Despite post-Sept. 11 travel concerns, Boston University students and program organizers are still enthusiastic about BU’s study abroad programs.
“It [Sept. 11] hasn’t affected me,” said Stacey Farrell, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore. “Going abroad is kind of like going to college for the first time, except more exciting because you will be in a new culture.”
Although the Haifa program places students in the potentially dangerous state of Israel, BU has never canceled an international program due to an international situation, according to Rachel Saks, senior enrollment coordinator for BU international programs.
Each year, the State Department issues certain warnings and statements regarding the safety of particular “hot spots” in the world as well as general precautions for Americans, especially students, traveling abroad.
According to a State Department press release, American students traveling are often “caught off-guard by differences in local practices and unfamiliar surroundings, sometimes face the risk of arrest in connection with drug and alcohol abuse and can become the victims of crime while traveling in foreign countries.”
The State Department also issued a fact sheet stating that over 2,500 Americans are arrested abroad each year. About half of these arrests are on charges of narcotics possession. The reasons for these arrests are because Americans are unaware of local laws and customs while assuming local authorities will overlook their unruly behaviors.
Saks said BU takes abroad safety issues very seriously and offers various orientation sessions to get students thinking about safety. She also said the international program’s office monitors State Department warnings daily.
“Students need to have general street smarts, be aware of the indigenous cultures and the history of the country when traveling regionally,” Saks said. “We also have a great staff abroad who are in communication with us frequently. In addition, the students also live with great families.”
According to Saks, BU students have been involved in minor incidents and altercations while abroad, though none of the incidents have amounted to anything substantial.
Besides better known programs like those in London, Sydney and Paris, BU offers other opportunities, such as the Quito program in Ecuador.
The Quito program is offered to BU students as well as students across the country. To enroll, students must have completed an equivalent of four semesters of college Spanish, and enrollment is limited to about 30 students per semester.
Although Madrid is another popular option for students interested in the Spanish language or culture, some said Quito offers a more exotic experience.
“I was back and forth and couldn’t decide where I wanted to go,” said CAS sophomore Meagan Dasilva. “I wanted to do something different. Everyone said they loved it.”
In addition to improving their grasp of Spanish, students also get immersed in the Latino culture by living in single flats with host families. They can also join certain sporting clubs offered through the program like mountain biking or hiking.
“You really learn about your own culture by going abroad,” Saks said.
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