Studying Abroad: The Transition to Richmond

Every year, more than 350 Richmond students spend time studying abroad.

Most of these students are juniors who choose their desired abroad locations as sophomores, then depart for their respective destinations months later. The idea of living independently in another country -- possibly even another continent -- can be quite daunting, but it is the transition back to Richmond after months of cultural immersion that seems to cause the most distress for our returning students.

Piper Person, a junior who returned from a semester abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, just two weeks ago, said she felt the sense of culture shock that most students encounter after returning to the states.

"Everyone's beautiful in Copenhagen, so you can imagine how depressing it was that the Newark Airport was my first stop back in America," Person said. "Everything was grey and ugly. So many double chins."

Kait Walsh, another junior who spent her semester in Prague, agreed that her transition back to "real life" was not what she had expected.

"The food sucks again," Walsh said. "It sounds ridiculous, but adjusting back to American cuisine was pretty difficult. The food abroad was unbelievable, no matter where you were."

Above all, Walsh said the adjustment to Richmond's workload was the most challenging aspect of transitioning from abroad life. Though some foreign universities had strict attendance policies and challenging courses in different languages, Walsh said her Richmond curriculum was far more challenging than what she had taken abroad.

Both Megan Spagnola and Christian Terlecki, juniors who studied in Rome and Madrid respectively, referred to their workloads as "nonexistent."

"I went to class six times," Person said.

This is not to say that foreign universities do not take their work seriously, but rather that things are done differently there, Walsh said. She said professors understood that exchange students want to travel throughout the semester, whereas more than a few missed classes can result in failure at Richmond.

"The school system there is much more lenient," Walsh said.

"It changed my opinion entirely about how Richmond functions as an educational institution. We take things so seriously here; it's very cutthroat."

Terlecki said that returning to a serious academic environment with deadlines and challenging courses had made his transition back to Richmond life much more difficult. "My hardest assignment was a 10 page paper for one class," Terlecki said. "And that was the only assignment for that class."

The ease and convenience of an open calendar is what makes study abroad so appealing to college students, Terlecki said. "We want independence and the freedom to explore new environments," he said. "What better way to accomplish this than by moving to an entirely new setting with an open mind?"

"Every day is a new day," Spagnola said. "You can literally make something out of nothing over there. Observing, conversing, traveling -- it's all about becoming part of the local culture."

Spagnola also spoke about the network of Richmond students who studied in neighboring countries, and how mere acquaintances felt like a little piece of home, when home was thousands of miles away.

"Abroad brings Richmond kids together unexpectedly," she said. "Whether it's some of your best friends or people you've just seen around campus in the past, spending time with each other abroad brings about a sense of familiarity that's really comforting."

But after many months away from family and friends, a weekend rendezvous in Barcelona or Munich is not enough to stifle classic Richmond nostalgia, Walsh said.

"I missed my friends," Walsh said. "I looked forward to just being around my best friends again."

What did Person miss the most about Richmond? One word: Chipotle.

"Of course the trials and tribulations of returning students can seem trivial and humorous, and they are, to some extent, but the lessons learned and experiences gained abroad are both "irreplaceable and unforgettable," said Ripley Hartmeyer, a junior who studied abroad in London.

Spagnola said that living in a different country changed people, and though Richmond students were only abroad for a short time, their experiences there left lasting impressions.

Terlecki said that every student realized how privileged he or she had been to be experiencing something like a semester abroad, but the phrase truly applies: "You don't know what you got 'til it's gone." Many students understand the value of endless opportunities and a spontaneous lifestyle only after it's over, he said.

"This indescribable world becomes your reality," Terlecki said. "It literally feels like a dream."

Contact staff writer Laura Allen at laura.allen@richmond.edu