Students Reflect on Study Abroad Programs
By Izyaan Burney and Lily Rampe
After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic restricting travel, the Academy’s Global Initiatives term abroad programs are back in full swing. These programs give selected seniors the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the culture of a new, and often international, environment. The students selected spend the term abroad living with a host family and attending school in that country.
Many students enjoyed getting off campus for a term and found the adjustment relatively easy. Senior Will Hackett, who is currently studying abroad in Germany, said, “You adjust surprisingly quickly. Once you’re abroad you’re just there, you don’t have many options but to adapt. All the people I’ve met are super friendly.”
Senior Ben Martin, who is currently livng in Madrid, Spain, added, “Jumping into being abroad has been pretty jarring for me (in a good way). I’ve never been outside the United States before, so being across the Atlantic for two months without my family or friends has been kind of crazy.”
Students also noted the differences between Exeter and their schools abroad. “[Classes] were lecture-based, not Harkness, [and] the workload was definitely lighter than Exeter,” senior Grace Nivera said, who studied in Japan this fall.
Martin agreed, “We are in classes with 20 other students, and have a combination of lectures and individual work. Additionally, we stay in the same class the entire day rather than switching classes.”
Exeter faculty also travel with the students to help them transition into their new environment. Instructor in Spanish Ellen Glassner said, “My role as director of the term abroad in Madrid is to support the students in every way and make sure they are always safe. Some of the ways I do that is by helping them adapt to their new environment, taking care of their needs if they get sick, and traveling with them on all excursions.”
Part of the abroad experience is living with a host family. Several students explained this aspect of the trip. “I personally love my host. Being put into a new family in a different country can feel weird at first but it’s very helpful in learning the language and you quickly become close to your host and their family,” Hackett said.
Senior Grace Keyt also shared her personal experience with her host family. “I am very close with my host sister and feel respected and cared for by my host parents. I’ve had the opportunity to go skiing in Italy with them and will also be traveling to Berlin and paragliding in Munich with my host sister,” she said.
“It has been a truly positive experience for me, as they help me feel at home in a foreign land,” Martin shared.
Students had various favorite parts about being abroad. Senior Claire Fu enjoyed it all: “Exploring the surrounding areas after classes, eating and shopping in Kichijoji, traveling to Nara, making friends in school, walking 20,000+ steps a day, and so much more,” Fu said.
Similarly, Hacket said, “My favorite part is just living in a new place and experiencing all the new things in that culture. Everything from social norms to food can be very different, it’s really eye-opening and not to mention fun.”
After being away for a term, coming back to Exeter can be a big adjustment. Nivera said, “The transition was a little rough in the beginning, but being away for so long made me appreciate the things I love about Exeter.”
Students also bring back life lessons they learned abroad. Instructor in Classical Languages Sally Morris said, “They learn to be more open to differences and to question their own practices and assumptions.”
Instructor in English Erica Lazure, the resident director for the Stratford, England program, agreed, “I think sometimes being in a country that’s not necessarily yours… those contrasts are even more pronounced and more vivid, and I think those lessons can be learned quicker or in a way that you don’t expect. When you travel, you grow in ways you don’t expect.”
