The International Student Blog

Finding the love of your life while studying abroad sounds wonderful, but it seems like something that only happens in the movies. Sure, you might meet someone during your trip, but translating relationships abroad into something long-term can be extremely difficult, especially when there is an ocean separating you!

University of Central Florida student Kristen met her real life prince charming in February of 2009, when he was studying abroad at UCF from France. They had such a strong connection that neither one of them wanted to end their relationship when he had to return to France, so it didn’t. Over two years later, they are still going strong, so I asked Kristen to share her tips about relationships abroad, and how to turn a study abroad fling into the real thing!

Q: How did you and your boyfriend meet?
Kristen: We met through friends, and ended up talking a few times online. A few nights later we all went out, and the rest is history!

Q: How did you guys make the decision to stay together when he went back to France?
Kristen: After we came back from spring break in 2009, it was pretty official that we were “together.” I didn’t want to ask him to be official, because I knew he was going back, and would be surrounded by family, friends, and other girls, and I didn’t know if he’d want to be with me. We decided to see what happened, but two days before he left he said “I love you” to me for the first time, and he called me as soon as he landed in Paris. Pretty much right after he got back, we made it “Facebook official.”

Q: How did you keep in touch while he was overseas?
Kristen: Skype really, really helped a lot, without that I don’t know if I could have done it. We also sent each other packages occasionally, and basically talked on the phone all day…I ended up with a few $1200 phone bills. (eek!) Skype was the best though. Honestly, the distance made us so strong and close because all we had was trust and conversation.

Q: What is the best part about having a boyfriend from a different country?
Kristen: Things are always interesting! We get to travel and experience other cultures, and we really appreciate our time together. I’ve met amazing people from all over the world, and developed strong relationships with them which has taught me so much. Also, our relationship is so strong because of what we went through.

Kristen’s boyfriend came back to America after a year, and attends UCF with her. In the future, they see themselves traveling all over Europe and America, and possibly even living in Europe for a few years. Do you have any advice for successful relationships abroad?

The Green Mountain State is famous for a relaxed, socially progressive culture, with a mind toward local affairs and agriculture. This is, in part, due to Vermont’s having the second smallest population in the United States. The state is also the seventh smallest state in terms of total area. International students in Vermont will experience traditional American town hall democracy, which still governs local affairs. All of these factors contribute to Vermonters’ active political lives, and the state’s low crime rate—the second lowest in the nation! Moreover, these communal bonds are further enhanced by local farming and an environmental consciousness born of the state’s immense wilderness (over 70% of the state is covered in forest) and robust local agriculture (many companies like Vermont-based Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream rely on local farmers for their ingredients and are willing to pay more for such products to sustain the industry). This has led to certain economic criticisms of the state, and international students considering whether to study in Vermont who are pursuing business-related degrees should be aware that the state has been ranked in the lower half (32nd) of, “states in which to do business” by Forbes Magazine. This reality is mirrored in Vermont’s possessing the lowest gross domestic product in the USA.

However, international students in Vermont will see Vermonters’ local focus shine through by the fact that despite the lowest GDP, the state has also consistently had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the USA; Vermonters pride themselves in taking care of their own. Another perk of the close-knit, yet accepting communal fabric that those who study abroad in Vermont can look forward to is enjoying the state’s impressively low crime rate—the second lowest in the nation. Importantly, the small population and local-focus do not obscure global awareness or diversity. The government of Vermont has been ranked very highly in terms of its handling of local issues and issues global in scope, while receiving only an average rating in matters of future economic development. The local emphasis of Vermont is not to be mistaken for a fear of diversity as the state has a robust history with roots not only in early American culture (the first territory to be admitted to statehood outside of the 13 original colonies and the 1st to outlaw slavery—reiterating a law in place prior to becoming a state), but was also (earlier) home to French and Native American settlements; in fact, today, around 2.5% of Vermonters still speak French in their households. So, when considering whether to study abroad in Vermont, international students should become aware of what kind of experience they are hoping to have while in America, and what industry in which they would hope to work, upon completing their education. Vermont may be ideal for those interested in history, law, medicine, politics and democracy, agriculture, local organization, community activism, and outdoor recreation, while proving potentially lackluster for those seeking competitive business educations or consumer-driven environments and industries.

For many people Christmas is a time to spend with family and loved ones. Studying abroad can be a fun and rewarding experience however it can be tough if you’ll be away from your family during Christmas. If you are accustomed to spending the holidays with your family and will not have the chance to return home this season, you may find yourself celebrating Christmas while studying abroad. If you will be celebrating Christmas away from your family this year, you can still celebrate the season and make the most out of it.

Depending on which country you are studying in, you may find it harder to find Christmas celebrations if Christianity isn’t a commonly practiced religion. But even if you are in a country where Christmas is not widely celebrated, there is usually a community of people that will celebrate and welcome travelers.

