In Times of Trouble, Go Abroad!

By Michal Greenberg, Global Buffs Gazette Editor
Study Abroad, CU-Boulder
 
This last academic year was a challenging one for international educators, as we dealt with the “triple crown” of health and safety: epidemics, natural disasters, and political unrest. In the fall, Ebola raged in western Africa, while this summer earthquakes in Nepal killed thousands. Conflicts in the Middle East drew much of the world’s attention, and even countries that we often write-off as “safe,” like France and Australia, suddenly found themselves home to terrorist activity.
 
As the human population grows and technology reaches even the remotest corners of the globe, it feels like the world is getting smaller. Conflicts at home and abroad are splashed across news headlines on a daily basis, and it can sometimes seem like it’s too dangerous to leave home, let alone move to the other side of the world for a semester, summer, or year.
 
But in truth, in times like these it’s even more imperative that our students participate in an international experience.
 
Our students’ health and safety is our highest priority. We can and do cancel programs in locations where we’ve determined it is too dangerous for our students to go. At the same time, we recognize that there are certain risks inherent in any study abroad experience, just as there are threats inherent in studying at a university in the United States. While the safety concerns of studying in a location such as Jerusalem may be more obvious, there are risks and hazards to studying in a city like Barcelona as well. Our job is to educate and prepare our students for the challenges that they will encounter on their international experience, wherever that experience may be.
 
Ultimately, our goal and our hope is that our students will engage with the culture, people, and environment of their new home during their time abroad. These experiences can help promote understanding for, and appreciation of, the amazing diversity of our world. Getting this first-hand experience will help them return to the United States as more productive, contributing global citizens.
 
But what does it mean to be a global citizen? It can mean many things. Being mindful of the impact that you make on the world, whether that’s environmentally, politically, emotionally, or spiritually. Joining a cultural events board. Staying informed about news on the world stage. Being open to new ideas and cultures. Living and working overseas. Engaging in political dialogue. Welcoming new international students to CU’s campus. Being inclusive.
 
Our students have exemplified the moniker of global citizen in all of these ways and more. We’ve seen students volunteer abroad and later return to start non-profits to help those most in need. Our students have pulled together to raise funds to bring speakers to CU who they met abroad. They’ve joined the Peace Corps, taught English to children, and completed graduate degrees overseas. CU-Boulder students’ drive to engage and give back to the international community has never ceased to amaze us. And our students are often the ones pushing the hardest to gain access to some of the places deemed too dangerous to go. They know that’s often where there is the most need.
 
People like our CU-Boulder students are exactly what our world needs. These are people who respond to international conflict by engaging with and building up the international community. They forge understanding that crosses continents, cultures, and language barriers. This kind of open exchange in today’s climate of conflict can only help to make a more peaceful, compassionate, and welcoming future. We hope you are as proud as we are of our Global Buffs. And if you ever run into a student who is hesitant to go abroad because they think it’s too dangerous, we hope you’ll pass along the message: in times of trouble, go abroad!