From advising at my desk to a personal experience: How an advisor visit to a GEO Center Transformed my study abroad advising
As a first-generation college student, I did not have the opportunity to study abroad. Now as an advisor at the Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence (CMAE) I have seen first-hand the importance and transformative power of study abroad for our students. Our office has valued the experience of studying abroad so much that we have partnered with Global Education Oregon (GEO) for a decade through the Diversity Excellence Scholars Abroad scholarship, collaborating on panels and workshops and generally supporting each other’s work with students.
This year, over the summer, I had the unique opportunity to visit one of the GEO centers by receiving a GEO UO Staff Study Abroad Grant. I decided to go to the Siena, Italy and visit the GEO center there. Why did I choose Italy? While I have had students study abroad at GEO’s London, England and Segovia and Oviedo, Spanish centers, I decided to travel to a place where I didn’t speak the language.
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From my office to Siena - Seeing Support in Action
As academic advisors, one of our goals is to guide students towards opportunities that will shape their academic, personal and professional goals. When it comes to advising for study abroad, a program description on a website can only take me so far. The core details, what the center feels like, how long does it take to get there, are voids that I had. Having firsthand experience becomes invaluable. A staff grant that allows an advisor to visit a GEO center, such as the one in Siena, doesn’t just benefit the visiting staff member, it creates a ripple effect amongst the advisors and students I now connect with.
Before my on-site visit, I didn’t understand the extent of the on-site support that GEO center staff offer students. As a fellow UO staff member, I am thankful for, and amazed at the amount of, work and labor of love that Silvia, Claudia and the Siena staff provide to our UO students. They are the dedicated GEO staff who arrange housing, plan excursions, and conduct orientations. I saw firsthand the level of detail and the scaffolding they provide for our arriving students.
Having firsthand knowledge as an advisor who has personally walked the streets of Siena and met the on-site GEO staff, I can offer more than reassurance; I can offer concrete, personal insight, and understanding of the robust support system waiting for students. I saw the details that go into arranging transportation for excursions, room arrangements and orientation. With the Pre-Freshmen in Siena students, I had the opportunity to walk alongside them for the Practical Walking Tour with Silvia. On this tour she pointed out visual guidelines and markers for safety, health, cultural, financial and general wayfinding. This was followed by a welcome dinner where the students began to build community and connections. The following day I sat in the Orientation that takes place for new program students. In addition to the practical walking tour, this larger Orientation covered a lot of safety tips, from passport requirements, public transportation in and outside the city, general safety, and a quick overview of Siena. The following day was the in-depth Siena walking tour with the students. Over these three days, I saw how the scaffolding of support for arriving students is carefully planned. Knowing the specifics of the on-site support and environment, I am better prepared to talk to students about what to generally expect when at a GEO site. Hopefully my advice to students can lead to a smoother transition, reduced anxiety and a more fulfilling experience abroad. When a student now asks me about a GEO Center, I can speak with confidence and not in generalities.
Feel for the city:
By walking through the GEO Center, exploring the city of Siena, and participating in the orientation excursions, I gained a practical feel for the center’s feel, and context. This personal knowledge will help me address student concerns and questions with greater confidence, whether related to Siena or another GEO site.
The opportunity to walk around the city with curiosity and placing myself in the shoes of a student studying abroad for the first time, has given me the personal experience to help enrich my conversations with my students. I can be a partner to my GEO colleagues, and my conversations are now more enriched as I can speak to the location of the center, travel logistics, time zone changes, and the weather. My personal knowledge can now help me connect with a student on a different level by bringing the abstract into a concrete experience.
For many students, the decision to study abroad is a significant and sometimes intimidating one. As a first-generation college student, I remember that few of us went on a study abroad. Having now had this experience, I hope my personal connection can make study abroad feel more real and attainable, helping students envision their own journeys and make more confident choices.
In addition, I look forward to sharing my experience not only with my students but with my colleagues. My goal being that we can share insights and create a stronger network of global education advocates. We can use our collective knowledge to encourage our students to travel, advocate for, and improve how the university promotes and supports study abroad for all our students.
My staff grant to visit a GEO center has equipped me to have more impactful, meaningful conversations with students. The experience has enhanced my advising capabilities by being able to move beyond the abstract, or my online knowledge base, and to draw on personal observations and experiences. By drawing on personal observations, I can help students see that study abroad isn't just a possibility, it's a vibrant, tangible experience waiting for them. This enhanced advising capability has the potential to increase student participation.
