OSU Abroad « knowledge without borders

Lauren Forbes (Biology, ’11) went to South Africa in Fall ’09 through IE3 Global Internships and participated in a CFHI medical rotation internship in Durban and Cape Town. She is currently an MPH student at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. She is in the process of applying to the Fulbright program.

I always thought I wanted to be a doctor; in college at Oregon State University I was a pre-med student and I had aspirations of going on to medical school to become a pediatrician. Little did I know the things that interested me most about the health field were more in line with public health than medicine.

In my junior year, I had the opportunity to go to South Africa on an IE3 internship through Child and Family Health International. I spent 10 weeks there, five in Durban and five in Cape Town, living with host families in both cities. This was one of my first international experiences and it really sparked my passion for global health by showing me the stark reality of global poverty and how sociocultural and environmental factors influence the health of the community. Spending time in both Durban and Cape Town allowed me to experience the best of both cities—Durban and its uniquely Zulu influences and Cape Town, an amazing city, rich in cultural diversity. While the clinical experiences at the community health posts and hospitals provided me with invaluable health experience at the front lines, the stories and factors surrounding the patients, influencing their health status was what most intrigued me. One elderly man that I attended to had a dangerously infected ankle wound and had walked nearly all day to reach the hospital for treatment. For many people like him, the cost of treatment and the fear of an undiagnosed illness causes them to avoid seeking a doctor when they get sick. These public health issues are just a few of the environmental factors that influence the health status and outcomes of the South African communities in which I worked. The experience in South Africa was life changing and it helped me to grow personally and professionally, preparing me for other international experiences.

Lauren (r.) with her peers and colleagues in The Gambia

The opportunity for me to go abroad again came last spring; Drexel University had some existing ties with the Gambia, a small country in West Africa, and they wanted to send a group of public health students there to assist at a rural hospital. Myself and four other students were selected to go; we came together and formed and organization called Leading Outreach Through Volunteer Endeavors (LOVE) Abroad to help support our mission to the Gambia. Because of my experience in South Africa, I was better able to process the things that I observed and heard about while in the Gambia, such as the blatant poverty, health disparities, and gender inequities. In the Gambia, I saw the same abject poverty, but I also saw a baffling resilience and hopefulness in the communities in which I worked. This experience abroad not only allowed me to put my public health training into practice, but it also allowed for a mutually beneficial international partnership to be reinforced between Drexel University and the Gambia.

My international experiences in South Africa and the Gambia have been incredibly enriching, and have inspired me to pursue global maternal and child health as a career. This year, I will be completing my MPH degree and I plan to pursue fellowship opportunities in these fields upon graduating. I definitely encourage anyone who is considering studying abroad to go for it; the chance to experience another country through a service-learning opportunity is an invaluable experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.

API – Academic Programs International – has officially been partnered with OSU since 2005, and over 140 OSU students have studied abroad in eight countries thus far. All of the API programs are approved at OSU and available to all eligible students.

Academic Programs International (API) is an educational organization dedicated to providing challenging and enriching study abroad programs for our students. The experience of living, interacting and learning in an international environment presents invaluable opportunities for each student’s academic and personal development. All of our academic and extracurricular offerings are selected with the goal of helping students to grow more self-aware and culturally sensitive. We envision each student evolving from a tourist to a resident to a global citizen, and API is dedicated to supporting this lifelong process.

API is committed to providing the best comprehensive study abroad experience possible with personal attention available to our students throughout his or her program, and to working closely with home universities to offer support before, during and after the education abroad experience.

API offers a wide variety of programs in 13 countries, 30 cities across Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Programs range from as short as two weeks, to a summer, term/quarter, semester, or academic year. Students can generally study a foreign language at any level of proficiency, and most programs offer courses in English as well. API also offers various scholarships to eligible and qualified students.

API Gives Back

Each semester, API on-site directors organize an “API Gives Back Project” to promote greater understanding of local dynamics and provide further insight into the host culture. Projects are often dedicated to supporting those in need or promoting environmental sustainability. For example, students have participated in beach beautification projects in Italy and worked to promote the preservation of salt marshes in Spain. API students in other sites have painted local orphanages, organized theatrical events for seniors and children, and donated their time to support community organizations providing services to disabled children and adults. It is our hope that these experiences will promote integration and intercultural awareness between our students and the host community.

Don’t take our word for it!

If you’d like to speak with someone who recently experienced an API program, consider connecting with an API Peer Mentor, or read student reviews of our programs on Abroad101, GoAbroad.com, and Facebook.

API is the established social media leader in study abroad. Connect with us on the following sites and join the conversation today!

SIT (School for International Training) study abroad has officially been partnered with OSU since 2006, and OSU students have taken advantage of its programs to study in non-traditional study abroad destinations, such as Bolivia, Madagascar, Mongolia, Nepal, and the Netherlands thus far. All of the SIT programs are approved at OSU and available to all eligible students.

