The International Study Program is one of the most exciting opportunities BYU has to offer students and helps widen perspectives on life, according to three BYU-Hawaii students who participated in study abroad programs.
“Structured school education is important because it gives you one sort of education, but going out and experiencing things gives you a different type of education and helps you be prepared before going out in the real world,” said Lauren Steimle, a senior art major from California who went on a European study abroad for six weeks during the 2015 Spring Term.
She said she traveled to France, Belgium, London, England, Slovenia, Italy, and Greece. As part of her program, Steimle said she was assigned to go to museums and do photo assignments relating to history and photography.
Students were also given a lot of free time to try food and explore the sites, according to Steimle. “We were able to visit so many places where we would only read a book or from a class which allowed me to connect to the artists.”
Steimle said she put in a lot of personal effort to be part of study abroad. She explained there were no advertisements about the program or people encouraging her to do it. “I was the one who searched online, applied, went to Financial Aid, so it was hard. But I’m so glad that I did,” she said. Steimle described it as “one of the best choices” she has made in her life.
She encouraged more students from BYUH to join. Out of the 40 students in the program, Steimle said she was the only one from BYUH, whereas the rest were from Provo. “Search out ways to obtain financial aid. Other schools can help you study abroad, especially amongst the BYU community,” said Steimle.
As stated in its website, the BYU International Study Program allows students to choose from a variety of international experiences, with 116 programs in 57 countries, along with the option to create your own internship in the country of your choice.
Sarah King, a junior studying hospitality and tourism management from Arizona, said she was nervous to be part of the BYU Jerusalem Center study abroad because it felt like she was “wasting a semester.”
However, King said the trip helped shape who she is today. “It was a special time to explore the world, and I’ll never forget the joys I got to see,” explained King.
She said 80 students and professors in the program—two from BYUH—stayed together in an Arab neighborhood and had the same schedule. “We would all wake up, eat breakfast, go to classes and travel at the same time, which was fun,” said King.
King said her favorite part of studying abroad was the excessive amount of traveling. She said they went on at least one field trip a week and even spent a 10-day field trip to the Sea of Galilee. King said she experienced a “really big culture shock” because it was a new place, with new people, food and smells.
She said she had first-time experiences where she saw Muslims have prayer five times a day, heard gunshots, and always had to be in groups of three for safety reasons.
But King still called it “her home” and learned about dedication from the people. King said anyone from BYU schools is able to participate in the study abroad program. She recalled the reason why she participated was for the gospel and cultural learning, but she said there are many options of programs where it can relate to a specific major.
Taylor Polson, a senior ICS communications major from Colorado, was the other of the two students in the BYU Jerusalem Center program. With similar sentiments as King, he said, “That trip changed my perspective on religion and middle eastern politics. I got to see them as people and not just as people on the news.”
Polson said he enjoyed the field trips because as they were studying the Old and New Testaments in class, and they were able to visit the places they were learning and reading about. “We were able to visit Jordan, Turkey and Istanbul. And as I got to know the historical context, the Bible made a lot more sense,” said Polson.
He encouraged others to try and study abroad through government grants, scholarships or through the Financial Aid Department. “It is worth it because it will give you a well-rounded education. You would be able to be taught by a non-member local Palestinian teacher and a Jewish teacher. You can gain new perspectives and change your life,” said Polson.
BYU study abroad is administered through BYU’s David M. Kennedy Center and more information can be found at kennedy.byu.edu/isp/.