Why study abroad?

I was in Blackwell's Book Shop on Broad St. in Oxford, England the other day, looking at the New York Times atlas of the world, and dreaming up exotic destinations for the holiday between the second and third terms, called Hilary and Trinity, in Oxford. I am here for the entire academic year on a non-Tufts program through Butler University. Since the application deadline for Tufts programs abroad is February 1, I am writing to share my experiences, convey the joys of a year abroad generally, and aid any sophomores deliberating on the issue.

Surely you know about the invaluable experience of international travel by expanding your horizons, living in a new culture, meeting new people, encountering new ideas and perspectives, and speaking a different language. (Side note: you learn that American English is different from what Brits call "proper" English after nodding your way through a conversation "yeah, yeah" with kids from the north of England or, worse, Scotland.)

On the other hand, understandably, you might not want to miss time at Tufts. Tufts is a great school with wonderful people and a lot to offer. Then again, you might not want to miss your chance to study abroad.

I remember sitting down in Dean Herbert's office in the spring of 2003 with a growing desire to travel abroad but without a clue as to where I wanted to go. I left the meeting with the decision to go to Talloires for a summer and to try England for the year. She reassured me that there was no such thing as too much time abroad. The first step then is to talk to Dean Herbert. In case she's booked, think about:

1. Where do you want to go? One of my favorite things about Tufts is that their first recommendation before you even arrive on campus is that you get a passport. During freshman orientation they give you that little book of all the countries in the world. Tufts delivers the Times to the dorms to keep you abreast of international news. Then Tufts opens the doors to let you explore the world through its own programs in London, Hong Kong, Paris, Chile and a place in Germany that I can't even pronounce. Dowling Hall houses a study abroad library with maps, books, computers, program evaluations and even students waiting to help. They hold (mandatory) information sessions as well. This is why nearly 40 percent of the Junior class spends at least one semester abroad and why one of our mottos is "Training the next generation of global leaders." Tufts makes it so easy. They do almost everything but sign your leave of absence form.

2. Why? Think about what you want to get out of the experience. Are you going for a different cultural, language or academic experience or do you just need to get out of Medford for a bit and Somerville doesn't exactly whet your appetite? There are many reasons to study abroad you won't discover until you arrive. For me, I have found a remarkably steep new learning curve. I am learning about what it means to be British but surprisingly more about what it means to be American.

3. How long do you want to go for?Summer, semester or year. I'm biased, but be selfish. Go for the whole year. When you think about it, a year isn't that long. It's long enough to get to know a country and its people-or more likely just one city and a few new friends.

4. What about friends?family? pets? No, you can't bring your roommate or your goldfish with you. Studying abroad should be a personal experience. This is my Kantian theory of study abroad: Kant said we cannot know the thing-in-itself, which is free from the forms of time, space and causality. In a way, studying abroad strips you of these forms. Adapting to a new environment forces you to adjust to a new schedule or pace of life. The space around you is different. People in a new culture will react to you differently-and often just don't get the American sense of humor. Time, space and causality are not removed permanently, but altered. You are all alone, disoriented in a foreign country. What you find is the thing-in-itself because you are the thing-in-itself. Here you discover your most fundamental desires, thoughts and values. This is the time to do your clearest thinking, when it is only you and all that you believe in, when you are all by yourself in Prague, Dubai or Beijing trying to order a hamburger by mooing at the waiter.

As for friends, real friends are like family and will always be there for you. If one of my friends, Andrew (LA 06), studies abroad all next year, we will probably never see each other again in the same every-day context of living in Miller two floors apart. But I'm not worried. Andrew, you are one of my best friends. I love you, buddy.

5. Who should go abroad? You should go abroad.

That being said, going abroad is a personal choice and obviously not right for everyone. If you are interested, investigate your opportunities. The world is a big place. Looking through the atlas in Blackwell's, it took me 20 minutes just to thumb through China. I think college is the best time of our lives because now is the time when we are more free than we have ever been and more free than we ever will be again. Go study abroad. I'm glad I did.

Noah Trugman, junior majoring in philosophy, is currently studying abroad at Oxford University.