March 1 , 2004



Returning from abroad always means a readjustment to life at Centre. You feel somewhat distanced from the people you know so well. You have been exposed to something absolutely unique; even the people on the same trip did not have the same experience. It's reassuring that so many people here know exactly what that "reentry" process feels like. You can walk up to more than 75% of the campus and have a rewarding discussion of your individual experiences. It's a type of discussion not easily had on many other college campuses.

Learning to stretch and grow outside of Centre's boundaries is one of the most valuable things that I have experienced. Colleges are supposed to prepare you for the "real world." Centre is somewhat unique in that it sees the "real world" as extending beyond the borders of the United States. As globalization brings the far corners of the Earth closer together, it's important to realize the value of appreciation and comprehension of other people and cultures. Every time I step out of this country, I am exposed to a different way of life, thinking, and believing. Also, it makes you appreciate more the things the U.S. alone has to offer.

I consider myself to be a more rounded and educated person for each of my incredible experiences abroad. Travel has developed my sense of self and how I fit into the larger scheme of things. I am able to view things in a different, more informed light because I have begun to understand differences and similarities in world views.

Perhaps the greatest thing study-abroad has taught me is that people are all just people. We are the same. We have the same worth. We hold the same values. We see things in different ways, but people are at the base of every world view.