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Tips and overview of your first time going abroad:
I had not traveled, outside of Canada and Mexico, and Italy was my first trip abroad. I watched a lot of YouTube videos about going to Italy and what to take and what not to take. They were absolutely correct, taking less is more. I was able to take just one carryon suitcase and my backpack. The streets of Florence and Siena were cobblestones, and it was hard to navigate with a suitcase. Packing as light as possible was great and more manageable with a small carryon. Another thing to keep in mind is that in old cities, and specifically ones that are historical and cannot have many, or any, modifications, you will find yourself going up many, many stairs.
There were laundromats, so you can pack light with mix and match clothes. There is also an amazing outdoor market that happens every Wednesday in the morning. It is a large traditional market where you can buy clothing, including shoes, belts and socks, and household goods. While Siena had a lot of great shops throughout the city, the Mercato delle Merci is where the locals go to shop. I heard from folks in Siena that you can donate clothes, especially if you buy new clothes that might be more appropriate for environment you find yourself in. I did not notice where these donation bins were located, but it is a good tip to know. Another option is to buy an extra suitcase for your return trip. Something I’ll keep in mind for next time I go to Siena.
Learning about the weather and cultural practices is also important. My assumption was that many parts of Europe do not have AC or massive AC units, such as the ones in the US. Packing light linen and clothes that are breathable are a must. Italy is a religious country, and Siena has the Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico, which houses the relics of Catherine of Siena, the patron saint of Italy and Europe there are a lot of churches. Siena’s medieval historic center has unbelievable architecture include the Duomo and many, many churches that are Catholic pilgrimage sites. If you plan on visiting any of these historic churches, make sure to bring a shawl, scarf or little sweater to cover your bare shoulders, and make sure your shorts, skirts or dresses are long enough to go below your knees.
I would take small steps as you plan and prepare to go abroad. Connect with your credit union about a travel credit or debit card or get financial tips they may have for you before you go abroad. Make a budget and stick with it. Check out all the GEO website, talk to the GEO advisors, and talk to other students who have studied abroad is a great idea.
General and Safety tips.
Although Sienna is safe, and I felt safe while walking about, I would buy a good purse or backpack that is “pickpocket” proof. I would use common sense as if you were going to any large busy city. Download a language app, watch videos, and practice some common words and phrases. I would download the WhatsApp app because it will help you stay in contact with both the folks back home and the locals and will most likely be cheaper than your cell carrier.
Watch YouTube videos for the city you are going to. I found watching YouTube videos of how to travel to Siena from Florence helpful. I found many videos that gave a lot of practical information about how to safely travel and use public transportation. There is a lot of helpful information, and watching YouTube videos is helpful, but remember that sometimes you just have to experience it. A number of videos I found interesting were the ones whose aim is to teach you to “not look like a tourist when you’re abroad.” I don’t mind the “tourist trap” videos. Videos on budgets, phone and technology abroad, but the “what not to wear to not look like a tourist,” I would say pay no mind to those. I would pay attention to advice on how to dress to be respectful of the places you are visiting and knowing decorum. In the end, I saw Italians wearing tennis shoes, and baseball hats, along with lots of tourists wearing the same.
I would visit local city, municipality and non-profit websites, not just the tourist websites. There you will find local programming and events that are open to all. For example, there was an outdoor movie night at the local soccer stadium throughout the month of July. There is also a local football club, Siena FC SSD, and was able to watch part of the match. I think experiencing things that aren't necessarily tourist attractions but are more a slice of life can be more meaningful. Make a note of holidays and customs. For example, I found out that because museums are open on Saturday and Sundays, they will close on Mondays as a day off for museum staff. By googling free museum day, I learned that the first Sunday of the month was a free museum day.
Highlighting advice for other advisors:
I encourage my campus colleagues to attend as many GEO workshops as possible. We usually encourage our students to attend workshops, but we should go and listen to what students are sharing to learn from them. It’s important to take advantage of the workshops especially because the study abroad opportunities are so broad and varied.
I would counsel any student to go ahead and start their exploration of study abroad early, it doesn’t matter if they don’t know when or where they want to study, but early exploration is key. I encourage students to really think about what they want to get out of their study abroad. Is it language skills, is it for major requirements, is it to travel someplace new, to gain work experience? The answers to any of the questions will determine how soon they can go, based on any prerequisites, or any requirements. It is important to ask students questions about who they are as a person, or how they want to challenge themselves. Are they the type of person who would flourish as an exchange student, with no other UO students with them, and have to make new friends, perhaps in a new language? Would they rather be with a group of UO students, being in classes together with a shared experience? Do they want to live in university housing, with host families, or in shared apartments? Do they want more staff support, like what a GEO center can offer? Are they more interested in a faculty lead experience based on academic interests? It is never to early to learn about the variety of options available and meeting with GEO advisors, and going to workshops is key to this exploration. The sooner a student can explore their options, the better they are able to plan for it and meet any language, GPA or other prerequisites required for their trip.
