Resetting Our Goals?

One major "development" experience that sticks out to me involves the elections England had in May, and the subsequent political climate involving the Conservative government lead by David Cameron and the stance the party takes in regards to the EU. For the Conservative government, their stance on England's continued participation in the EU is tenuous, and they vowed, if elected, to put their membership to a referendum.

That referendum is set to take place next year, and Cameron and the Conservatives want to see the peoples' opinion on the EU. There is an agenda of course, and the Conservatives are Euro-skeptical, believing that soon may be the time for the United Kingdom to leave the EU. They feel that developing both Europe and the global community can be better achieved without the regulation or support of the EU's governing bodies, and that the EU hurts the UK more than it helps.

Part of these sentiments arise from the situation in Greece, as well as the austerity measures the EU placed on the whole of Europe, in either reforms in places like Greece, or increased monetary help to bail out the countries in danger, which the UK has done. The UK feels that "development" of Southern Europe and Ireland is no longer in its own interests. Development to England means less about giving money directly to countries in its immediate region, but more on recovering its own economy, even as the bedroom tax and other Conservative policy places undue burden on citizens.

England also continues to gear its development towards devolution, with new proposed measures to give English MPs more control over the laws passed in England that do not relate to Scotland. The "English votes for English laws" proposals arise in retaliation of Scotland having its own Parliament and elections offset from the state wide elections, and the fact that even though Scotland determines its own path in certain terms, those same MPs can vote on England's budgets, even if those budgets do not affect Scotland whatsoever, or they are legally exempt from certain restrictions. Scotland is given flexibility with both welfare benefits and taxation, for example, a 5 pence tax on plastic bags in stores, a tax that does not exist in England. The divide between the Scottish and English cultures have forced development to center around both leveling the playing field for the English, and also giving Scotland more freedom to appease growing dissatisfaction. Because of this, the changing nature of development may mean Great Britain takes a turn into itself, further losing the prestige from its former empire, and instead working to ensure the Isles do not fully splinter from Westminster government.

The task of keeping the United Kingdom together is proved more difficult, both by the election of the Conservative party, and the failure of the referendum of 2014 on Scottish independence. Despite the Unionists prevailing, the Scottish National Party began to see membership increase, as many Scots still feel that English leadership is not in their best interests. To the British, the social importance of development is now more than ever focused on the home islands, leaving the rest of Europe and world at large on the back burner, until such time Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are more securely tied to Westminster. A vote to leave the EU would further exacerbate the tensions, as Scotland at large is a pro-EU culture, despite the Cameron administration's Euro-skepticism.

Parliament Building, London, where much of the UK's talks of development take place

Coming Home

Even though I still haven't come home from Costa Rica I can still talk about what my education experience was like overall. Studying abroad is truly a life-changer because no matter how you do it, you are going to be thrown into situations out of your comfort zone. At first, it can be kind of stressful and make you anxious or scared, but the feeling you get once you've successfully dealt with all these new situations is of complete satisfaction that you have successfully traveled to foreign country and not only furthered your education, but also improved upon skills such as inter-personal skills, problem solving, language learning, and world history. World history is a very important one for me because growing up in the United States can really disconnect you from the rest of the world. It is easy to forget how privileged we are here in the U.S. and the international role our country is playing in global affairs.  It is also easy to be deluded into thinking the U.S. should be a role model for other "developing countries". If anything, I've learned that the U.S. is not as great and "developed" as I used to think and the American people would benefit greatly if they took a leaf from their Central American neighbor's book. The hard thing is trying to shift lifestyle while living in the U.S. because you don't know how to. Traveling to anther country really helps one step back, and take a look in the mirror and reconsider how we live in the U.S. The nice thing is that when you travel to a foreign country you can get a glimpse of other social systems that you may or may not associate yourself with more.

Coming Home

The goal of higher education is to obtain further knowledge.  This knowledge comes from sources such as textbooks, professors, and experiences.  One of the fascinating advantages of a liberal arts college is the difference in variety of experiences that are offered to any particular student.  Having the ability to study away was just one of these experiences I was able to have.  During my exchange program, I was taught by unfamiliar teachers, who used alternative teaching approaches to present to an eager set of students in another learning environment.  These differences allowed me to learn to not only take in my surroundings in a different way, but more importantly it let me question what I previously knew and tie together old ideas while combining some of them with new ideas. 

The ability to connect and critique ideas is the model universities are built around.  Hence we see a global push by universities to develop study aboard programs where this level of higher learning occurs.  While there are so many things we can still learn in our own countries, studying abroad is especially valuable as in this instance the familiarities we know are removed and re

placed with new experiences.  Not all the time did I agree with the views of those around me and the culture that was expressed, but in these situations I was still able to see where these individuals were coming from and why they held their views.  Two poignant examples were an old man who did not believe in global warming and a surf shop owner who had the confederate war flag hanging in his shop window.  These people, though certainly kind at heart, had been raised differently and often in a narrow setting where they were exposed to limited viewpoints.  It is this understanding of others, cultures, and viewpoints that anyone who travels is bound to experience. 

