Monty traveled to China for 8 months. Like most students, he says he decided to study abroad because, “I thought it would enhance my collegiate experience.” As for why he chose China, it was “not only a hot topic but it was a culture I had been studying for about a year prior to studying abroad, which got me excited about the people. I believe the only way to gain an understanding of another country is to go and meet people and experience the culture.”
That’s exactly what he did by choosing a program with the School for International Training (SIT), which “keeps students active and engaged in the culture—not just in the classroom eight hours a day.” One particular method was a cultural immersion trip, in which “students are dropped off at a designated site and must use their personal abilities to find their way back to campus.” That seems quite intimidating, especially for someone who had no prior knowledge of the language, “as Chinese language is not offered at my university,” Monty explains.
In spite of that, he accepted the challenge to learn the difficult language by making this decision: “From the very beginning I made it a point to separate myself from the English language speakers. While I was in China my relationships grew and I met plenty of Chinese speakers, so I was forced to acquire the language skills at a swifter pace than if I had learned in a classroom. By the end of the trip I was able to communicate with anyone, whether on a personal, business or political level.”
Even in classrooms, the professors did not speak in English. However, Monty says that “the small class size was so important and it really felt like an intimate relationship. Professors were able to stop and work intensively with individuals without stopping the progress of others.” Yet “what set the program apart from other study abroad programs was the unique location, and the ability to tour and see places I wouldn’t be able to see otherwise.”
Monty is referring to the small villages, which he described as his favorite locations. In the major cities, “being a foreigner was not so special, as foreigners are in and out all the time. But in the smaller regions some natives had never met an American before. Some of them still had the Cold War mentality, with the idea that all Americans are wealthy and happy all the time. I was able to educate the people about the real situation that exists here.”
In addition, being a minority was an issue Monty faced. He says, “I think I had a different experience than those of some of other students, because I didn’t fit the stereotypes. I was more often mistaken as African or Caribbean. I was able to let my guard down and engage with more people, and I think that really framed my experience.”
Homesickness often sets in when people miss the food they’re used to eating, but Monty did not find that to be a problem either. “On the streets of Beijing you can try starfish, eel and scorpion, which was exciting for me,” he stated. “There were certain places in the south where you couldn’t access American food so you are forced to try things.” That was a microcosm of his experience in general, which “allowed me to be more accepting and to take great risks.”
Clearly, Monty gained a lot from his experience in China, and he encourages others to study abroad as well. “Students need to let go of all the things they hear in the media and the fears they may have about leaving their comfort zone. If students feel they missed an opportunity, there are still options, like studying abroad in graduate school… Part of my message to students is that no matter what your major or interests, you can benefit from studying abroad.”
Monty traveled to China for 8 months. Like most students, he says he decided to study abroad because, “I thought it would enhance my collegiate experience.” As for why he chose China, it was “not only a hot topic but it was a culture I had been studying for about a year prior to studying abroad, which got me excited about the people. I believe the only way to gain an understanding of another country is to go and meet people and experience the culture.”
rograms was the unique location, and the ability to tour and see places I wouldn’t be able to see otherwise.”