While immersing themselves into different cultures, U. Oklahoma students studying abroad in countries such as Peru, Italy and Chile are sharing their experiences on the web through OU Education Abroad program’s OU BlogAbroad.
Jack Hobson, Education Abroad director, said he hopes the new website becomes a useful tool to those in the study abroad program.
“High-tech communication is a way in which students that are 18 to 23, right now, keep in touch with each other,” Hobson said. “We have to be able to be a part of that world and so it’s our hope that this gains us access to that world.”
Bobbi Lakin, international area studies senior, is spending roughly four months on the Journey to Latin America tour and she is taking advantage of the BlogAbroad website. Lakin updates readers on the places she has seen, people she has met and her daily experiences in Peru.
Lakin said she chose to start the blog because of how important international area studies and studying abroad have been to her college experience.
Not only is blogging a great way to inspire others, Lakin said, but it helps her as well.
“Blogging is a great outlet for frustration, excitement and other emotions,” she said. “Sometimes it is so soothing to sit down and reflect upon the experiences and feelings you’ve had.”
Lakin said she believes you can learn a lot from others experiences. She said she hopes her blog inspires people to study abroad after reading it.
“I’d like to think my blog could give them insight on what is to come and how to prepare for it,” she said.
Lakin is one of seven summer bloggers, said Jacque Braun, OU BlogAbroad website director. While the website is helping students who are already involved in the study abroad program, it also is being used as a recruitment tool.
Braun believes the interactivity of the site is helpful to students who may be interested in studying abroad in the future. The website allows users to click on different destinations and read about the many opportunities students took advantage of during their trip.
The website is fairly new, Hobson said, but they would like anywhere from 10 to 15 bloggers posting during the school year.
Hobson believes the website is a way of putting a face on study abroad. He believes it is helpful for those interested in the program to see students like themselves being able to make it in another country and read about their fun encounters.