            To gain a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us we must leave what we know so that when we return home we see former matters differently.  This is why higher education encourages students to leave home and roam.

Southold, NY

Coming Home

Study abroad was by far one of the most amazing experiences of my life. From the friends I made to the countries I visited I don’t regret a single moment of my time there. There is a sense of connectedness in England, and around Europe, that just feels so different from American and American education. While studying in England I had the opportunity to see countries all over mainland Europe, for a fraction of what I would pay in America. I was able to see France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, all over the course of a month. That month, including transport, food, and board, cost less than a round-trip ticket home to America would have. We don’t have that opportunity in the States. Even traveling from state to state is often expensive and taxing. However in England it’s common for people to pop over to Spain or France for a weekend. Through this experience I gained access to countries and ways of life I never thought I’d be exposed to. Study abroad turned into a learning experience, not even just in my destination school, but all over Europe. The chance to take a weekend and see points of interest like Belvedere and Eiffel Tower on a university student’s budget is an opportunity I’ll probably never have again and was one of the most significant learning experiences I’ve ever had.

These trips also allowed me the opportunity to be more conscious as my privilege as an English-speaker. With the exception of certain areas of France, we had no problem getting around any of the countries with visited because a majority of people spoke English. Although we tried to use the language of the country we were in whenever we could, it was still interesting to have that support to fall back on. It made time in a foreign country seem less intimidating. Overall this experience made me feel more connected to other countries, it made me want to try harder to get back to Europe one day. To see more of cultures I wouldn’t have been exposed to if it weren’t for this experience. Heading back to America I know I'm going to miss the feeling of being connected that I gained while I was at Lancaster. 

Lessons From Study Away

These three stories were shared by a guy in my building, Danny, my flatmate, Adam, and a friend from class, Will. I tried my best to transcribe them as true to how they told me as possible without including all of their frantic hand gestures.

“My earliest memory of Angela is also one of my favorites. We had gone to Hustle—and for those who don’t know this is a particularly vile club in Lancaster that’s just sticky and makes you feel like you need a shower when you walk in—and it was early on so none of us realized that Angela didn’t actually like clubs. So we all go to dance and all of a sudden we look around and realize she isn’t with us anymore—I just want to point out we didn’t know her that well and we were all already fairly drunk at this point so it wasn’t like we were being dicks, we just didn’t notice. So we all panic a little because we’ve lost the American girl on her first week, that’s not good, and I go off to look for her. I find her, no joke, curled up on a couch outside the door to the toilets just chatting with these half crying/half giggling drunken girls. These girls were totally wasted and Angela is just sitting there listening to them rant and nodding and occasionally giving them hugs, so me and Dan (another member of our flat) go and join them and when we walked over Angela’s face completely lit up. We all didn’t really know each other yet but she’s just so welcoming and enthusiastic that we spent the rest of the night curled up on the couch in the middle of this crowded club while she tells us how great and special we are and honestly I just remember thinking that she may have been the nicest person I’ve ever met. And I think that’s actually the main thing I learned about Angela while she was here, she just loves everyone so much and is so happy when we’re happy, I think our block was made genuinely better while she was here and we’re going to lose a lot when she leaves. Also, that was the night I realized I actually love Hustle.” Danny

“Angela can be kind of quiet. She’s good with being the first one to say hello and all that but after the expected small talk is done she just kind of asks questions and doesn’t really say much. [I cut in that I just didn’t want to risk offending anyone] So one night we go over to our friend’s apartment and we’re all just sitting around and I don’t remember how but someone brought up Forrest Gump and out of the blue Angela cuts in and starts talking about how much she doesn’t like the movie. She’s crazy, it’s an amazing movie, but anyway her and I got into this huge half joking/half not fight about it and it seems weird that this would be my favorite story but Angela is always so nice to everyone it made me feel special that she was comfortable enough around me to be a little mean. It was the moment that I knew for sure that we’d be friends.” Adam

“You know you’re friends with Angela when she develops this obsessive need to make sure you’re eating okay. The first thing she asks every time I come over is whether I’ve had dinner, do I want her to make me dinner, or she’ll be baking something (I feel like she’s always baking) and make me take some of whatever it is. I’m not complaining it’s nice to feel taken care of; she just always needs to make sure everyone’s taken care of all the time. So anyway Angela and I first met at a bar on campus, she was with another guy that I have classes with so I sat down to talk to them. She was a little drunk at this point which may be why by the end of the conversation she was already comfortable telling me how great she thought I was. By the time we’re ready to leave it’s like 3am and she’s insisting I come over and eat some cheesecake she made. As much as I make fun of her I’m going to miss all the cooking all the time, she made everyone feel taken care of.” Will

 The first thing I notice about all of these stories was I had been drinking for each of them. Maybe not the best thing to write in an academic blog but I think it says a lot about the drinking culture here in England. I’m not a big drinker in the United States, occasional nights in with friends are fun but I don’t particularly enjoy getting too drunk or loud parties. In England if you don’t drink than that’s a large portion of your social life gone. My flatmates drank basically everyday whether it was just a pint at dinner or heavier drinking that comes before a night out. I think it’s interesting that so many close bonds are formed over nights out and sitting around at bars. In addition, these stories all make it seem like kindness is a key factor in breaking down barriers. Each of these people said they felt comfortable with me and stayed friends with me because they felt that I was nice and as a result I seemed more welcoming. 

