Experience of a Lifetime

Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,” and after my experiences abroad I would wholeheartedly agree with that statement.

In the spring of 2008 I was able to spend a semester in Beijing studying and experiencing Chinese culture. While in Beijing I experienced numerous eye opening events and came to realize that the world is a much larger place than just the United States. Moreover, I grew to appreciate the Chinese lifestyle and learned to accept that there are different ways of looking at and solving social problems. Finally, I was also able to travel the Chinese countryside and go to some famous Chinese landmarks, such as the Great Wall and the Tiananmen Square.

When it came to academics I attended a language intensive school, meaning I was there to really learn the language. I spent over twenty hours a week studying the Chinese language and, upon arrival, I signed a language pledge, stating that I would only speak Chinese. Needless to say, after sixteen weeks of this intensive training, my Chinese vastly improved. I would highly recommend this type of program to any student who wants to increase their language skills.

In addition to my studies and travel excursions I came to the realization that present-day China is a lot like the American Old West. China truly is industrializing and transforming into a modern society. I could not help but notice the amount of construction that was going on around me. Buildings were being torn town, so new modern ones could take there place. People were constantly, moving and business was booming. It was an exciting time to be in China and if you are looking for a country with great potential, I encourage you to go to China.

My study abroad experience in Beijing was an experience of a lifetime, and I would encourage everyone to spend a semester abroad. While abroad you not only experience the culture, but you also make new friends, learn that you can survive on your own, and discover the language. Moreover, another valuable aspect about studying abroad is the fact that you can tell your employer that you have spent an extended amount of time abroad and that you bring a global perspective to the office. All in all, if you have the opportunity to study abroad, take it because you will not regret it.     

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Tony Irving graduated in December 2008 with a double major in Political Science and Asia Studies and a minor in Chinese. He was the recipient of the Freeman Asia scholarship through the Institute of International Education (IIE), which provided him with $5,000 in support of his education abroad experience. IIE offers several national scholarships, such as the Benjamin Gilman Award. For more information, go to www.iie.org