Speaking From Experience

Dreaming about jumping into an Education Abroad program but still feeling some uncertainty? Fifth year Nutrition student Erika Rodning is the veteran of no fewer than four UAlberta Education Abroad programs and has no shortage of enthusiasm and advice to share.

Over the course of her degree Rodning has participated in two Alternative Reading Week programs (to India and to Cuba), Experience Global Citizenship in Ghana and the e3 program in Berlin. All of these programs were very hands-on and focused on experiential learning. They also gave Rodning the chance to learn more deeply about issues relating to her degree such as global health, sustainability and cross-cultural issues relating to health and agriculture. When asked about the positive impacts international learning has had on her life and studies, her list is long.

"My experiences have complemented my academic studies…shattered my stereotypes, revealed skills I don't use often, fed my love of travel, introduced me to inspiring friends and increased my confidence in being able to overcome all kinds of obstacles."

Back in Edmonton, Rodning has translated her extensive travel experience and excitement about international learning into a role volunteering with UAlberta International encouraging other students to take the leap and participate in programs abroad.

"My role as International Advocate felt natural," she says. "I love to encourage and help others that are contemplating educational opportunities abroad!"

Part of Rodning's role, of course, also involves providing advice to prospective students on how to ensure they have the best experience possible. One of the key steps, for her, is research - both to find the right program and to prepare for the experience of being on foreign soil.

"Opportunities for U of A students are endless, so it's not hard to find programs. It's more about sifting through all the information out there and finding an opportunity that's a good fit."

She recommends both using Education Abroad's online Program Finder and paying close attention to faculty newsletters for department-specific programs. From Rodning's own experience, careful preparation ahead of time pays off not only in being better equipped to deal with challenges, but also in building an extra level of anticipation and excitement.

"Because I thought a lot about each opportunity I chose and devoted a lot of time to my applications, I'd already become quite invested into the programs by the time I learned that I'd been accepted."

Rodning also feels that learning about a country before you arrive can make your travels better and more enriching.

"I urge any student going abroad to learn as much as they can about a country before going - start to learn the language and read about the food, clothing, norms, politics…You'll get more out of your experience!"

If all that advice makes going abroad sound more like work than play, then Rodning's infectious enthusiasm should more than reassure you. While some people might prefer to make their travels purely a vacation, she feels extremely lucky to have had the chance to combine her two greatest loves - learning and travel.

"You get so much more out of your travel and learning experiences than if either had been on its own."