Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Face of Study Abroad Spring 2009
Numbers and percentages can only say so much. The growing interest in studying overseas is a testament to a new kind of USC student -- a student who is curious and inquisitive, interested in expanding their worldview and embracing new cultures, and seeking an adventure. Of the 293 students studying abroad for the Spring 2009 semester, these six students represent an array of regions and locations. Despite their differing motivations for spending a semester overseas, each of these students -- among the many other students studying abroad this spring -- is looking forward to a unique and eye-opening experience.
View the video below for a glimpse into the minds of these six students as they prepare for their semester overseas, or read their individual profiles below to find out more about them and the programs they will be attending.
Nicole Bozorgmir
London, England
Nicole Bozorgmir, a junior who will be attending University College London next semester, has known she wanted to go abroad even before enrolling at USC.
“It was really important to me when I was figuring out where I wanted to go to school that they have a good study abroad program with lots of options,” she said.
She was interested in spending the semester in London because she has family that lives there, though she said that she was open to studying “anywhere in Europe.” She will be primarily taking psychology classes abroad that will count to her major, and she also hopes to take other classes that reflect the English culture.
“I want to take this modern history class because I think it will be interesting to see their view of recent history,” she said. “I have a feeling it’s going to be somewhat more liberal and the nature of the discussions there from what I understand are much more involved in politics and international politics so the classes may be more in depth or more involved than my classes here.”
As a psychology and theater double major, Bozorgmir is excited to attend the theater while in London, and is also looking forward to traveling and visiting her friends throughout Europe.
Shawny Yoon
Athens, Greece
Shawny Yoon, a junior philosophy major, is looking forward to studying in the birthplace of many of the most famous and prolific philosophers – Athens, Greece.
Though he will only be taking one philosophy class while overseas, he is enrolled in related classes such as Classics and Ancient Greek history that will count as major credit as well. He will also be taking a Modern Greek language course.
“A lot of people there speak enough English that if you don’t speak Greek you could get around, but the locals appreciate if you try to speak Greek since it’s their main language,” Yoon said.
Though Yoon anticipates that he will experience cultural differences that may be difficult to overcome at first, he is looking forward to living and traveling in Europe because he’s never been to the region before.
“I’m just excited to be there. I mean I really enjoy my time here but I’ve been here two and a half years now so it will be nice to have a change of setting with new people in a new environment,” he said.
Ashley Ratliff
Cairo, Egypt
Ashley Ratliff is one of the 10 students that will be studying abroad at the American University of Cairo this spring, among many of her peers in her Arabic language courses.
“I wanted to but also needed to continue my study of Arabic for my International Relations major and it’s the only program that USC currently offers where the Arabic language is offered,” she said. [Note: Partly in response to increasing numbers of USC students enrolling in Arabic language courses, the USC Office of Overseas Studies has initiated a new study abroad program in Jordan to begin in Fall 2009.]
As a native Southern Californian attending school at USC, it was really important to Ratliff to have a cultural experience abroad. She is excited to improve her Arabic language skills and see the pyramids, though she is nervous about being a female in Cairo and anticipates that her transition will be more difficult than the male students on the program.
“If you go in there with the expectations that it’s going to be difficult it’s easier to adapt in the first place,” she said.
Despite common misconceptions, it is not necessary for Ratliff to don the traditional Islamic burka while in Cairo, though she said that females do not wear shorts there and usually cover their shoulders.
“If you visit significant mosques where it requires more appropriate or respectful attire it’s easy to cover up. But I’m going to an international school so I don’t think it’s going to be as much of a problem,” Ratliff said.
Lisa Mays
Berlin, Germany
German and Psychology major Lisa Mays will be studying abroad in Berlin next semester, where all of her courses will be taught exclusively in German.
“I’m kind of worried about the classes I’m taking at the local university but I’m also taking some classes at a study abroad center with other German-as-a-second-language students,” Mays said.
