China, Kenya and the Dominican Republic are just a few places that students are choosing to go and study abroad. The Study Abroad Program has something to offer for every level of interest and the opportunity can put students ahead of their competitors for certain jobs.
FAMU’s Office of International Education and Development encourages students to pursue an international journey during their matriculation.
According to the OIED, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the U.S., and as a result, FAMU has set up a study abroad program in the Dominican Republic. The OIED also has programs that cater to other cultures and students are allowed to choose their destination of interest.
Studying abroad is known to be a cultural enhancement, but according to studyabroad.com, it also makes students more attractive to employers than those who have not.
Scarlett Williams, 22, a fourth-year business administration student from Jacksonville, said she chose to study abroad in Shanghai, China for three and a half months.
“It was such a great experience,” Williams said. “I learned the Chinese language, Asian culture and I got the chance to teach English over there to people in high places.”
Williams also revealed that the Chinese people have a fascination over President Obama.
“They kept asking me ‘Are you Barack’s sister?’ or ‘Are you Barack’s cousin?’ and I would just smile and say no,” she said.
According to Williams, the Chinese people also affected on her outlook on life.
“No matter what their job is, everyone in China works very hard and has a sense of honor and pride in what they do,” she said.
Williams mentioned that she encountered many millionaires along her journey in China, but they were all very humble.
“I was taught a quote by the Asian culture, and that is never wallow in life’s luxuries, but work hard and have honor in everything that you do,” she said.
According to The Institution of International Education, college students who choose to study abroad are on the rise. Since 2005, the statistics show that the percentage of U.S. students who study abroad have increased by 9.6 percent, with China being the leading destination of interest.
FAMU alumni Phylicia Hill, who is now a fifth-grade teacher in Clarksdale, Miss., studied abroad in Nairobi, Kenya for three and a half months while in college.
“It was interesting to meet a lot of survivors of terrible events that we had only read about and heard about over here in America and it was great to listen to their stories,” Hill said. “I learned to be grateful.”
During her experience in Africa, she said she learned the Swahili language and discovered a lot about herself.
“I think that everyone should have the experience of studying abroad,” Hill said.
If you are a FAMU student and interested in the Study Abroad Program, contact FAMU’s Office of International Education and Development at (850) 599-3295, or visit online on FAMU’s Web site.
