Guest Column

Seize the chance and travel

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The holidays really are most enjoyable at home. Having lived in Japan for one year, it’s wonderful to be back in the Christmas spirit in New York. Nothing better than snuggling up to read a nice book with cocoa on a cold night. Traveling and living abroad has truly given me a much great appreciation of home.

I graduated from Stony Brook in May 2013 and majored in biomedical engineering with a minor in Japanese studies. My travel experience included three study abroad trips (China, Australia and Japan) and living in Japan for about a year.

Choices for a study abroad program are typically a few weeks, a semester or one year. I recommend students take the longest period that their course of study permits. My two-week trip to China was eye opening, six months in Australia was life changing. There are financial matters to consider, but I believe life-changing experiences are worth every penny and second, even more than the “name” of your institution.

Another motivating factor to consider is language. Students studying a language should highly consider and value living in the country of the language they’re studying. Immersion in the language greatly enhances the rate of acquisition.

Afterwards, this experience becomes a gigantic asset and differentiating factor. Some key takeaway skills include problem solving, flexibility, and exposure to different cultures or ways of thinking. When abroad, you’re forced to figure out and solve problems as they come up. This prepares you for post-graduation life. Being exposed to new perspectives and ideas in other cultures is also a great way to expand one’s knowledge and understanding of the world.

This kind of trip will truly give memories and relationships that last a lifetime. I still keep in contact with my Japanese host family and even spent the New Year holidays when living in Japan. I can confidently call them “family.”

However, travel doesn’t only apply to students but professionals or anyone for that matter. If you have the opportunity to live in or see another country, make it work. Seize the chance. Travel is something that everyone can do and afford. With all the credit card sign-up bonuses, budget accommodation like hostels or Courchsurfing, and a little ingenuity, travel is within everyone’s reach.

If traveling abroad seems too daunting, even the United States, Canada or the Caribbean offer excellent experiences. The multitude of nature and size of the U.S. offer ample locations for trips with friends and family alike. These experiences will add such a richness and appreciation to anyone’s life.

Adam Newshan, 23, is a 2009 graduate of Wantagh High School. He studied biomedical engineering with a minor in Japanese studies at Stony Brook.