Study Abroad Diaries
Studying abroad is one of those things that everyone hears about when discussing college, but unfortunately, most never give it a second thought, but I am happy to tell you that I am an exception. I traveled to Cuba for two weeks with a group of 12 BSU students this past summer, and my time there absolutely changed my life in so many ways. It was my first time out of the country, and being able to see another part of the world was such an amazing experience. My views on so many things changed and it really fueled my desire to pursue a career in international relations. I got to learn the deep and rich history of Cuba in addition to working with and getting to know the amazing Cuban people. I learned about the longstanding and rocky relationship between the United States and Cuba, and just being able to see how the US is viewed from a foreign perspective is beyond interesting. In relation to this, I learned about the Cold War in school, but being able to actually see the opposite side of the Cuban Missile Crisis is something that changed my perspective and really made me question how history is told, including how bias plays into it based on who is telling it. This entire trip gave me a big perspective change, and I was left with a deep and growing appreciation for travel, food, friends, and humanity as a whole.
My experience studying abroad through BSU was one of the most valuable of my life, and it left me wanting more. The strong and irresistible desire to travel to new places and try new things is a common phenomenon called the “travel bug,” and I can say that I definitely caught it. Ask anyone who knows me—it’s all I can think about. I have come to think that life is too short, and the world is too big to stay in your comfort zone, so if you want my advice, I’d say pack a bag and get out there!
