Questions to think about...
Why did I choose to go abroad?
Reflect on your decision to spend a semester or year away from the campus community at Holy Cross. What influenced this decision? Was this a difficult or easy decision to make? Why did you choose your specific host country or university?
What are my personal and academic goals for my time abroad?
Reflect on your reasoning for enrolling in the classes you are taking or plan on taking. How does your time abroad correlate with your long-term academic and professional goals?
What is different about my host country/university from my experience at Holy Cross?
Reflect not only on the differing educational opportunities, but also the various cultural differences.
What are some of my hobbies/routines at home? How can I incorporate these things into my experience abroad?
E.g. joining a sports team, tutoring local students, etc.
What are NEW hobbies/routines that I can start while abroad?
Examples
Example of Internships
A Holy Cross student interned at a bank in London. In Strasbourg, several students have had internships at the International Institute of the Rights of Man. One young woman with an interest in journalism arranged an internship at a local newspaper in York, England, interviewed local politicians and community groups and had some of her articles published. A young man in Florence interned at a local, family-run film company and produced his own video. Another young woman conducted guided tours of a medieval church after studying the art and architecture in considerable detail.
Example of a Community Based Learning Project
A student was a tutor in a local primary school, and a young man worked with handicapped children in an after-school sports program. Two students in Florence taught Italian to recent immigrants. In York, England, a young woman did volunteer work in a shelter for the homeless and, remarkably, helped to establish a retreat for battered women. Another student was instrumental in setting up a recycling program at her host university. Many students in Perú volunteer at a local children's hospital.
Example of How to Follow Your Passion
Two students who enjoyed basketball (but never played at Holy Cross) were invited to coach an emerging women's basketball team at St. Andrew's University and wrote an account of their experiences at competitions throughout the UK. Holy Cross students have studied the traditional music of the host country (Spanish guitar; Irish accordion) or arranged to work with local artists. One student in León, Spain, participated in a choir whose work was in the soundtrack of a short film. Students have been involved in choruses, radio stations, newspapers, sports clubs, archeological and restoration projects, travel agencies, theater and dance performance clubs, local outdoor markets.