Tales From aBroad
Learning the Language – Montevideo Fall 2018
Hello everybody!
My name is Shelby Lankford and I traveled to Montevideo, Uruguay in the fall of 2018 with ACU Study Abroad in Latin America! This experience was one of the best decisions I have ever made. During this trip, we got to travel all around South America, including Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru! All while learning Spanish which is one of the top 5 most spoken languages in the world. The experience of learning a language in the context of its culture was amazing and eye-opening. My top two favorite things that we did were traveling, and learning about the culture.
Honors Abroad – Montevideo Fall 18
Since I have gotten back from Uruguay, I have seen several people who have asked me, “How was your trip?!” Unfortunately, I had just a few minutes to give them an answer. How on Earth do I summarize four months in just a couple of minutes? How do I summarize four months in just 500 words? I could go on and on and on about my semester abroad, but I will limit myself to what I found to be the highlights and the most important lessons I learned.
Appreciate the little things – Oxford Fall 18
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the monotony of everyday life; it seems each day melts into another, leaving you in a haze of drudgery. It can feel like the focus of life is mindless production without regard to conscious experience. Every day is filled with longing for the future, for the day that “insert big life event” will occur. The present is suddenly not a gift but is rather plagued with longing. Routine and wanting can rob you of your perception of the world around you, and the best way to challenge these viral illnesses is to break free from them in a completely drastic way. Studying abroad gave me this opportunity.
How Lucky are We- Leipzig Fall 18
This past fall was the first semester of my senior year at ACU. I always imagined this school year being full of moments I would cherish forever and to say I had no idea what I was in for is an understatement. For 15 weeks, I spent my semester 5,334 miles from campus living in Leipzig, Germany alongside 10 people whom I’d get to know quite well, for ACU’s first fall semester in the villa. During my time abroad I had the opportunity to explore 7 countries, all of which contributed to the new lens I now see the world through and provided me with a better appreciation for both foreign culture and my own. Kinda crazy for a girl who never even thought the idea of studying abroad was in the realm of possibility for her college experience.
Spanish Abroad – Fall 18
Study Abroad was a transformative experience. I had the opportunity to travel to four different countries, walk on a glacier, hike in the Andes, climb Manchu Picchu, and grow closer to 12 strangers. While surrounded by the Spanish language in everyday life, I also took literature, linguistics, culture, and conversation classes all in Spanish. I found, very quickly, that learning a new language is not like learning other subjects in school. I was able to grasp the information much faster than communicate what I was able to understand. Some days, I was completely lost. Being in a state of total confusion during school was not a feeling I was used to experiencing.
Magic of Montevideo – Fall 18
In the fall of 2018, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Montevideo, Uruguay. During my time there, I took classes exclusive to the Spanish language including the subjects of literature, culture, and linguistics. All the while I got to live among 12 students who quickly became some of my closest friends. The thought of living with 12 people made me a little nervous but it was truly amazing how our group came together so tightly so fast. I enjoyed the freedom we had while living not only in a new city but a new country on a new continent! Living so close to the coast made a good escape from class to study or just to hang out and practice Spanish.
Discovering Strength – Leipzig Summer 2018
When I started planning out my college years, I really had no intentions or plans to take time to study abroad. I didn’t want to go away for an entire semester, and it didn’t seem like it would make a lot of sense with my major, but last spring I was meeting with my advisor when she told me about the summer opportunities to study abroad. A deep interest and desire stirred within me to see the world before I graduated and entered the workplace. Turns out, the psychology department was taking a summer trip to Leipzig, Germany and I would be able to put class credits towards my minor by going. It all started to fall into place for me, and I decided, a little bit on a whim, that I was going to do it.
Summer 2018 in Leipzig with COBA
Words cannot merely measure up the experience I had studying abroad in Leipzig, Germany. Summed up in a couple of words, studying abroad to me was: a life-changing adventure. The relationships, cultural awareness, application to business, breathtaking beauty, and sobering moments will forever be cherished and held close to my heart. Studying abroad helped me see the beauty in a different culture and how enriching it is to immerse yourself in that. I am so grateful to the honors college for helping me go on this transformative journey.
Honors Abroad – Leipzig Summer 2018
“Hallo!” My name is Mariah Broadbent, and this past summer, I studied abroad in Leipzig, Germany with ACU’s Psychology Department. I lived in Leipzig for about five weeks and also traveled to the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Italy during that time. To try to write about everything I experienced while I was abroad would be nearly impossible–and would make this blog post a “blog novel.” Instead, I want to share about two moments that changed me as a student, person, and Christian.
Setting Expectations – Summer 2018
Anthony Bourdain once said, “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
I am so glad I studied abroad in China because it changed my view of Asian cultures and has even made me consider going back. I definitely recommend stretching yourself and going to a place you never imagined yourself being in because you’ll learn a lot about yourself and about the world.
A huge “THANK YOU!” to the Honor’s College for giving me a Travel Grant and lessening the financial burden of Study Abroad! This semester would not have been possible without you!
You cannot remain unchanged after a journey such as this. God is constantly shaping and refining us to be more Christ-like ambassadors for His kingdom. I am not the same person who left Dallas, and with God’s grace, I have a new appreciation and understanding for engaging His global mission.