Did you know you could have the chance to take a course in another country? A lesser-known opportunity available to students is the chance to study abroad. Over the summer, two Barlow students and three Barlow staff members were able to take courses and serve as chaperones in various European countries through the Council on International Educational Exchange’s High School Study Abroad program (CIEE).
Ayla Armitage, a Barlow senior, was one student who had the opportunity to study in Spain through CIEE’s program last summer.
“I first learned about this trip through a poster in a teacher’s room,” Armitage shares. “I noticed the poster for a summer study abroad and inquired more about it. While looking on the website, I realized they had so many programs. I’m talking like over 50. All over the globe. What spoke to me most about Spain, though, was that you could earn college credit because it focused on language learning and culture.”
Armitage stayed in Barcelona for a month with a host family. She was able to visit museums and landmarks around the city in the first half of the day, then in the afternoon, she would attend her language classes.
“My favorite place would probably have to be La Sagrada Família. La Sagrada Família is a gigantic church built by one of Spain’s most famous architects and artists. However, my favorite part? Definitely the stained glass windows. When you see the sun shining through them, it’s like no sight before.”
Unfortunately, Armitage’s experience was not all positive. She shares, “I didn’t enjoy my host family. I don’t want to scare anyone off by saying this, so please don’t think that they were terrible. Unfortunately, I think I just got stuck with the bad one of the bunch. Every other person in my classes, however, had good host families, so my circumstances were definitely rare! Teachers and staff, as well as the program, didn’t let this go unnoticed,” Armitage says. “They are very helpful and attentive to what students need or their living conditions.”
Despite the trouble, she didn’t let it take too much away from her trip. “One of my favorite things, among many other peoples, was visiting the beach or ‘la playa.’ Since Barcelona is off the coast of Spain, access to beaches was plentiful. The ocean is warm, a stark contrast to the beaches off the coast of Oregon, and interesting fact, but the sand is super coarse. It’s almost like small pebbles versus tiny grains.”
Armitage shares that she was nervous about the application process, and many might find it overwhelming if they’re unsure how to apply. However, it ended up being simpler than she thought. Still, the process is unique to the individual, depending on the need or effort put in for scholarships.
“It wasn’t hard, but it definitely took more effort for me because I needed financial aid. Among a few short essays by me, my parents’ taxes, and letters of recommendation were required to apply. Hearing about acceptance took a while, only because they kept pushing back the application date to allow more people to apply,” she notes.
The biggest piece of advice Armitage gives for students who are interested in CIEE’s program or any others like it is to just go for it.
“Take the chance! I was so nervous to apply for honestly no reason. I worried about financial aid, and if they would accept what I needed, and how to cover the cost if they didn’t pick me. I ended up getting around 90% of the cost covered by the program. I learned so many things while only being there for a month; it’s honestly shocking to me. If you apply, embrace the culture! In 10 years—or even in 3—you’ll look back on this and think ‘whoa!’ The opportunity is once in a lifetime, so what’s stopping you?”
Isabella Johnson was another student who was able to study abroad last summer. She visited Toulouse, France, and stayed in a hotel in the city. She took a three-week-long Engineering and Aeronautics course.
Johnson shares, “The course was pretty fun. We had 5 classes a week for 1-2 hours. The first week was about planes, history, jet engines, math, and whatnot. The second week was about space, so rockets, life support systems, etc. I learned a lot, actually, like how jet engines worked, some formulas used in aerospace, how planes were built, and closed ecosystems. Our final project was designing and launching a little rocket.”
Other highlights of the course the students took included building mini rockets while learning from engineers, visiting museums, touring the city, kayaking the Garonne River, and with many other unforgettable experiences in a major center for engineering and innovation in Europe—Toulouse, France.
Johnson notes, “We went to a ton of museums, but my personal favorite was the Cité de l’Espace. It was so cool, they had a prototype rocket, an ISS replica you could go into, a planetarium, and a big area that made it seem like you were on the moon. They had a station that showed you what the moon smelled like, and we argued on it smelling like gunpowder or smoked ham.”
For Johnson, this trip was an opportunity to connect with and befriend people that she wouldn’t have ordinarily. “My favorite thing was hanging out with the people I met. Exploring Toulouse and doing activities with them made it so much fun. I met people who were from all over, including New York, Japan, Massachusetts, Dubai, Florida, California, to name a few. Even though you had your own group, you still talked to everyone at least once since we all shared the same interests.”
Johnson seems to be in agreement with Armitage when she says, “The advice I’d give if you’re questioning on doing it is to do it. I’m a shy person, and I was scared to fly internationally by myself, but if I could go back, I wouldn’t change anything. There are many programs to choose from regarding locations and academics, so even if you’re interested in STEM, business, or social sciences, there’s probably a program for you, and even if you already sent in your application, you can always back out if you’re not ready.”
These trips abroad were not just an incredible experience for students, but also for the staff who attended. Courtney Goss, Production Secretary for the TMC, chaperoned 31 students attending a three-week creative writing course in England.
“I visited Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Brighton, as well as London. We did several tours and explored the many different areas of London like Notting Hill, Camden, Bloomsbury, and Borough,” says Goss.
For her, this was an incredible and unforgettable experience. Goss’s group was able to visit famous landmarks and museums. She went to the London Tower, the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and Westminster Abbey.
Goss shares, “The Abbey was my favorite by far, it’s just so beautiful and peaceful despite all of the people.”
Overall, her favorite part of the trip was the day she went to Brighton, a coastal town about an hour outside of London. “It was so lovely to just put my toes in the ocean and be somewhere that moved slower than the city.”
Overall, it seemed to be not just a very memorable experience, but also an uncommon one for people who live in the US. It wasn’t just a vacation; it was an opportunity to live in England, even for just a short while, that was separate from many tourists’ experiences. Goss’s group stayed in dorms at the University of London College, providing a chance to experience the daily life of a London resident, rather than a tourist.
Goss explains, “I really enjoyed the ability to really live in the city, and to not just fall into the touristy stuff.”
Adina Rubenstein, a Barlow science teacher, chaperoned the same trip Johnson went on. Chef Sam, the culinary teacher, went to Amsterdam for three weeks to chaperone a Smart Cities and Sustainability program.
There are many more opportunities to go to many other countries all over the world through CIEE, with up to 40 in the summer abroad program. There’s also a variety of courses you can choose from, such as engineering, languages, art, architecture, and many more.
Although the trips are expensive (the full prices ranging from $4000-$10,000 in many cases, depending on where you go), you can apply for scholarships and financial aid to greatly reduce the cost.
Summer abroad trips can be an incredible opportunity that can build your college resume and establish valuable connections. These trips offer a unique academic opportunity where you can learn about various skills, cultures, and histories in a different environment. They are a powerful way to broaden your horizons about places outside the US, allowing you to not only learn about a different country, but to actually live in it for a period of time. If you are interested in taking a course abroad next summer, visit ciee.org to learn more.
