispel this American caricature.

When I consider how I’ve grown in the past year, the word that comes to mind is “expanded”. I feel as if I have a better consciousness for just how many people are out there- all simultaneously the protagonists of their own life story. I’ve explored a lot in the past year, I’ve traveled to 8 countries and met people from around the world- but this exploration has only lead me to realize just how much I have yet to discover- and rather than being intimidated by the vastness of our planet and the infinite number of experiences to be had, I’m excited. I’m excited for the endless opportunities for discovering people’s stories. I’m excited for the breathtaking scenery to be seen and the multi-accented laughter to be had. After taking this year-long leap, I now understand that pursuing a graduate degree/career and travelling the world don’t have to be mutually exclusive. I’ve seen how tangible it is to continue my education or search for a career overseas, both things I had relegated to distant possibilities to “someday” pursue. “Someday” has arrived and I’ve never felt more inspired to pursue yesterday’s daydreams.

Emily Yeh (Japan, 2017-18)

My interest in environmental policy and sustainable development was developed during my time at the University of California. However, since the U.S. often falls short on adopting appropriate environmental policies, Japan has always been my regional interest. It is also an exceptional timing to study in Japan, as Tokyo is promoting a lot of new ideas relating to sustainable development for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Through living in Japan and learning the Japanese language, I have become more determined in pursuing a career in sustainable development and environmental policy.

At Keio University, I was fortunate to enroll in the Japanese Language Program (JLP) that offered comprehensive and subject-specific Japanese language courses. My Japanese language skills improved immensely, and I am now capable of having long conversations in Japanese. Being able to do so also led me to new perspectives on Japan’s environmental policy, culture, and society since I can now speak with Japanese people directly and do not have to rely on secondary sources in English. This gave me a chance to restore my curiosity for various things in life. Since I now get to see a world that I was not able to see due to the language barrier, I now have access to so much more new information.

While I no longer plan on pursuing a PhD in political science, my research and career interest in environmental policy and sustainable development remain the same. I believe that I can contribute more as a non-academic given my communication skills and the ability to work with people from different fields. I became even more certain of this as I pick up the Japanese language. My international background has exposed me to different cultures, and I have come to notice that experiences like this require years of cultivation. People who speak British English and American English sometimes do not understand each other. There are cultural and regional barriers beyond the language barrier. While people can still communicate as long as they speak the same language, the ability to carry the conversation smoothly should not be undermined, especially when it comes the ease of collaboration. I truly believe that people with an international background and are multilingual will be the key to solving many global issues in the years to come.

One of my goals of this study abroad program was to integrate into the Japanese society. My past study abroad programs have always felt more temporary. Being one semester each, there were many things that I could wait until I get back to the U.S. However, this time, I lived more like a local. Language barrier remained as the biggest challenge; but being able to overcome that barrier was also the most rewarding. Looking back, it is interesting to notice that I have come a long way—from barely being able to speak on the phone to being able to confidently explain my situation in various cases. The process and progress are truly rewarding. As a foreigner, I have come to realize that never understanding 100% of what is being said is inevitable. In addition, finding alternative ways to express myself with the Japanese I know is the ultimate key to becoming integrated in Japan. I am grateful to say that I achieved my goals of this study abroad program.

Moving forward, although I have finished my UCSD degree this spring, the host institution, Keio University has offered me to keep studying in its Japanese Language Program this fall. I will also be seeking job opportunities in Tokyo.