Eugenia Arvanitis
Ana Garner
Anastasia-Olga (Olnancy) Tzirides
Jessica Andrews
Elizabeth Musgrove
Griselda Escobedo
Angelica Rackow
Ashley Kaufman EDUC 499: Greece - Summer 2019’s Updates
Introduction Reading Response #1
We can find a balance between personal benefit and benefit of the destination because in the article by Dolby, some students mention that individuals from America knew less about what is going on America then some of the individuals from abroad. We can learn about a lot of different topics from each other. In the article Becoming World Wise, Slimback emphasizes the idea that studying abroad will allow our world to come together as one. Even though this goes against the idea of what Dolby is trying to point out we can learn from each other.
I would argue that studying abroad is a mixture of both Dolby and Slimbach’s ideas. I believe that studying abroad will be an amazing experience for me where I will be able to shape my beliefs about the world around me. I also believe that I will be able to identify and connect with the people I meet in Greece. I will learn about becoming more culturally aware while helping others become culturally aware.
Hi Brady!
I completely agree with your response and think you did a great job hitting the parts of the question posed. I agree that I will be able to shape the worlds around me and also be able to help others become more culturally aware.
I agree that it is important to acknowledge the effect a study abroad experience on both the traveler and the host country. I can agree that study abroad experiences have helped me better understand myself and the world around me. I have greatly benefited from my experiences. I have always aimed to be a respectful and mindful traveler, but reading Becoming Worldly Wise really helped me analyze my experiences to reflect on my impact both positive and negative, even though unwittingly. When traveling to Indonesia for the last study abroad course I took in the UIUC GSE program, we wrote pieces about our impacts on the communities we visited. This process was very powerful for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Brady, and I'm sure you will have a great experience in Greece!
I believe that studying abroad provides many advantages students can gain, such as broadening world views and ways of thinking by experiencing different cultures firsthand. Students are able to benefit from future career opportunities by providing more life experiences and personal connections. By going abroad students are also provided with opportunities for leadership development through interactions with different cultures, as well as opportunities for personal growth and development by gaining self confidence and life experience. I do think it is very important that We can find a balance between personal benefit and benefit of the destination