Casey Crough
Staff Reporter
“I want to see as much of the world as possible before I die,” said Jason Norton ’09, a senior who represents one of 20 students who have studied abroad in Budapest, Hungry.
According to Rose Falkner, the Director of International and Off Campus Study, a total of 40 students traveled abroad in the fall: 20 to Budapest (including two non-McDaniel students from Colby College and Antioch College), 18 to affiliated programs to England, South Africa, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Costa Rica, Nepal, and Semester at Sea), and two to non-affiliated programs in Israel and Ecuador.
The Study Abroad program is a fairly recent endeavor. Falkner came to McDaniel in the fall of 2004 and became the college’s first full-time Director of International and Off-Campus Study.
“Prior to 2004, there was no International Programs Office, and study abroad was handled part-time by various faculty members in the Foreign Language Dept.–they did not coordinate the Budapest program, and the Brussels Exchange Program was not established until spring 2007,” explained Falkner.
Norton, who decided against traveling with a friend, has been interested in studying abroad since his freshman year.
In addition to living in Budapest, Norton also visited Dublin, Paris, Munich, Venice, and Vienna.
“Dublin was my favorite,” said Norton, “the people were amazing.” Another student who studied abroad, MJ Alexander ’09 participated in the Semester at Sea program.
“We went to ten different countries, 14 ports in total,” said Alexander.
When asked what his most surprising experience while abroad was, Norton surprisingly answered that it was observing the plight of the homeless. He explains that the experience of the homeless in the United States is nothing like in Budapest, said Norton.
One unpleasant experience this senior encountered was his roommate. “He won’t be offended since he doesn’t go to this school,” Norton remarked, chuckling.
Even through there were some tough experiences, Norton not only learned in the classroom, but in the community.
Norton immersed himself in the culture by actively participating in the recent election.
Michel Simmons, a citizen of Budapest, held open off campus lectures about political issues and the government in Hungry.
Norton participated in the “Hungry for Obama” campaign, and blogged on blogspot.com, as well as on the McDaniel website.
Even though Norton was abroad, he was still able to celebrate the election.
“On election night we had a party at the Grand Corinthian Hotel,” said Norton.
“It felt like New Year’s Eve and everyone, liberal or conservative, was so respectful,” said Norton.
Erika Clark ’11, another student who studied abroad in Argentina in the fall, offered what she gained from being abroad while the election was taking place.
“I gained an Argentinean perspective on Obama and his speech on election night,” said Clark.
Experiencing the election was one opportunity to experience a different culture and new perspective, but how difficult was it to transfer back in the McDaniel community?
When questioned if the transition back to McDaniel had been a difficult one, Norton explained that he feels a little more introverted, and that he could explain himself and open up more in classes abroad.
Homesickness is a topic brought up often to students who have studied abroad.
“There were moments where I missed people, like on Facebook, or pictures from Homecoming, but I was in my own place, and happy where I was,” said Norton.
For students interested in studying abroad, Norton offers this advice: “It comes down to the means to, the urge to, and the mind to go. It is easier to come up with reasons not to go. Students have to figure it out on their own, which is part of the experience.”
” I would do it again, but I would do it on my own because I know I can do it now. I could definitely see myself living in four to five of the countries I traveled to,” said Alexander.
In the fall of ’09 a total of 51 students will be traveling abroad: 39 to Budapest (including three non-McDaniel students–two from Goucher College?and one from U. of MD), ten to affiliated programs to China, France, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, Spain and Morocco, and two on the Brussels Exchange Program.
Interested about studying abroad?
Visit: www.mcdaniel.edu/studyabroad, www.mcdaniel.edu/budapest, or contact Rose Falkner (e-mail: rfalkner@mcdaniel.edu), the Director of the International Programs Office in Hill Hall 105.