SIT Study Abroad offers unique, field-based opportunities for OSU undergraduates to engage directly with the most critical issues facing our world today. If you are looking for a way to take your academic training beyond the classroom and you want to see first-hand how different cultures and societies are coping with the realities of the 21^st century, then a SIT Study Abroad program is right for you.

With SIT, you will become deeply engaged in a topic, undertake you own research, and perhaps discover a lifelong passion. You will deepen your understanding of your chosen topic by learning from experts, academics, practitioners, families, local organizations, and beyond.

SIT Study Abroad has offered programs for undergraduate students for over 50 years. To date, more than 25,000 students have participated in SIT programs. SIT currently offers over 70 summer or semester long programs in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, the Pacific, and the Middle East that address these Critical Global Issues:.

All programs are run by Academic Directors who live full-time in the program location and are experts in the field. Each program consists of some combination of the following coursework: Intensive Language Study, a Thematic Seminar on the specific topic of the program, a Field Study Seminar which teaches research methods and ethics, and an Independent Study Project. In a typical semester-long program, Intensive Language Study, Thematic Seminar and Field Study Seminar coursework occurs simultaneously in the first two-thirds of the program, while the Independent Study Project takes place in the last four weeks. Our summer programs use selected elements drawn from this same model.

These are the hallmarks of a SIT Study Abroad Experience:

Rigorous academic programs with an interdisciplinary, experiential approach
Undergraduate research through an Independent Study Project
Cultural immersion through fieldwork, educational excursions, intensive language classes (if in a non-English speaking country), and homestays
A small group of 10-30 students in each program
A commitment to reciprocity as the foundation of our educational philosophy

The mission of SIT Study Abroad is to prepare students to be interculturally effective leaders, professionals, and citizens. In so doing, SIT fosters a worldwide network of individuals and organizations committed to responsible engagement in a changing world. Come join us!

Connect with students, colleagues, alumni, and friends through our many social networking channels. Learn about the latest program updates, read interviews with current students and alum, watch videos and view photos of our programs. SIT also offers Pell Grant Match scholarships to students who receive Pell grant and participate in targeted programs.

CIEE – Council on International Educational Exchange – has officially been partnered with OSU since 2006, and over 60 OSU students have studied abroad in 24 different countries thus far. All of the CIEE programs are approved at OSU and available to all eligible students.

Studying abroad is for more than language majors. It’s for anyone who wants to indulge a passion, explore a fascination, or challenge the status quo—of the wide world or their personal routine. CIEE has sent students abroad since 1947; since the late 1960s, we have been developing our own study abroad programs. We partner with universities to create a CIEE Study Center, staffed with a CIEE-employed Resident Director and often other support staff available to students around the clock. We offer courses at the host university and at times develop program-specific courses available only to CIEE students, including a critical analysis of the host culture. We offer quality academics alongside opportunities for cultural immersion such as excursions, homestays, volunteer opportunities, and internships with the goal of providing the highest quality study abroad experiences.

We have the widest range of programs in the world and we can help shape your study abroad experience according to major, location, semester, language, activities, and more.

With CIEE, you’ll make the most of your program through guided excursions, field study and internship programs, volunteering, conversation exchanges, and homestays. Meet new friends, enjoy unique experiences, and gain a new perspective on the world. And, you’ll do all that and still graduate on time.

With more than 125 programs in 41 countries you’ll definitely find the perfect one for you. Study abroad with CIEE and earn credit for courses in business, natural or social science, humanities—and everything in between. Go for a semester, a year, or a summer. Don’t speak a foreign language? Don’t let that scare you: Almost half of our study abroad programs don’t have a language prerequisite.

Still undecided, how about these reasons to choose CIEE:

We provide the widest selection of study abroad programs
We deliver the ultimate learning opportunity—both in and out of the classroom
Our local-savvy staff ensures student safety and program quality
We’re committed to exceeding expectations—read alumni program evaluations online
We offer extensive pre-departure support

Don’t just take our word for it though, read blog entries from the people that know our programs the best—our participants. Visit www.ciee.org/blogs to get a first-hand perspective on what it’s like to study abroad with CIEE from our participants and staff overseas. You can also learn more about our programs by visiting us on Facebook to look at photos, connect with recently accepted students, or ones that are returning from their time abroad.

To find the program that’s perfect for you, visit www.ciee.org/study to begin your study abroad experience today. For more information for OSU students, visit the OSU Education Abroad website.

In 2007 I decided to serve an LDS mission where I spent 18 months in Southern Argentina. For the first time I was completely immersed in a whole new language and culture. I saw things like one man with four kids on a bicycle, a dog that rides on top of the car (and barks at people), penguins that walk around your feet, and huge whales alongside the dock. Argentina became a second home to me. Upon my return I determined that just visiting a foreign land isn’t as amazing as living in one. This experience later led to studying abroad at Macquarie University in Australia, and completing an IE3 Global Internship experience with the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, Africa. It is safe to say that I am completely addicted to traveling abroad.

