Attending a university does not have to be the same experience year after year. Students can complete their general education requirements in a different country through the Sacramento State Study Abroad Program.

Sure, it can be hard to find the time or the money to study abroad or even just travel in general. But the memories you will make will last for the rest of your life.

Janis Silvers, a study abroad adviser, said students should not let the cost stop them from studying abroad.

“Most students come back and say they have friends from all over the world now,” she said.

This is simply not possible if you only take classes at Sac State, or another university.

Aside from meeting lots of new and interesting people, you could also become more proficient in a new language and develop critical thinking skills &- all while living in a beautiful location.

Silvers said that while studying abroad, students gain self-confidence, cultural sense, adaptability and become more flexible when faced with difficult situations.

Books, pictures and videos can paint an image of places you have never been to, but they cannot replace the experiences.

The world teaches with these experiences, while most professors only teach us with words and examples.

In a history class you can read about how minorities are treated. In a foreign country you are that minority.

Going to a country like Japan or Australia and getting accustomed to the culture there will educate you better than a class can. The stereotypes you have about people who live in these countries will disappear once you get to know them.

Sasha Moskaleva, senior physics major, spent three months studying abroad in Switzerland.

“The fact that you are forced to open your boundaries and adapt to a new culture really lets you question your own tendencies, routines and convictions,” Moskaleva said.

Silvers said it is hard to know what your own country is like when you live in it all the time. While studying abroad it is possible to view it through the eyes of the people with whom you are living.

Living with foreigners forces you to interact with them and to step out of your comfort zone.

“You learn how to handle (new situations). You come home and you feel like you can do anything now,” Silvers said.

Life is too short to spend all of it in the same location. There is much more to see out there than what Sacramento, or nearby areas, might offer.

It is time for a new learning experience. The world has much more to show you than a classroom ever could.

Information and advising on studying abroad can be found at the Office of Global Education in Lassen Hall, Room 2304.

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