Via TRM的动态

28 years ago I embarked on a summer French language study abroad program in Paris with the University of Minnesota Morris. Looking back today, I can see how many preconceived notions I had that summer - especially about France and Parisians, but also about about myself, what I was capable of, and what mattered to me - but the nature of being 20, at least for me at that time, was looking so closely at the trees right in front of me, that I could not see the forest I was in. After graduating from college two short years later, I left for London on a much longer program, this time with no professor or fellow classmates to lean on. Completing my masters degree at UCL SSEES showed me that I was definitely in a forest, but the details were still fuzzy. The preconceived notions still followed me, too - about British culture and (still!) about myself, what I was capable of, and what mattered to me. I had more experiences abroad after that, but those first two international learning experiences shaped who I am today, including my taste for clotted cream on a scone as well as my nearly 20 year career in international education. But what transcends the carby treats is my lifelong interest in exploring the forest we all live in. Every day I work to understand, as accurately as I can, the similarities and differences in the cultures and people that make up our world - and my vocation is to do my small part to bring others along on that journey. The power of international education is its unique ability to help us understand in our heart (not just in our head) that when we think we know, we need to look closer. The forest can always reveal more to us. Happy #StudyAbroadDay to all who celebrate, especially current colleagues at Via TRM and former colleagues and friends around the world!