Coming Home

     "A college or university that is a global community opens students to new points of view, challenges their thinking about themselves and their world, and sets the stage for personal and professional growth" (1). Many American colleges and universities believe it to be a special priority, whether one is studying another language and is looking to be immersed in it, or if one is studying a field like environmental science and is looking to see different parts of the world. I believe that Allegheny College highly values the globalization of education through studying abroad, and strongly encourages its students to plan to have this experience. I was lucky enough to take on this opportunity and in turn I have learned an enormous amount from it and I have grown as a person in many ways. In reflection, studying abroad aids one in gaining many different skills. True independence is something I have achieved while being away because I was required to look at and learn about my affairs and myself. I also have made friends from all over the world, so I not only learned about French culture but about the cultures of over 30 other countries. If I ever had to work in an international workplace, I now feel more than ready to do so. I have also had the chance to travel to other countries like Ireland, Italy, and Malta, and with that I have met many people and seen many other cultures that I have learned from.

One of my classes in Angers

     While living in France, I have learned other things besides slang words and expressions in the French language. I truly believe that being immersed in another culture is the best way to learn about it, but I also think that it has other benefits. I am now more conscious about my own culture after being completely involved in another. I now realize how people of France generally view Americans, some are completely against the stereotypes that we all hear about and some agree with them. This has made me more aware of my actions and those of my country as well. Because of this, I have learned much more about myself than I could have by just staying within my own country. Before I arrived in Angers, I expected things that ended up being rather true. But I also expected to see a lot of things that simply were not true and turned out to be stereotypical. It is important to know that there might be a difference between expectations and reality, and my reality definitely exceeded my expectations.

      Studying abroad has helped me grow – I have gained true independence, a more positive outlook on life, and a thirsty desire to return to France. After I receive my double major diploma from Allegheny College next year, I plan to move to France and teach English to French students for a few years. This experience has helped me be able to realize that I want to spend my future abroad and I am looking forward to the years to come.


Lynch, Matthew. "Diverse Conversations: The Globalization of Higher Education." The Huffington Post, 29 May 2013. Web. 5 June 2015.

Coming Home

“If it isn’t global, it isn’t education.”

Dr. George B. Forsythe, President of Westminster College, highlights the importance of a global perspective in education during his interview with the Huffington Post. A global education, he argues, challenges personal views and promotes professional growth. It is a prerequisite for participation in the global community.

My experience abroad has taught me just how important a global education is. From our Western perspective, our lifestyle and our culture are undeniably the best—as if Western society has reached some zenith of development, unsurpassed by the global south or the east. I imagined that Ecuador, as a developing country, would show the obvious signs of copying western culture, of striving to reach the “development” that is the United States. What I experienced, however, was very different from my expectations.

In San Clemente, a small rural community in the Andes Mountains, I spent six weeks with a host family, learning about their culture and working in the local elementary school. Development has a completely different meaning in this community, and it is most definitely not a Western one. Development and education to this community is about learning the skills to advance their own culture, not copy another culture. As we worked on their farm, preparing the soil for the coming planting season, my host mother taught me about the importance of crop rotation, about her recent efforts to teach the community about organic farming, and her own determination to learn about how to make the best compost fertilizer. These were examples of their own development goals.

During the final week, I travelled into the city to buy my family a little gift to show my appreciation for their hospitality and friendship. I asked myself, What do they need? What don’t they have that I can buy them? That question wasn’t hard to answer: a television, a computer, a dishwasher, a radio, cellphones. But the hard question was, What do they want? I could buy my family any of those items, but I realized that they would be useless for them. The fact that someone may not want a computer or a cellphone was unfathomable to me before I came to this community. Now, however, it makes perfect sense. The latest technologies are not how this community plans to “develop.” That’s not what they need. Innovation can take many forms—from designing the most advanced computer to designing a seed-sharing program where community members can share with each other medicinal herbs and vegetable seeds.

This concept of different views on development is what I consider the most important part of my “global education” during my study abroad experience. I am interested in pursuing a career in international education and development. Knowing the importance of truly understanding the culture and needs of the people I work with will be my greatest strength. Western “development” is not a one-size-fits-all approach. No matter how well developed the theory or plan is, it needs to be localized. Members of the community need a say in how international or foreign “help” is implemented because they truly know what’s best for them.

I can walk away from this semester with a more critical perspective of what I think I know and what I learn in my classes. Viewpoints vary remarkably between cultures and nations, and one viewpoint isn’t better or more advanced than the other—they are merely different. To help others, whether it is in another community in the United States or abroad, I need to learn from them first. I need to question what I think I already know about what they need, and instead, I need to listen.