Since you are studying abroad, chances are high that there are other foreign students who have no family to celebrate with. So gather your friends, classmates and other Christmas-celebrators together and enjoy the day. You can also invite your local friends to join even if they don’t celebrate Christmas. It is a great way to share your culture with each others. Remember if your friends are not Christians, Christmas celebration can just be about being together – it does not have to be religious.

If you really miss the lights and trees, consider decorating your dorm room or apartment with lights, red bows and ask your family to send you a small ornament that you can hang up. Celebrating Christmas while studying abroad doesn’t mean it has to be without your family either. On the actual day, call your family and use a video chat, like Skype. Seeing your family can make you feel more included even if you are far away.

What is Christmas without gifts? If you are by yourself, why not buy a present for yourself? Get that new camera so you can record your trip in higher quality, or treat yourself with a short trip to another city or country nearby. Many countries celebrate Christmas differently, traveling will let you see how other people enjoy the holiday.

Lastly, keep a positive frame of mind. Even if you are alone, you can spend it doing activities you enjoy like reading or watching a movie marathon. Go outside, sight see and enjoy nature. Before you know it, you might find celebrating Christmas while studying abroad is not as daunting as you originally thought!

National University is an accredited university offering over 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees in business management, engineering, education, media and communications, liberal arts, and healthcare. Catering to both international and US student needs, classes are available in four formats allowing you the flexibility and personal attention that you need while completing your degree. Courses and degree programs are available online, in the classroom, a hybrid design of both, and distance education.

If you are an international student looking for an in-classroom experience, National University offers small classes that average 20 students. To help you focus, the program is structured so that you can complete your coursework timely and efficiently by taking one course every month. With over thirty locations throughout California, Florida, Peru, and Nevada, international students can pursue their degree in the environment best suited for them! Currently, there are over 22,000 full-time students from across 82 countries.

If English is not your first language, you may consider enrolling in their English language program that is designed to give you the skills to succeed while pursuing your degree. Accredited by the American Association of Intensive English Programs (AAIEP), National University’s English language program can provide you with advanced degrees in TESOL, English, linguistics and related fields. The University also offers academic preparation classes, accent reduction workshops, business English classes, conversation classes, and much more!

For those international students interested in pursuing an online program, National University offers 60 of their 100 degrees right online, offering flexibility for students no matter their degree. Because of the importance placed on its students, the online program was developed to allow students to have a personalized, dynamic education along with the ability to take classes at their convenience.

Accredited since 1977, National University is the 12th largest private, nonprofit institution of higher education in the United States. Check out this featured school today to see how they can help you pursue your goals!

The latest edition of the International Student News has been sent and it winging its way to your inbox as we speak. For those of your who receive the newsletter, this month we have:

1. 2011 Travel Video Contest Winner
2. Loan Comparison Tool Launched
3. Featured Schools
4. Student News
5. From the Mailbag
6. Fun Site of the Month
7. International Student Health Insurance

Penn State University is an obvious draw for international students interested in studying in Pennsylvania. Penn State offers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs to international students, as well as intensive English language programs to ensure international students who study in Pennsylvania at Penn State are adequately prepared to be successful in any one of the rigorous academic and research programs offered at this top tier university (currently ranked among the top 15 public institutions in the United States), as well as wherever else their blossoming academic careers may lead them.

With over 44,000 students walking its 24 campuses, Penn State is likely one of the largest American universities an international student could be considering attending. That said, international students who choose to study in Pennsylvania at Penn State could eventually find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of students, as well as the intimidating size of its campuses. In such circumstances, despite enjoying a world class education in one of the most beautiful and historically rich states in the country, students studying abroad sometimes express the experience of feeling ‘lost in the system’ or that they are ‘just a number’ (in addition to the normal sensations of stress and fear that often accompany individuals starting a new chapter of their life in a foreign land and culture). Therefore, international students interested in studying in Pennsylvania, especially those who intend to study in Pennsylvania at Penn State, should make every effort to learn the forms of personal assistance made especially available to them (by the university itself) in order to guarantee they successfully navigate the beginning months of their travel abroad experience.

For international students interested in studying abroad in the United States, they must first find out how to study in the US. The first step is to do online research simply by typing in general key phrases (via your Google or other search engines) such as ‘study abroad in (insert U.S. state or city name) or ‘international students interesting in studying in (insert U.S. state or city name). What is more, with a world of information right at our finger tips, this strategy usually proves quite helpful in gaining a helpful overview of study abroad information, resources, and online tools, especially through websites specifically dedicated to assisting international students interested in studying abroad in the United States and elsewhere, such as InternationalStudent.com (which offers international students guidance and assistance with everything from securing health insurance coverage to ensure they safely travel abroad to provide comprehensive lists and study guides of universities and colleges throughout the various U.S. States).