Though she said that many people speak English in Germany, she plans to speak only German while she’s there in order to improve her language skills. She has taken five semesters of German at USC and will be attending the program with another student in her language class.
“It’s a big year that anyone is going to Germany at all,” she said. “I feel like it’s going to be even less people in the future because they closed the German department.”
The major was closed earlier this year primarily because of a lack of student interest in the program; Mays is one of six German majors left at the University.
She is looking forward to exploring “the city, the culture, the art, the people, the music, and the nightlife because it never closes.”
Skylar Shephard
Madrid, Spain
Spanish minor Skylar Shephard is looking forward to studying abroad in Madrid next semester in order to improve her language skills.
“I love the Spanish language so I figured the best way to become fluent is to go to a Spanish-speaking country,” she said.
A unique component of Shephard’s overseas experience is her housing – she will be residing in a homestay with a Spanish family, which she is both nervous and excited about at the same time.
“It’s a little scary because after living on your own in college for a while it’s a bit weird to move in with a family, especially one you don’t know,” Shephard said. “But the culture in Spain is very loose and they are very comfortable with one another so I don’t feel like it’s going to be a tense situation and I think we’ll get along well.”
A travel enthusiast, Shephard is looking forward to going places she’s never been before including Italy, France, and Morocco.
Justin Offermann
London, England
Justin Offermann, a junior who will be attending Queen Mary University in London next semester, is interested in pursuing a music industry internship while abroad.
As a music industry major, Offermann is hoping to explore London’s “dense” music scene both through an internship and through DJing at various venues.
“I don’t care to see Big Ben or other tourist locations, I kind of want to go and find some cool coffee shops and meet the locals and interact with them, just get a feel of what their community is all about,” he said. “And as a DJ, I’m excited about their dance music scene…a few of my favorite electronic artists are based out of the UK and I want to see them while I’m out there.”
Offermann had initially been told that the music industry school did not allow their students to study abroad because of the small size and specificity of the program.
“I didn’t know I could go abroad and when I found I could go I was really stoked primarily because USC and LA are pretty cool places but I need to get out of this city,” he said.
Though Queen Mary University does not offer music industry classes, Offermann will be taking other courses that apply to his major including economics, a cinema class, and other classes he finds interesting.
View the video below for a glimpse into the minds of these six students as they prepare for their semester overseas, or read their individual profiles below to find out more about them and the programs they will be attending.
Nicole BozorgmirLondon, England
Nicole Bozorgmir, a junior who will be attending University College London next semester, has known she wanted to go abroad even before enrolling at USC.
“It was really important to me when I was figuring out where I wanted to go to school that they have a good study abroad program with lots of options,” she said.
She was interested in spending the semester in London because she has family that lives there, though she said that she was open to studying “anywhere in Europe.” She will be primarily taking psychology classes abroad that will count to her major, and she also hopes to take other classes that reflect the English culture.
“I want to take this modern history class because I think it will be interesting to see their view of recent history,” she said. “I have a feeling it’s going to be somewhat more liberal and the nature of the discussions there from what I understand are much more involved in politics and international politics so the classes may be more in depth or more involved than my classes here.”
As a psychology and theater double major, Bozorgmir is excited to attend the theater while in London, and is also looking forward to traveling and visiting her friends throughout Europe.
Shawny YoonAthens, Greece
Shawny Yoon, a junior philosophy major, is looking forward to studying in the birthplace of many of the most famous and prolific philosophers – Athens, Greece.
Though he will only be taking one philosophy class while overseas, he is enrolled in related classes such as Classics and Ancient Greek history that will count as major credit as well. He will also be taking a Modern Greek language course.
“A lot of people there speak enough English that if you don’t speak Greek you could get around, but the locals appreciate if you try to speak Greek since it’s their main language,” Yoon said.
Though Yoon anticipates that he will experience cultural differences that may be difficult to overcome at first, he is looking forward to living and traveling in Europe because he’s never been to the region before.
