Why did you decide to go abroad with your provider?
Eric: I chose the Business and the Arts program because I wanted to do something unique in my college experience, but I couldn't seem to convince myself that I wanted to follow my original dream of doing a study abroad in China. I think part of this was because I'd already visited China multiple times, so it didn't feel like going there would be anything unique.
However, I also was interested in further developing my enjoyment of theatre arts, but since there aren't any acting intensive classes offered in study abroad programs at my school, I decided to take it in a different direction. So, I decided to do a study abroad that focused more on the business side of the arts rather than the creative side. And thankfully, Arcadia had partnered with my university before, leading to my choice to the the Business and the Arts program with Arcadia in Scotland.
Tell us about an experience you had that you could not have had at home.
Eric: There were many different things that I did in Scotland that I could not do at home. Some were geographical, such as a trip into the highlands. Some were academic, such as taking a business course as a theatre major. However, one experience I definitely couldn't have at home was the experience of theater overload I had as part of my internship.
The experience was incredible. To have so many different theater and magic, and music shows all within walking distance of myself. It was incredible to think about, even right now. I saw so many different genres and types of shows. A magic show, where the trick genuinely baffled me. A thriller theater show. A sketch comedy. A stand up comedy. Dance shows, comedic plays, political plays, so many great shows, in so many different places. It still astonds me just how much I ended up going to in a month of shows.
I especially found there were shows that I went to which surprised me in how good they were, such as the aforementioned magic show. And quite a few of them were complimentary or free. That's definitely an experience that I will never get a chance to replicate. On another note, I think there was also a unique experience in needing to do quick stage changes while I was interning as well. Since the Festival Fringe necessitates storing your sets every day, this means I got to experience quick set changes in ways that I'll never get to back home if only because it involved putting a special floor down as well.
Describe your program socially and academically.
Eric: Socially, my program was an interesting mix between sticking with my classmates, seeking out old friends from my home university, and finding new friends while in town. In the first category, my friends from the program would have get togethers and events either out and around town, or together in a suite or whatever. There were also small group outings and even a few large group events that happened thanks to where we were living. I think I bonded best with a student from Pennsylvania State, over our less extraverted interests.
For finding friends from my home university, there was an email list sent out before my trip, where we got to find out if anyone else would be in the area, and so I connected with two friends who were in a different program, but who I knew from back at Santa Clara.
Finally, I joined a Church while I was abroad, and in doing so managed to join the college group that was part of the church. This gave me plenty of socializing time with their weekly events, and even gave me a greater appreciation for maintaining my faith in different settings.
As for academics, it was mostly lectures, with two big tests at the end, as is the british system of education, but there was another aspect that added something more interesting into the mix. That was the inclusion of a business simulation which allowed for more hands on thinking about operations management, projected demand, overproduction, storage and the like. That and the guest lecturers for special topics really gave my classes a more exciting flare, and helped process through all the drier material that we talked about academically.
What's one thing you would change?
Eric: One thing I would like to change if I ever had a chance to do this time abroad over is my balance between going out and about, and my coming back to my room to rest. Don't get me wrong, I did manage to get out and about plenty of times, and for a diversity of reasons. I explored, I saw movies, I ate out, I spent time with my friends. However, the thing I'd probably want to change the most is taking the time during the trip to go out to Glasgow while I was there.
My friends actually took an impromptu trip to Glasgow one time, and I actually didn't go because I'd just gotten back from a day trip to the Highland games. That's what I would change. That the day trips were great, but there were several different times when I had an opportunity to actually try a weekend trip, and I didn't take advantage of it. Just a chance to get out of the city for a day or two, and experience a different environment for more than a few hours.
What made this experience unique and special?
Eric: What made this experience unique for me was both in its timing and in the more unexpected aspects that it had. The most unique part of this experience was that I just so happened to come at a time when the country was going through a unique situation. Namely, it was right before the scottish independence vote.
This would've been the first peaceful transition of power away from a leaving state in a while. Yet what made the experience of this time so meaningful was how I managed to hear everyone talk about in one way or another outside of class. That there was just so many different perspectives and opinions to see happening for this one event that was swirling around.
There was also the fact that the trip in of itself is quite different for a study abroad time. It's an abroad studying time, but in a place not as visited. It's a business class, but it's a class where the eventual goals of teaching are to bring connections between two subjects you might not always think about.
Then there's the actual time in Scotland, and all the unique things that happened while I was there. I got to go to museums and see historical sites that I wouldn't even get close to in America. I got to go to one of their "contemporary" churches, making me realize that things aren't nearly as archaic in Europe as I thought when it comes to worship. I got to practice budgeting, growing in not only managing things I buy going out, but also in managing how I shop. It gave me a better independent streak. And best of all, it gave me a chance to be at the Festival Fringe. A special festival I get the feeling I might never get a chance to see for years to come.