Risk of Studying Abroad - Essay Example

? Risk of Studying Abroad al affiliation Studying abroad has become a common occurrence in the world today. In the United States for example, many students travel to other nations to study and live there temporarily. The scenario is no different in Europe, Asia and even Africa, with many students travelling across the globe to other countries, to pursue different levels and fields of study in foreign universities and institutions of higher learning. For most of these students, study abroad is a life changing experience that easily influences and reshapes the rest of their lives, and their perspective towards life. For American students, this is an especially important experience. Following the events that have taken place, such as the September 11, 2001 event, there is a great benefit in students understanding the world views of people from different parts of the world. The world is rapidly changing and tending more towards independence, therefore, understanding the culture, language, perspective, needs, and concerns of people from outside one’s own country helps students to cope better with the rapidly changing and complex world. This priceless experience cannot be achieved by simple tourist excursions to foreign countries. The study abroad experience allows students to be fully immersed into the culture of people within a foreign country. Keywords: Study Abroad, Culture, Foreign Countries, Students, Introduction There are a number of factors that contribute to the surge of study abroad among students in the world over. First and foremost is the increased ease of travel from one point in the world to another (Bryam & Feng, 2006). Travel is a pleasant and common past time among many university students. For many students living in developed countries, and especially those from affluent backgrounds, study abroad is an extension of this love for travel, and the desire to experience life in different cultures and different parts of the world. Study abroad is on an upward trend due to political shifts taking place in many parts of the world. In countries such as the U.K., the government encourages local universities to take up students from other nations across the globe (Bryam & Feng, 2006). Along with this, governments within political unions, such as the European Union (EU), encourage students from their countries to pursue studies in other EU member states (Bryam & Feng, 2006). Economic prospects also influence the decision to study abroad. For students from developing countries of Africa and Asia, study abroad bears the promise of a better career and employment prospects, due to the status associated with studying abroad (Bryam & Feng, 2006). It also provides them with an opportunity to attend some of the world’s best institutions, like the Ivy League institutions, as well as receiving a matching quality of education. Increased cultural interaction also encourages study abroad. This is due to the fact that it improves the cross-cultural intelligence of an individual, promotes international relations among different countries, and adds an extra aspect to the learners’ educational encounter (Bryam & Feng, 2006). Risk Associated with Studying Abroad Like with any experience that requires one to move away from their comfort zone, as well as daily life routine and culture, there are risks associated with study abroad. In this paper, the risks associated with it are broadly categorized into psychological, financial, legal, and educational risks. Psychological risks These are risks that related to the social and emotional wellbeing of students that result from the overall experience of being in a new culture and different environment. According to Butzer, being in a new country is akin to being in a new environment. This in turn means that students have to adapt afresh to new cultures, foods, customs and acceptable social norms, as well as new illnesses and health risks (2013). These challenges pose the ultimate risk of culture shock associated with being in a new culture. Culture shock refers to the process of adjustment to new and different social systems and environment, commonly characterized by a general feeling of discomfort, uncertainty, and disorientation (Pedersen, 1995). Culture shock and a feeling of home-sickness may result in a deterioration of the performance of study abroad students. Unable to cope with and adapt to the new culture, students may find themselves suffering from emotional and psychological stress. As a result of being in a new culture, students may enter a state of anxiety. This anxiety may progress into a depression that has different manifestations that may range from aggression to a feeling of unreasonable and uncontrollable anger (Pedersen, 1995). The students may exude a lot of negativity towards the new environment and always find themselves discrediting what is new and different from what they are used to with their home culture, resulting in a state of emotional turmoil. Additionally, students in foreign countries attaining study abroad programs may find that they have no social life. More often, students in foreign countries have no close family members or friends present there. They therefore have to begin the process of socialization to get new friends all over again; a process that takes an increasingly longer time when faced with the prospect of forming friendships with people from different backgrounds and cultural orientations. Before students can trust and gain the trust of new people in a new environment, they have to settle down to the idea of not having close friends to spend their time and engage with. This in turn influences their social and emotional well-being. Psychological well-being has direct impact on the physical health of people. As a result, study abroad students are constantly faced with the risk of health problems, as a result of being in a new environment. The discomfort that results from being in a foreign country may result into physical complications, such as loss of appetite that can impact directly on the health of students. Different and adverse climatic conditions, such as snow and heat waves, may also impact on the health of foreign students, who many originate from countries without such natural phenomena. Prevalence of new diseases in foreign countries that may not be common in home countries may also impact negatively on the health of study abroad students. It may also be difficult for foreign students to access health services within the foreign countries, as a result of factors such as the cost of healthcare, lack of knowledge about the nature of healthcare in the foreign country, and difficulty in accessing comprehensive health insurance covers within the foreign country. According to Pedersen, study abroad students are also faced with the risk of rejection by members of the new culture (1995). Butzer further reckons that some locals tend to single out the study abroad students, while labeling them as “foreigners” (2013). This may leave study abroad students feeling isolated and different from the local