“I’m just excited to be there. I mean I really enjoy my time here but I’ve been here two and a half years now so it will be nice to have a change of setting with new people in a new environment,” he said.
Ashley RatliffCairo, Egypt
Ashley Ratliff is one of the 10 students that will be studying abroad at the American University of Cairo this spring, among many of her peers in her Arabic language courses.
“I wanted to but also needed to continue my study of Arabic for my International Relations major and it’s the only program that USC currently offers where the Arabic language is offered,” she said. [Note: Partly in response to increasing numbers of USC students enrolling in Arabic language courses, the USC Office of Overseas Studies has initiated a new study abroad program in Jordan to begin in Fall 2009.]
As a native Southern Californian attending school at USC, it was really important to Ratliff to have a cultural experience abroad. She is excited to improve her Arabic language skills and see the pyramids, though she is nervous about being a female in Cairo and anticipates that her transition will be more difficult than the male students on the program.
“If you go in there with the expectations that it’s going to be difficult it’s easier to adapt in the first place,” she said.
Despite common misconceptions, it is not necessary for Ratliff to don the traditional Islamic burka while in Cairo, though she said that females do not wear shorts there and usually cover their shoulders.
“If you visit significant mosques where it requires more appropriate or respectful attire it’s easy to cover up. But I’m going to an international school so I don’t think it’s going to be as much of a problem,” Ratliff said.
Lisa MaysBerlin, Germany
German and Psychology major Lisa Mays will be studying abroad in Berlin next semester, where all of her courses will be taught exclusively in German.
“I’m kind of worried about the classes I’m taking at the local university but I’m also taking some classes at a study abroad center with other German-as-a-second-language students,” Mays said.
Though she said that many people speak English in Germany, she plans to speak only German while she’s there in order to improve her language skills. She has taken five semesters of German at USC and will be attending the program with another student in her language class.
“It’s a big year that anyone is going to Germany at all,” she said. “I feel like it’s going to be even less people in the future because they closed the German department.”
The major was closed earlier this year primarily because of a lack of student interest in the program; Mays is one of six German majors left at the University.
She is looking forward to exploring “the city, the culture, the art, the people, the music, and the nightlife because it never closes.”
Skylar ShephardMadrid, Spain
Spanish minor Skylar Shephard is looking forward to studying abroad in Madrid next semester in order to improve her language skills.
“I love the Spanish language so I figured the best way to become fluent is to go to a Spanish-speaking country,” she said.
A unique component of Shephard’s overseas experience is her housing – she will be residing in a homestay with a Spanish family, which she is both nervous and excited about at the same time.
“It’s a little scary because after living on your own in college for a while it’s a bit weird to move in with a family, especially one you don’t know,” Shephard said. “But the culture in Spain is very loose and they are very comfortable with one another so I don’t feel like it’s going to be a tense situation and I think we’ll get along well.”
A travel enthusiast, Shephard is looking forward to going places she’s never been before including Italy, France, and Morocco.
Justin OffermannLondon, England
Justin Offermann, a junior who will be attending Queen Mary University in London next semester, is interested in pursuing a music industry internship while abroad.
As a music industry major, Offermann is hoping to explore London’s “dense” music scene both through an internship and through DJing at various venues.
“I don’t care to see Big Ben or other tourist locations, I kind of want to go and find some cool coffee shops and meet the locals and interact with them, just get a feel of what their community is all about,” he said. “And as a DJ, I’m excited about their dance music scene…a few of my favorite electronic artists are based out of the UK and I want to see them while I’m out there.”
Offermann had initially been told that the music industry school did not allow their students to study abroad because of the small size and specificity of the program.
“I didn’t know I could go abroad and when I found I could go I was really stoked primarily because USC and LA are pretty cool places but I need to get out of this city,” he said.
Though Queen Mary University does not offer music industry classes, Offermann will be taking other courses that apply to his major including economics, a cinema class, and other classes he finds interesting.