4B - he icigan Daily -Weekende&L Magazine'- Thursday Octokber
0
28, 1999
The Michigan Daily - ekend, etc. Mag
Prospects perk interest
- so many programs, so little time
By Cortney Dueweke
Daily Arts Writer
Imagine living in an Italian villa
instead of West Quad Residence
Hall, or navigating the streets of
Quito, Ecuador instead of Ann Arbor
on the way to class. Sound appealing?
Depending on each student's con-
centration and the requirements nec-
essary for graduation, most
University students have the oppor-
tunity to study abroad, and there are
a variety of programs to meet the
individuals' specific needs. "The
University offers programs in 36
countries on six continents," said
Jordan Pollack, assistant director of
the Office of International Programs
(OIP). "We offer a diverse selection
to answer the needs of student inter-
ests and requirements."
Pollack said the U's more tradi-
tional programs in countries like
England, France, Italy and Spain typ-
ically draw the most interest from
students. The University has also
been increasing the number of pro-
grams in countries less commonly
thought of as study abroad opportu-
nities, such as South Africa, Senegal,
Ghana, Nepal, Thailand and many
more.
The details vary from program to
program. Some extend over an entire
school year, others for a full semes-
ter or even a shortened spring or
summer semester.
"A large number of students study
abroad for a full year," said Pollack.
"We encourage a longer stay ... We
find that students progress in that
second semester, when they're fin-
ished with adjustment concerns,
their language skills are developing
and they're cultivating friendships."
For those students who aren't pro-
ficient in a foreign language, there
are still many opportunities. Besides
See PROGRAMS, Page 13B
'7
GERMANY
Continued from Page 12B
the year goes on they start to pick up
things: Widening their horizons,
improving their German. They did-
n't know what they were capable of.
"When you transfer yourself to
another culture and then back again
you grow up not gradually, but in
leaps," Habermalz said.
Studying abroad certainly pre-
sents difficulties. Little differences
between the United States and
Europe can force shy, meek students
onto their knees in hysteria during
the first weeks away from home.
Challenges like weighing your
own fruit and bringing your own
bags to a German grocery store, or
getting hold of the landlord who
only has "office hours" for a half
hour every two weeks can be very
trying.
But none of the Academic Year in
Freiburg students this year aban-
doned ship and flew home to the
familiarity of North America. In
fact, some actually made plans to
stay in Germany through the sum-
mer and into this fall - because
they've either found jobs or fallen in
love with locals.
Lauren Pierzchalski, currently a
senior at Wisconsin, didn't land a
job here and she hasn't tied the knot
with any Germans. But she is satis-
fied with her study abroad experi-
ence through AYF, as well as the
traveling she's done through Europe
during her vacations.
"A lot of people ask themselves
how they can leave for a whole year
and be away from their family. But
the positives of studying abroad
definetely outweigh the negatives.
I've done more in my short year here
than most people have done in a life-
time. It's all so convenient, anybody -
who wants to go to France from the
States has to buy a plane ticket ... I
just hop on a train."
Pierzchalski proudly pulls out
three full photo albums which she's
compiled on trips from Munich to
Barcelona, to Lisbon, to
Amsterdam, to Rome, to Venice.
She's been nearly everywhere in
Western Europe and yet she's ful-
filled a year of college at the same
time.
A couple of term papers still loom
on the horizon, but tonight, with a
German friend, she's going across
the Rhine River to France for dinner The demands of the many study abroad programs vary, but money and passp
and red wine.
"I'D LOVE TO JUDGE YOUR
HOT BODY CONTEST,
BUT I'M GOING BACK
TO MY ROOM
TO CHECK MY EMAIL,"
r
'I
PROGRAMS
Continued from Page 4B
I-
f' jp)
X ::
Photo Illustration by ALLISON CANTOR/Daily
Choosing the right study abroad program takes time. This student gets comfort-
able while reading about the many experiences he might have to look forward to.
The University Activities Center
those in English-speaking cou
like England and Australia
University also offers pro
taught in English in countries
as Finland and Turkey.
Another factor that varies be
programs is the living arrangen
While some programs allow stu
to find their own apartments,
house students in dormitories
local families or through some
bination of the two.
Although the temptation to
abroad attracts students, the e:
es of participation discourage
people from pursuing the poss
However, some programs ac
cost less than University's t
Also, scholarships to study
are available, and sometimes
countries' governments p
monetary assistance for studer
"We work hard to make st
abroad as affordable as pos
said Pollack. "Our mission is t
as many students as we can."
Applying to participate in a
abroad program, accordin
Pollack, is "not unlike applyir
university." OIP looks into prc
tive participants' backgrounds,
emic records and transc
Students are also required to
recommendations from facult
fill out questionnaires rega
their interests and goals for stu
abroad.
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