International Student Exchange
By Kealiʻi Rapozo | Photos provided by interviewees
Traveling is something many of us have on our bucket list. However, maintaining an education while balancing all the other responsibilities life has to offer can make it difficult to do so. Here at UH Hilo, the Center for Global Education and Exchange (headquartered in the Student Services Building), offers a variety of programs for study abroad. The Center offers support for existing UH Hilo students wanting to leave and explore other countries through the study abroad program, as well as students of universities partnered with UH Hilo looking to come here. Ke Kalahea interviewed students from both sides of the program to gain a better understanding of their perspectives of these opportunities.
Mila Atanasova
Mila Atanasova enjoying all that Hilo has to offer and admiring ʻAkaka Falls
Mila Atanasova is a junior from Bulgaria currently here on exchange from the University of Stirling in Scotland. She decided to come here to UH Hilo “to be able to experience a new setting and other cultures, while also building a good record for employers to look at.” She also expressed that “I would rather experience visiting here through an educational perspective whereas being on a vacation I wouldn’t have the same opportunity.”
So far she has said the experience for her has been “extremely positive.”
“Everyone here is so friendly, and whenever I am seeking ways to further enrich myself with what is offered everyone is super helpful.”
Although there have been many positives, she shared that, “putting myself out there and adjusting to the time difference back home has taken some getting used to.”
“Everyone is scared to be put out of their comfort zone, but I think that this experience will show you that you can do it.”
She’s appreciated being able to make extremely close friendships in her short time here, and getting to witness first hand on how family dynamics here work.
“Although I’ve had the opportunity to be taken all over, being in an environment where everyone was so connected and seeing a family here interacting and experiencing it was the best,” she said.
Finally, some advice she shared for prospective exchange students: “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, put your fear aside and chase that freedom.”
Nikolai Braedt
Nikolai Braedt, a junior at UH Hilo originally from Idaho, had the opportunity to study abroad last semester at the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. He expressed that studying abroad is always something that he wanted to do and that New Zealand is also somewhere he has always wanted to go.
Nikolai Braedt appreciating the beauty of the outdoors in New Zealand.
“I consider myself an outdoor enthusiast, and the natural and biological diversity [of New Zealand] is insane.”
“New Zealand is an adventure capital. There’s a lot going on and involved with nature activities.” When asked about the pros and cons of the experience, he shared that he was thankful to be in a new environment.
“After a while, your college years get a little repetitive, [and] a new area can stimulate your joy for learning,” said Braedt.
However, he did also share that being in a new country made it tricky being motivated in school. When it came to homesickness, he described it as a “U curve, everything’s great, everything's new, but then you miss how things were, then it goes back up and you realize you’re leaving soon.” There were also times he felt lonely, “like being thrown back into your freshman year again.”
However, his biggest takeaway was that in these moments, he was able to learn so much about himself.
“When you’re put into a situation with no expectations, that’s where I was able to find the most about myself. A completely blank slate where I wasn’t afraid to be myself,” said Braedt.
On his return home, he said there is definitely a whole transitional phase. “It took me a while to be able to process my time abroad. You can kinda see how you act around certain people or environments, and through that you learn more about yourself, who you were, and how much you grew.”
Finally, when asked about the experience overall, he was happy to share that, “being able to travel by yourself, while staying in school and for UH it’s definitely something to take advantage of, you make these strong bonds knowing your time is finite and you get to experience so many experiences that will just be with you for the rest of your life.”
All and all, it is clear that these are great opportunities that we as students can take advantage of. No matter your background or who you are, these are experiences that you can turn into your own stories for down the line. There is also the National Student Exchange program, for those looking to travel within the country.
For more information on these programs, visit hilo.hawaii.edu/exchange/