However, international students interested in studying abroad in the United States should also consider adapting more diverse online research strategies in order to gain a more accurate sense of the individual student life experiences (living and studying) in their desired study abroad locale. One such strategy that can be employed to this end is simply visiting major websites dedicated to individual blogger posts, such as NetworkedBlogs and WordPress. Then, begin searching archived blogs (which can provide real world, first-person accounts and experiences) related to your study abroad goals and interests.

For example, an international student interested in studying in Alaska can research blogs written specifically by young people currently residing in that state (click to see an example of networkedBlogs on Alaska). By reading individuals’ accounts of their unique experiences,  international students can gain a much more intimate sense of the day to day life experiences related to living in that area. International students interested in studying in the U.S. can research archives on these sites based on more specific colleges or regional preferences and can learn about the benefits and challenges by others who have chosen similar study abroad, academic, and career paths.

While this strategy doesn’t diminish the value and usefulness of major websites dedicated to assisting international students with their study abroad goals, it certainly serves to compliment the more impersonal, ‘general overview’ nature of these online resources with more personalized and specific first-person accounts of the lifestyles, attitudes, interests, and cultures of the people and places international students may hope to encounter during their time traveling and studying within the United States.

If you’ve never lived in the U.S. or if you have just arrived, you may have heard people talking about Black Friday and wondered, “What exactly is Black Friday?”

Have you ever seen a movie depicting American people waiting for a department store to open and then rush in fighting for their favorite dress or popular toy? That scene from the movie is most likely a depiction of what happens in many parts of the United State during the morning of Black Friday.

Black Friday happens every year on the fourth Friday in November, the day after Thanksgiving Day. Even though it is not an official holiday, many people will have the day off due to Thanksgiving. On this day many stores open their doors early to officially start the holiday shopping season by giving out big discounts. Because of this, large crowds come out in the morning ready for a good deal.

The term Black Friday is widely recognized as the day when retail business turns a profit going from the “red” (debt) to “black” (profit) due to the large purchases on this one day alone.

If you are an international student in the United States, after you experience your first American Thanksgiving dinner eating turkey and pumpkin pie, consider waking up early on Friday after Thanksgiving Day. You may be able to buy things that you want for a great price. Be sure to check out your favorite stores to see their advertisements so that you can choose your strategy on stores to check out the day of Black Friday. If you plan ahead, you will have a higher likelihood of getting the items you want at a deep discount since most sales usually ends before noon.

The decision to pursue one’s education in the field of medicine is a noble, challenging, and rewarding career choice. Every year, countless international students who have their hearts set on becoming a practicing physician become interested in U.S. medical schools, many of which have gained international reputations as being leaders in medical research and advancement throughout the world. For those international students interested in U.S. medical schools, there is some background research that must be taken on in order to understand the somewhat complicated admissions process used by most of the over 100 M.D. programs available in the United States. In the United States, medical school is customarily a four-year ‘post-baccalaureate’ (which means after receiving a bachelor’s degree) program. Most medical schools in the United States are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and must be accredited by this body in order for its students to obtain government funding assistance for their education. Also, in order for the schools themselves to receive government funding for providing medical education, they must receive this formal accreditation.

The very first step an international student may want to take after becoming interested in U.S. medical schools is to make sure their schools of interest have appropriate accreditation. For example, an international student interested to studying in Alabama at an accredited medical school will only find two reputable university options to choose from: University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of South Alabama. While both programs have earned themselves impressive reputations, the lack of more accredited options for international students to study abroad at a medical school in Alabama may encourage them to look into different states or regions of the country with higher numbers of accredited medical programs. Regardless, determining if your medical school of interest is accredited is only the first step in the process of finding and applying to U.S. medical schools. To learn more about the process and materials required in applying to U.S. medical schools, medical school curriculum, grading standards, and associated costs of attendance, you can begin by checking out this wiki-article on medical schools in the United States.

International students interested in studying in South Carolina may be interested to learn that a third-party international education recruitment provider, known as the IDP Education Network, has partnered with the University of South Carolina System (which currently includes eight campuses in South Carolina at the locations of Aiken, Beaufort, Columbia, Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union, and Spartanburg) in a joint initiative to increase international student enrollment within this university system.

This effort comes in the wake of the declining numbers of international student enrollment being reported within the state, according to data reported by the Institute for International Education. The IDP Education Network is one the largest firms of its kind and, according to Mike Shay (the North America director for this organization), among the best international student placement organizations operating within the United States. While considering what travel abroad opportunities and avenues this partnership may make possible, international students interested in studying in South Carolina (and especially international students interested in studying at the University of South Carolina system) can learn more about this partnership by checking out their press release for South Carolina efforts.