Getting Ready to Go

Study Abroad Next Semester, But Plan Now
Oh yes, come with me to Italy this Spring!
By Rene Moraida, Contributor/ Travel Correspondent
San Diego City College/Southwestern College Student
I’ve moved out of my apartment, my car is in storage, my suitcases are packed, and in a few short weeks I will be on a plane and off to Italy. I’m a San Diego City College student and one of roughly 40 students participating in the Florence Spring 2010 program, hosted by Southwestern College and facilitated by the American Institute of Foreign Study. The program consists of students from several regional community colleges, all of whom are part of the San Diego and Imperial County Community Colleges Association or SDICCCA. The group leaves the United States in early February and spends the rest of the semester studying in Florence, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, or so I’ve been told. If you’ve seen any pictures of Florence you know there is truth in those claims.
A little bit about me, I am simply a military veteran who was bitten by the travel bug when I got assigned to Japan for two years and later sailed across the Pacific Ocean and to Central Asia. I completed a five-year enlistment as a Navy journalist and have been a City College student throughout the 2009 academic year. Now I am seizing this opportunity to go abroad and study. Imagine, having art history class in front of Michelangelo’s David sculpture, reading Machiavelli’s The Prince in the city in which it takes place, or taking a weekend trip to Rome. Imagine practicing Italian over real Italian espresso, strolling through a piazza, or learning the art of Tuscan cooking. Don’t forget the abundant opportunities for travel in Italy and throughout Europe. Spring break in France anyone?
While this sounds like an exotic adventure into romantic Europe, and believe me, parts of it will be, program coordinators emphasize that this is an academic program and the academics are no joke. All students are required to enroll in a full load of 12 units, some classes have an honors option, and all but one class is UC/CSU transferable. This was a huge selling point for me, being able to go abroad and take courses I actually need, and that won’t delay those planning on transferring to a university in the future.
That said, deciding to pack up and go abroad will take some planning. A disclaimer, do your own research, really ask yourself where you want to go and why, and above all, use your local study abroad office as a primary source of information and guide.
I poured over several study abroad magazines, information pamphlets, websites, private companies, university programs, and what I found was that the community college study abroad option was significantly more affordable, in some cases by several thousands of dollars. For me, it also provided a smoother transition and face-to-face time with people who were instrumental in shaping this big step I am about to take.
Getting your finances in order to make the trip happen will require some effort and searching on your part. There is free money out there, apply for all and any scholarships that are available. One scholarship, the Benjamin Gilman scholarship, is administered by the Institute of International Education and sponsored the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Awards granted range from $3,000 - $5,000, and applicants must be U.S. citizens and receiving the Pell Grant at the time of application. For more information, visit www.iie.org/gilman.
I will be writing blogs about my experiences overseas, as well as sharing videos and photos. I invite you to follow my travels as you consider exploring your options. Maybe Barcelona, Spain or London, England will appeal to you, or maybe you want to wait until Buenos Aires, Argentina or Paris, France programs become available again. No matter what area of the world appeals to you, I invite you to explore it. Don’t hesitate or drag your feet. Make it happen and start planning now. Best of luck to all of you this semester and talk to you again from Italy. Ciao!