Written by: Cara

• Student Perspectives

April 25th, 2008

On a sunny day in late May of 2006, I hailed a cab on the street in front of my Manhattan apartment building, and rolled the windows down for the drive to Times Square. The weather was pleasant and warm-not yet the humidity-drenched pressure cooker that is a New York summer. I arrived at the Lunt-Fontanne theatre and sheepishly handed over my ticket for "Beauty and the Beast". I felt about five years old, but I couldn't help grinning with excitement. Almost five years earlier, the musical had been the first Broadway show I'd ever seen, and in the last days of my exchange program in New York City, I'd decided it would be the perfect show to end my year in the Big Apple. Within 24 hours of curtain call, I was on a plane to Seattle, leaving behind my favorite concrete jungle and its punishing summer heat.

My year in New York City was the absolute best thing I did in my college career (and I like to think I did a lot of good things.) Not that I'm not a proud Husky, but living 3,000 miles from home and surviving on my own in the biggest, baddest city in the United States was a challenge that I was eager to take on. I experienced Hunter College's theatre program, I landed a job, I auditioned for professional theatre productions, and man did I learn how to work a pair of stilettos. I discovered tiny diners, I memorized subway routes, I met countless new and fabulous people, and by the end of the year, I felt like a native.

But what specifically did I get out of it, you ask? Or more importantly, what could you get out of an exchange program? The academic and cultural benefits of my year in New York are immeasurable. It shaped the person I am today in countless ways (designer handbag obsession and all.) But the specific advantages of an exchange program are up to you. It's your responsibility to take initiative and shape your experience: what you get out of your exchange is up to you.

My advice? Seek out what you want to find. Seize opportunities that are unique to your location. Let the local culture lead you. And always, always, always opt in to events and experiences. (Friends going to the market at 9am but you want to sleep in? GO. You can sleep when you're dead.)

Whether you're interested in going on exchange within the United States or abroad, the University of Washington has several different programs for you to take advantage of. The National Student Exchange program, which is operated by the office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, handles domestic exchanges within the United States, while the office of International Programs & Exchanges offers a wide variety of study abroad programs.

While we were slogging through winter 2008 here in Seattle, UWCC Peer Advisor and American Ethnic Studies major Jennifer McAdam was enjoying summer in the Southern Hemisphere: she travelled to New Zealand with a program offered by the CHID Department. Jen's program focused on learning the history of New Zealand, as well as contemporary issues at play within the culture, and the lingering effects of colonization. Jen's experience abroad deepened her appreciation for her major, and has inspired her to pursue careers that deal with diversity. "I want to continue finding ways to learn about other cultures," she says. "My exchange in New Zealand was an excellent jumping off point."

So what's your pleasure? Whether you want to jet-set across the country or across the world, opportunities abound at UW. So jump in, take the plunge, do something different and expand your horizons! We did, and we loved every minute of it.

Want more information on something you read here? Feel free to email me at cem4@u.washington.edu.