I have been advising for over 10 years and as an International Studies major my study abroad experience was going to Mexico and having an experiential experience working with an NGO. I guess I don't consider this study abroad because I am a Mexican immigrant, and even though I had not spent a lot of time in Mexico I didn't have a “classic” study abroad experience. Up until my week in Italy, I had never been outside of North America.
I purposely chose to go to Italy for my study abroad staff grant because I didn't want to go to an English or Spanish speaking location as I speak both these languages. I also specifically didn’t want to go to Spain because as a Mexican American I didn't want my first experience abroad to be in the colonizing country we fought for independence from.
Over the years, I have learned from my students that there are few common shared experiences they have. One is the ability to blend. Being able to blend can be very freeing. They can experience the feeling of not having always to be watched, they can feel in place instead of out of place. Another common experience students have shared with me is the opportunity to experience “race” outside of the United States. Being able to experience race outside of this country, allows them to have new insights to their lived experiences both inside and outside of the United States.
I was curious to experience my racial identity abroad. I am used to others not being easily able to ethnically categorized me here in this country. I wondered if I would have the same experience abroad. While I was in Italy people recognized me as a Latina. Specifically, other Latinos immediately recognized me as their own. It was comforting to be recognized by my community. I intellectually understand the history of human migration, the statistics of immigration. I understand textbook accounts of people being displaced for a variety of factors and reasons. However, I was not expecting to meet, in a place like a Sienna or Florence, as many Latino immigrants as I met. I enjoyed the experience of talking to other immigrants. Learning about them and their transatlantic journeys, or about their second-generation children. As immigrants we share a universal story of displacement through politics, economics, or environmental displacement. We recognize each other’s stories, and in our appreciation for our new homes.
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As someone who identifies as an indigenous person, and as a Mexican American, it was interesting to be in a grocery store of a medieval city and see fruits and vegetables from the Americas being sold. It was seeing the squash blossoms being sold that made me pause, because I wasn’t expecting to see squash blossoms sold in Italy. I knew about tomatoes, corn, potatoes, squashes and chiles being sold around the world, but something about the squash blossoms gave me pause. I have always found it fascinating how foods from the Americas have transformed the cuisines and cultures of other countries. It was the combination of talking to immigrants, of eating at various Asian restaurants, and squash blossoms at the supermarket which made me realize I wanted to know if there are study abroad classes that examine the impact of new world foods on European culture. Are foods now so deeply “European” that people have forgotten how these foods got there in the first place? We can find ethnic studies classes on the UO campus, but what do those ethnic studies classes look like in a study abroad context?
My advice to students is to start exploring early, even if you don't know where you want to go. To take the opportunity to take a look and see what's available to you. Start by going to the GEO website and looking at all the different types of programs. Go to all the workshops you can go to. It’s important to understand types of programs, the prerequisites and the deadlines.
Specifically, I think it's important to know yourself and what you're trying to challenge yourself with. How are you willing to feel uncomfortable? Do you want to feel uncomfortable in a city where you don't know the language? Do you want to challenge yourself to learn in a new country with complete strangers, or in a cohort of fellow Ducks? It is important to know yourself and what support systems you want in place. I saw how a GEO center provides support to students. I witnessed the care and the details that go into putting on these programs. The staff’s ability to connect with students and provide resources and reassurances on the ground may be important for some. If you’re like me traveling abroad for the first time, knowing there is a UO center with UO staff there can be very comforting. Or perhaps you want to challenge yourself with wanting to be in a new location with not as many guardrails. Perhaps being an exchange student, where you are the only American and you can take your extrovert self and make friends in a language not your own. Maybe it is that really immersive experience you want to have. Or on the flip side maybe you are a more introverted student who also wants to immerse themselves, and being an exchange student is the challenge you want because it is outside your comfort zone. Knowing how you want to challenge yourself, and what you are willing to do or not do is as important as the country you want to go to.
And maybe you do not know right now what challenge you are looking for, but all these questions are important, and the GEO resources can help guide you to your answers. You don’t have to explore on your own.
- Rosa Chavez, GEO Staff Grant