people in a negative way. Financial risks These risks are drawn from the fact that students in foreign countries do not have easy access to finances, and the cost of living may be considerably higher than back in their home countries. They are therefore faced by the risks of financial strains and hassles when studying abroad. Those who are on self-sponsored study abroad programs and not receiving any financial aid grapple under the pressure of expensive tuition fees, since most institutions charge higher fees for international students compared to local students. A research conducted by Gao revealed that at the University of Florida, graduate students paid more than double the fee per credit hour if they were foreigners, compared the locals of Florida; international students paid $971.48, while locals paid $341.29 (2008). This pressure is increasingly felt by students from developing countries, where the prevailing currency exchange rates result in them paying an even higher amount, compared to students from developed countries. Gao further gives a new dimension to the financial risks facing foreign students who due to the nature of their visas, are not allowed to work in the foreign countries (2008). In America, for example, international students who have F-1 visas are restricted to working only for a maximum of 20 hours per week on campus, on jobs that are also obtainable to students on federal work-study programs. This leaves only a few and limited opportunities for international students and therefore, makes it more difficult for them to have an alternative source of income. Legal Risks These risks are associated with the laws and regulations that govern the stay and activities of foreigners within different countries across the world. Such laws may present challenges, rather than opportunities for students studying abroad. While studying abroad, students are faced with the risk of lack of knowledge of the laws within the foreign country that can easily result in them running into trouble with local authorities, such as the police. As stated by The Center for Global Education, majority of study abroad students who run into legal trouble, do not do so out of spite, but due to ignorance, or lack of knowledge of the local laws (2012). Laws on drugs, alcohol use, and social conduct differ from one country to another. As a result, what is legal in one country may not necessarily be legal in another country. Study abroad students may therefore find themselves on the wrong side of the law, as a result of making assumptions that laws in their own countries are cross-bordered, as well as simply not knowing what makes for a crime in a particular country. Some of the legal issues that students may face include not being familiar with the laws governing taxes and business operations within a foreign country. Being of a common interest for students in universities, particularly those who undertake small businesses to keep busy or as a means of earning some extra income, starting up or operating a business may have different requirements within the foreign country compared to one’s home country. As a result, students may be faced with a situation where undertaking a business may result in legal impediments. Another issue may arise with the ownership of property. Most countries have restrictions on the ownership of property for people considered as foreigners, and this is a factor that may pose legal challenges for study abroad students. Educational Risk These risks generally threaten the ability of foreign students to complete their studies and effectively attain their educational objectives in the study abroad programs. Language barriers may affect the experience of a study abroad student. As stated by DU Study Abroad, a change in the language that students use to communicate influences both their ability to communicate, and the way in that they perceive both people and things in the new environment (2011). While learning a new language may be new and exciting experience for study abroad students, students may find it difficult to learn the new language, and therefore, their ability to communicate effectively is hampered. Where students are unable to catch on the new language fast enough, they may be unable to understand what is passed on during lectures. Failure to understand the language of the foreign country may lead to the feeling of isolation from the rest of the community. It may also inhibit their daily activities, such as shopping, going to restaurants, or engaging in the local entertainment scenes. Conclusion With the stories carried daily by the media about terrorist attacks, natural catastrophes like earthquakes and the prevalence of diseases along with other incidents taking place in what is perceived as “the world out there”, the matter of the risk of study abroad is judicious and cannot be ignored (Ritchie, 2003). The administrators and managers who direct study abroad programs have the essential obligation of determining the risks that are real and those that are only perceived and informed by a fear of the unknown, as well as stereotypes about different cultures and different parts of the world. Additionally, there is a need to keep up with recent affairs in the world over (Ritchie, 2003). This is essential in informing the decisions to study abroad. For example, a spate of terrorist attacks in a particular country may result in travel advisories issued against travelling to that country, in which case, study abroad within that particular country many not be a very good idea. Lastly, there is a need to create systems and solutions that can be implemented to manage the risk involved with study abroad (Ritchie, 2003). Reference List Bryam, M. & Feng, A. (Eds.). (2006). Living and Studying Abroad: Research and Practice. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters Ltd. Butzer, S. (2013, January 4). Studying Abroad: A Game of Risk in Adventure, Danger. Retrieved October 3, 2013 from http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/top-news/studying-abroad-a-game-of-risk-in-adventure-danger-1.74411?page=5 Cressey, W. W. (2004). Guide to Studying Abroad. New York, NY: Princeton Review Publishing, L.L.C. DU Study Abroad. (2011, December 12). Taking on Study Abroad: The Language Barrier. Retrieved October 3, 2013, from http://duabroad.com/2011/12/12/taking-on-study-abroad-the-language-barrier/ Gao, F. (2008). Financial Pressure. Retrieved October 3, 2013, from http://plaza.ufl.edu/ffgao/mmc5015/final/financial.html Pedersen, P. (1995). The Five Stages of Culture Shock: Critical Incidents around the World. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. Ritchie, M. A. (2003). Risk management in study abroad: Lessons from the wilderness. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 9(03). Retrieved October 3, 2013, from http://www.frontiersjournal.com/issues/vol9/vol9-03_ritchie.pdf The Center for Global Education (2012). How Foreign Laws apply to you. Retrieved October 3, 2013, from http://www.studentsabroad.com/handbook/how-foreign-laws-apply-to-you.php?country=Kenya Read More