Students ‘unpack’ education abroad experiences at regional conference in Greenville, S.C.

The Education Abroad unit in the Center for Global Engagement at Coastal Carolina University took five students to attend the Lessons From Abroad conference in Greenville, S.C., on Sunday, Oct. 14.

Sponsored by the South Carolina Association of International Educators and hosted by Furman University, the conference assists college students with the process of transitioning back to the United States after an education abroad experience. The conference also helps students to reflect on their time studying and living in another country. 

The five CCU students who participated in the conference are:

• Hannah Hamelman, a senior history major from Conway, S.C., studied abroad with Narxoz University in Kazakhstan, Spring 2018.
• Kyle Johnson, a senior communication major from Longs, S.C., studied abroad with Exeter University in the United Kingdom, Fall 2016, and Deakin University in Australia, Spring 2017.
• Troy Kinner, a senior art history major from Myrtle Beach, S.C., studied abroad with Osaka Gakuin University in Japan, Fall 2017.
• Victoria “Tori” Schroeder, a junior public health major from Cherry Valley, Ill., studied abroad with Veritas University in Costa Rica, Spring 2018.
• Zahra Slimani, a freshman interdisciplinary studies major from Myrtle Beach, S.C., spends each summer abroad in Morocco with family.

“Re-entering U.S. culture can be just as difficult and disorienting for education abroad participants as adjusting to their host culture,” said Rachel Massey, CCU director of education abroad. The Lessons From Abroad conference provides tips and tools that recognize common stages of reverse culture shock, and returned students are given ideas on how they can apply and utilize their experience abroad in future endeavors.

“Lessons From Abroad taught me more about possible postgraduate opportunities because I’ve been thinking about doing a master’s degree in the United Kingdom,” said Johnson. “I also had the chance to network with professionals who may be able to help me in the future! It was cool bonding with other students who had been abroad and connect over the similarities in our experiences while learning about some of the differences in each of our programs.”

Hamelman also found the conference worthwhile and emphasized the value international education added to her life.

“Studying abroad changed me for the better, but I only came to realize the full extent to which the experience changed me during a reverse culture shock panel at the conference,” she said. “Presenters and the CCU Education Abroad staff encouraged me to share my stories and skills with those who are curious, and I hope to return to Central Asia because my time abroad made me happier than I have felt in a long time.”

CCU Education Abroad facilitated international learning experiences for approximately 350 undergraduate and graduate students during the 2017-18 academic year. For more information, email studyabroad@coastal.edu or visit coastal.edu/educationabroad.