Now as an International Ambassador and IE3 Peer Mentor for OSU I have the opportunity to help other students prepare themselves to go abroad as well. As I talk to other students about where they want to go, applying, preparing, and everything else to travel abroad, I want to make sure their experience is as spectacular as possible. Traveling doesn’t have to empty your bank account, be a frightening experience, or ruin your plans for getting a degree.

Being an Animal Behavior and Psychology major I had no clue how much traveling abroad would actually help me with the my hopes for a future career. I was able to take classes specifically on animal communication in Australia that isn’t offered here at OSU.

Later I had hands on experience doing research with cheetahs in Africa.

Working with the International Programs is like the dream job for me because I frequently get to talk about my experience during the First Steps Meeting, help others make a plan for their own experience, and learn about all the amazing programs offered at OSU. The only unfortunate part is that I hear about so many amazing programs I just want to go abroad every second! Going abroad really is the experience of a lifetime.

Samantha Pride interned in Costa Rica through IE3 Global Internships in Summer 2008. She graduated from OSU with a B.A. in Sociology and International Studies in Spring 2009 and since then, she’s been working in Philadelphia through the City Year program.

One of the reasons I chose to participate in the City Year program was because I liked the idea of working on a team in a community and school for positive change. Working with youth was something I’ve never done so I saw that as a challenge. Also, it was a great opportunity for leadership in project and event planning.

The challenges of the program included working on a diverse team in an underperforming, underfunded and persistently dangerous high school with a 36% graduation rate within a school district that has been struggling for decades to make audacious and sound changes without consistent leadership. As a mentor and tutor it was my business to not only make sure teenagers understand the material in class, but also to know and discuss their difficult home situations. I found myself doing all the little things such as help with homework, work resumes, calling the doctor, talking to teachers, etc. It tore my heart apart along with the rest of my team to see the challenges students faced.

However, gratification eventually comes. “Joys” and “Ripples” as City Year calls them are shared at the end of day, and could be something like a student pulled their grades up, avoided a fight or had made enough progress on their senior project to be back on track for graduation. At the end of the year my team went to see our seniors graduate, which many were the first in their family. It was a huge relief to see these students succeed.

My IE3 internship in San Jose, Costa Rica was at a small non profit organization working on social justice issues. The skills I learned there were very helpful with the City Year program. Being flexible was something I cultivated in San Jose, and that same comfort with constant change is necessary at my school. The Latino population there was 50% making my language skills from Costa Rica extremely useful. Additionally, while in San Jose, I worked with other interns from different areas of the United States. Working on projects together we learned how to use each other’s strengths to complete assignments. At City Year with a bigger and more diverse team, I continued to learn the importance of listening and consensus building.

Moving into my second year in City Year, I will now be responsible for eight people and their service in a school. My goal this year and something that I would encourage others to reach for is creating a welcoming environment wherever you work, and setting high expectations for yourself and your team. Even if your goals seem impossible, I can say that after every time that I doubted myself, or my team, I felt silly because we always pulled off events and difficult situations.

– after having participated in an international program –

The 3rd annual Northwest Returnee Conference for education abroad students will be held on January 22, 2011, in Portland OR.

So you participated in a study abroad or international internship program, and now you’re back on campus. It may seem strange to be back in Corvallis, hanging out with your “old” friends and settling back into your normal student life at OSU, after spending a term, semester, or entire academic year abroad. Do you miss the friends you made abroad? Do you think about new favorite food and music you discovered while overseas? Are your friends and family tired of listening to your stories about India, South Africa, New Zealand, or Costa Rica? But you can’t help mentioning the country and culture that you now consider a part of you?

The Northwest Returnee Conference provides a place to meet other education abroad returnees from various institutions in the region and an opportunity to reflect and build on your overseas experience. The concurrent sessions will give participants the chance to learn about opportunities in academic and professional fields and how to utilize skills and knowledge gained through the participation in international programs. Here are brief descriptions of some of the sessions:

*International Career Panel: Meet professionals from different fields who have had various international experiences and are now applying the skills and knowledge they gained while abroad.

*Abroad Again: Learn more ways to return to where you studied/interned or to explore other parts of the world for additional academic and/or professional experiences.

*Graduate Schools & Programs: Considering continuing your education beyond OSU? There are plenty of graduate programs in which your international experience becomes the foundation of learning and research.

*International Resume Building: How can you articulate your international experience in your resume? Should a resume for overseas employers be prepared differently? Bring a copy of your own and learn how to make it stand out.

Any students who participated in international programs in the last few years, including recent graduates, are invited to the conference. Register today through the conference website.

OSU Abroad

knowledge without borders

IE3 Alumna Continues Her International Journey Through Graduate School

Study Abroad with API

Study Abroad with SIT

Study Abroad with CIEE

Life as an International Ambassador

Transferring Skills from Costa Rica to Philadelphia

Welcome back…and now what?

Contact Info