Study abroad alumni recently returned from exchange programs in Finland, Colombia, Japan, and Croatia shared their firsthand experiences this week at the the Study Abroad Information Session. This interactive event, which featured five recent returnees, was offered as part of the “Year2 at SMU” initiative led by the Student Success Centre, Student Affairs and Services.
The group offered a variety of insightful takeaways, from cultural surprises to personal growth:
“I was surprised how uncommon it is for people there to make small talk.”
“When I started university, it never crossed my mind I was going to study abroad. Now that I’ve done it, I’m glad I took a leap of faith.”
“Through my abroad experience, I gained a sense of independence, and, more importantly, the exchange showed me how rewarding it is to embrace the unknown.”
“I met lots of people, not only from the host country but from other parts of the world as well. Now I have friends for life.”
“It’s so powerful to hear their stories in person,” said Miyuki Arai, Director of Global Learning Services. “They return with a renewed sense of curiosity and enthusiasm that encourages others to experience the world outside their comfort zone.”
Jonathan Shaw described the Global Learning Office's approach to fostering intellectual dispositions (such as empathy, courage, humility, and integrity) that study abroad experiences cultivate. "An exchange doesn't just check these boxes. It forces us to embody them each day, and more intensely than on campus at home. We like to think of study abroad exchances as a kind of critical thinking accelerator," he said.
To find out more about global learning experiences, contact the Global Learning Office at Global@smu.ca.
