Imagine viewing the sunset from your dorm room as you sitstudying Spanish in Costa Rica or grabbing a cup of coffee from aFrench caf� on your way to class in Lille, France.
For many students at The University of Memphis, these fantasiesbecome realities as they choose to spend a portion of their collegeexperience studying abroad.
"Spending a semester abroad can change a student's perspectiveof the world, teach them to understand different cultures and bebeneficial to them in their future careers," said Rebecca Laumann,study abroad director at The U of M.
On average, 150 students from The U of M study abroad each yearwith the majority choosing to study abroad in the summer, Laumannsaid.
Studying abroad, stresses the importance of understanding globalissues and appreciating other culture, she said.
The U of M offers study abroad programs in many different areasof the world including South America, Africa, Europe and Asia.
Megan Wolfe, recently returned from studying at the Universityof Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, described her experience as a"priceless adventure."
"You learn so much about yourself and, most importantly, about acompletely different lifestyle," Wolfe said.
Wolfe also said the adjustment to her new environment was easyand the people were very helpful and friendly.
"I chose to study in a place where English was the primarylanguage so I would not have to worry about overcoming a languagebarrier," she said.
The U of M study abroad program requires students take at leastfour semesters of a foreign language before traveling overseas to acountry where English isn't the primary language, Laumann said.
"By studying abroad, you grow in a way you never could if yousimply stayed in your own little world forever," Wolfe said.
Jason Brandon recently spent six months studying Arabic, NorthAfrican history and Middle Eastern history at Al-Akhwayn Universityin Ifrane, Morocco.
"Living in Morocco opened my eyes to what that part of the worldthought about our country," Brandon said.
"The incredible hospitality the Moroccan people show toward anoutsider is unbelievable unless experienced first-hand, and themelodic call to prayer from the minarets became the only watch Ineeded because it occurred five times a day," he said.
Brandon's experiences abroad included taking trips to theAtlantic and Mediterranean coasts, sampling the nightlife ofCasablanca and trekking into the Sahara Desert.
"The most important thing I learned while living and studying inMorocco was that life is too short to second guess yourself onevery decision you make," Brandon said. "When it comes time to lookback on your life, what will your memories be made of? Don't beafraid to find out."
