Why I Went Abroad: A Look at Five Moments

This blog post was contributed by Estefania Rodriguez, an Education Abroad peer advisor who helped other Longhorns begin their own transformative education abroad adventures.

Every person who has studied abroad has a collection of stories at their disposal for the moment they get asked about their experience. As a peer advisor for the Education Abroad office, I got asked this question often, especially by professors, friends, and other interested students who want to know what pushed me to go abroad in the first place.

And while studying abroad is full of countless moments that make the experience worth it, I have curated a list of five experiences that epitomize why I set out on these programs in the first place. So, why did I decide to go abroad? Well, I am so glad you asked:

A New Perspective

As a Latin American Studies and International Relations major, I have spent much of my undergraduate career reading and researching about people and places from outside the United States. Undoubtedly, I had learned a lot, but I knew I had a lot left to learn from those people and places themselves.

It was during my first week in Cuba that I was truly able to understand the magnitude of what that meant, though. After years of learning about Cuba, its economic and political systems, and the Cuban Revolution, I was able to step foot in the Plaza de la Revolución. This infamous plaza is where Fidel Castro would hold rallies with hundreds of thousands of people in attendance. As we walked around, I could not help but cry. It was so overwhelming to be in a place in which so much history had been made.

A New Academic System

Not only would studying in a different country mean learning and experiencing a new perspective but also a new style of education. Attending university in Costa Rica meant leaving behind midterms and finals, and instead embarking on a semester of discussions, presentations, and field trips–yes, field trips! We went to places like the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress –places that, while interesting, I had no deep interest or attachment to. Others included a trip with my professor to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, an institution that has presided over countless humanitarian cases throughout the Western Hemisphere. Similar to my time at the Plaza de la Revolución, I was very overwhelmed when I first walked in. Fortunately, unlike that time, I did not cry.

A Different Culture

Although I had grown up consistently visiting Mexico to see family, I had never spent a prolonged period outside the United States. I wanted a chance to immerse myself in a new culture, which is exactly what I ended up doing. Spending a collective five months in Costa Rica and Cuba allowed me to become increasingly adaptable, as I grew accustomed to each country’s own slang, customs, and way of living. I even spent my semester in Costa Rica taking two dance classes a week so that I could improve my salsa, bachata, and merengue dance skills. Those dance classes are what really pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to develop some great friendships and mentorships with local students and professors.