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10 REASONS FOR
ASIAN / PACIFIC ISLANDER STUDENTS
TO STUDY ABROAD
The face of America is rapidly changing, so is
the rest of the world. Historically, many different ethnicities have
had a major influence on shaping the United States. Asian and
Pacific Islander cultures are no exception. According to the U.S.
Census Bureau, the Asian population in the U.S. is projected to grow
more than 200 percent in the next fifty years, from 3.8 percent to 8
percent. Furthermore, the Census Bureau also predicts that by the
year 2100, ethnic minority groups in the United States will make up
60 percent of our country’s population, with a significant number
being of Asian origin.
 Everywhere diversity is increasing. There is a growing importance
for students in the U.S. to travel and study in other countries. The
chance to live and study in another culture will provide you with
the ultimate learning experience, as well as the perfect opportunity
to get out and explore the world. With the realities of
globalization today, the options Asian and Asian Pacific Islander
students have for studying abroad are endless. Whether you choose to
study in Barcelona or Beijing, Guatemala or Ghana, Delhi or Dublin,
to explore your heritage or to immerse yourself in a different
culture, studying abroad will be an experience that will change the
way you see the world.
There are countless reasons why you should participate in a study
abroad program. Here are our top ten….
 1. See the world and broaden your experience
There are so many amazing things to experience around the world. You
can see different natural landscapes and climates that do not exist
in America. There are historical landmarks in every country that
helped shape the history of the globe. You can expand your knowledge
of the world by actually being there, seeing it, touching it, and
experiencing it. Pictures in text books simply do not do justice to
standing under the Eiffel Tower or on the Great Wall of China. Is
there a place or landmark you have always wanted to see? This is how
you can understand the world in a direct, all-encompassing way.
2. Gain a new perspective on your own country
In 1949, James Baldwin, the renowned African-American writer, wrote
in Notes of a Native Son, “From the vantage point of Europe
[the American student] discovers his own country.” Learning about
your own country by living abroad remains extremely relevant today
as we continue to further our understanding of other cultures. Of
course, studying abroad isn’t limited to Europe - you have the
opportunity to study in just about every corner of the globe. In
Botswana or Tanzania, Italy or Thailand, you will learn about the
U.S. from a new and different perspective. As a college student,
there is no better time to see the world and be exposed to new
things. These experiences will shape the rest of your life.
3. Explore your heritage
Getting in touch with your family’s heritage can be another strong
motivation to study abroad. Many minority students, particularly
Asian Pacific Americans, report tremendous educational and personal
benefits from exploring countries where their families have roots.
Has your family recently emigrated to the U.S. or have they lived
here for generations? Are you discovering your family’s culture for
the first time or interested in learning more? Studying abroad can
provide you with the opportunity to learn about your own ethnicity
and to explore your own identity. Many Asian-American students have
traveled to Asia to get in touch with their heritage, and they have
come back home with a new perspective on themselves as Americans and
as Asian-Americans. Renowned Chinese American author Amy Tan
explains what her experience in China meant to her. She says, ''When
my feet touched China, I became Chinese. I knew I was not totally
Chinese, but I felt the connection nevertheless. It was a sense of
completeness, like having a mother and a father. I had China and
America, and everything was all coming together finally.''
4. Improve your professional and financial potential
International experience is a critical and impressive part of any
resume. In addition to the personal growth you’ll undergo while
overseas, the international and cross-cultural skills you’ll develop
will certainly expand your employment opportunities and,
consequently, your income potential. Recognizing the link between
international experience and career success is critical in today’s
workplace. Globally-minded employees are in high demand. Many
companies seek out individuals with multi-lingual and multi-cultural
experience and skills. Many Asian-American students who study abroad
find that they are able to improve their language skills, giving
them an instant advantage in the highly competitive workforce.
Additionally, students can also take advantage of internships while
they study abroad for an international work experience that is
valued among U.S. employers. Your newly acquired skills will
strengthen your resume in America’s increasingly ethnically and
culturally diverse workforce.
 5. Become a full-time learner
While studying abroad you will have the opportunity to truly become
a full-time student. Traveling outside the United States will be an
education in itself. Many students who go abroad report that in
addition to enjoying and learning in their classes during the week,
they learn some of the most valuable lessons outside of the
classroom. Weekend excursions to museums and cultural sites also add
to your academic and personal growth. You learn to interact with
people who may not necessarily think or communicate like you. While
in a foreign country, even mundane activities – like shopping for
groceries –become educational experiences.
6. Gain new insights and outlooks through new relationships
The relationships formed while studying abroad might become some of
the deepest friendships you will ever develop. You will have the
opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures,
and some of these people may even become life-long friends. Study
abroad returnees often report meeting others with whom they expected
to have no common ground, and then discovering that, despite being
from different parts of the globe, they have much in common and much
to learn from one another. As an Asian-American student, you may
also meet other minority students similar to yourself who can share
with you their experiences and give you the support you need while
living abroad. These relationships, insights, and outlooks are a
critical part of the study abroad experience.
7. Fight stereotypes by educating others
There is a challenge Asian Pacific Islander American
students face abroad. Many other cultures only have experience with
Asians through the media (i.e. movies, television, music, etc.).
Asian-American students may become frustrated when the same
stereotypes from home follow them overseas. However, this is also a
unique opportunity to educate others about who you are as an
individual and as a group. You can illustrate your own experiences
in the United States in comparison to what others see and hear. This
is your chance to be an individual, as well as a representative of
your culture, and to encourage positive understanding of global
diversity.
8. Dispel your own stereotypes
Frederick Douglass, the renowned abolitionist of the 19th
century, once said “Men who travel should leave their prejudices at
home.” In addition to serving as a cultural ambassador to dispel
other’s misconceptions, studying abroad gives you a chance to break
down some of your own stereotypes about other countries and peoples.
Not only will you have the chance to immerse yourself in another
culture, you will also meet people from different backgrounds and
make personal connections with people whom you may have never
expected. If traveling to your family’s native country, you may be
surprised to find that you in fact don’t know everything about your
own culture – ideas you have about yourself and your culture might
be inaccurate. The only way to know for certain is to go.
 9. Take control of your future
During your time abroad, you will be exposed to countless
different experiences that may influence the rest of your life. Some
students even end up changing their major or career path as a result
of the new things they learn from being abroad. Others discover a
newfound passion for travel, decide they want to work abroad, or
desire to learn a new language. Elaine Chao, the Secretary of Labor,
explains how her experiences in different cultures have influenced
her career, ''Memories of living in a developing nation are part of
who I am today and give me a profound understanding of the
challenges of economic development.'' The vast majority of study
abroad students report feeling more independent, self-confident, and
knowledgeable of the world around them. After studying abroad, you
may find your travels have had a profound influence on your career
or personal goals. If you wish to continue with your higher
education into either a masters or a doctorate, study abroad
experience will give an edge on the competition. Graduate programs,
law schools, and med schools all look favorably on such global
experience. You never know who may be impressed by your travels.
10. See what influenced these great Asian-American leaders
A number of Asian Pacific Islander Americans were strongly
shaped by their international experiences, including:
- Elaine L. Chao, 24th Secretary of Labor of the United States. As a
former Director of the Peace Corps, she established the first Peace
Corps programs in the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union.
- Amy Tan, best selling novelist and author of The Joy Luck Club, was
born and raised in California, but finished her high school
education in Montreux, Switzerland.
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