On Thursday evening in the special events room of the Anderson Academic Commons, 50 students, teachers and advisors gathered to share their study abroad experiences from around the world. The event was a collaboration between DU 4D, the DU Study Abroad program and international students to give a voice to domestic and international students. Nine current DU students shared their stories at the second annual DU Abroad Storyslam, which included stories from Germany, Madagascar and South Korea.
Despite the diverse array of experiences, common themes appeared throughout the event regarding the ability to adapt and embrace change. Malia McGadden, who studied lemurs in Madagascar, detailed the lackluster living conditions including inconsistent electricity, a lack of paved roads and strict clothing restrictions for women. While ultimately fond of her experience, McGadden ended her speech with advice: “Always be prepared because something will go wrong.”
In a similar vein, Vongai Chokuda, an international student from Zimbabwe, detailed her journey to the United States. Chokuda utilized the book “Who Moved My Cheese?” to highlight how she was able to adapt to the extreme level of change produced by COVID-19 and a completely different culture. The book itself is an analogy for how to adjust to change, following four different mice and their four distinct responses to the sudden disappearance of their cheese. Chokuda emphasized this when she admitted that she was unable to return home due to the onset of strict COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. However, she highlighted her ability to adapt to her situation with the help of her uncle and young cousins. She advised those who are experiencing adversity to, “Embrace change, [have] a growth mindset and [have] a teachable spirit.”
After recently receiving her study visa, Chokuda is now a Graduate Assistant with the International Student Services Ambassador studying to receive her master’s degree from DU.
Leroy Brown, an English literature major who studied in San Jose, Costa Rica, put his experience with uncertainty more bluntly: “Necessary evil and chaos in life are necessary to succeed.” Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder while at Pueblo Community College, Brown highlighted his ability to embrace chaos in a holistic way that included traveling to San Jose, Costa Rica, and navigating the frenzied public transit system with his study group.
While most of the speakers discussed their ability to cope with change in their country of study, Melissa Lewis had an alternative take on the study abroad experience. Lewis enjoyed her time in Athens, Greece and Barcelona, Spain, but she experienced reverse culture shock when she returned to the United States after her first trip.
“Not everyone tells you how hard it is to acclimate when you come back from study abroad,” Lewis said. This experience made her doubt whether or not it was worth it to return to Europe, but consistent contact with friends back home and her old friends from Athens made her second experience far smoother.
The event featured a variety of perspectives and experiences bringing a comprehensive summary of the study abroad experience to the wider community. If there was an overall message that was communicated, it was “I don’t regret it at all!”
