This past May, after enrolling in a fourth quarter English and political science Study Abroad course, I flew from New York City to London Heathrow Airport to spend eight and a half days overseas in the United Kingdom with 12 other Oswego State students.

For many students, traveling to a foreign country for an affordable rate as part of a university program may be the only opportunity we get to explore abroad for many years. The opportunity may turn out to be a once in a lifetime opportunity due to work and home responsibilities, or we may choose to wait until we are of retirement age to tap into our savings and head overseas. Financial aid and scholarships to travel abroad are available to eligible Oswego State students upon application, so there is no time like the present. 

When an opportunity presented itself to me in the form of an affordable Oswego State course overseas, I knew I had to take it. Traveling in a group with university professors and faculty members acting as chaperones and day-to-day planners proved to be an added benefit that relieved pressure of booking tickets for airfare, hotels and sightseeing attractions on my own.

When traveling abroad, you develop a new sort of financial independence and begin to budget wisely and perhaps more meticulously than you would in American dollars. You are forced to keep exchange rates in mind as you learn to recognize what is truly affordable and what falls within your price range for food expenses and leisurely activities. Perhaps you discover that an urban landmark you have been craving to visit is completely free to admire from the outside.

Depending on how far you go from the United States, you may find that a significant time zone shift of five hours or more benefits your natural “body clock.” Your stamina and drive to stay out later in the evening is increased, possibly due to a change in the amount of daylight you receive because of your new geographic location. 

You may find that your independent nature is heightened, and that being in a new place taps into your curiosity and desire to explore nighttime culture. When I traveled to London, my classmates and I made time to ensure we explored pubs and evening market culture. We found navigating the London Tube system to be incredibly simple and convenient, as opposed to the subway system back home in Manhattan. There are also apps such as CityMapper that greatly aid in navigating from place to place.

I would highly recommend taking advantage of a Study Abroad program while you are a student. What is better than earning academic credit while visiting your favorite place in the world?