At the Truman Times, we tend to focus on the degree-seeking students and use their thoughts and feelings to help others consider studying abroad for a degree. What we have not addressed in the past, is another very important part of the international community, exchange students!
Exchange students come from all over the world and spend either a semester or a year on the Truman campus. They may not be on campus quite as long as other students, but they contribute a great deal to the living and learning environment at Truman. They know their time at the university may be short, and they want to get the most from their study abroad experience. Most exchange students we’ve talked to said they are sad to leave and have experienced as much of Truman life as anyone else, maybe even more!
We decided to contact some of our exchange students from the past and ask them about their motivations to study abroad, their personal experiences at Truman, and how studying abroad has changed their lives. We will start by introducing our writers and asking them their motivation to study abroad. We’ll be sharing their insight in a new series called Exchanging Cultures.
Iciar Garcia-Gutierrez
Country: Spain
Major: Business
Semesters attended: Fall 2014-Spring 2015
Why study abroad?: “I’ve always wanted to study abroad; it was one of my dreams, especially in the U.S., I wanted to get to know the culture and the way of living there. In addition, I’ve always wanted to be part of the American education system, so well-known and successful. When I heard about this scholarship I didn’t doubt, it was one of those things you say now or never, and it happened. To be honest I was a little bit scared of being alone for one year, but my “desires” were “bigger/stronger” than my fears, so I applied and got ready for this awesome experience”
Yuichi Miyazaki
Country: Japan
Major: Business
Semesters attended: Fall 2013-Spring 2014
Why study abroad?: “When I was traveling abroad, I felt my English skills were poor, and there were a lot of things I didn’t know about foreign countries.
Liyu Cui
Country: China
Major: Business
Semesters attended: Fall 2012
Why study abroad?: “I wanted to know more about the world. Before studying at Truman, I’ve never been abroad. I’m curious about the outside world. Studying abroad is a good way to achieve this and also I can make new friends from different countries.”
Melody (You) Hu
Country: China
Major: Business
Semesters attended: Fall 2014-Spring 2015
Why study abroad?: “I think the environment abroad suits me better.”
Olivier Samo
Country: Germany/Cameroon
Major: Business
Semesters attended: Fall 2013
Why study abroad?: “My major was at that time international business and due to globalization it is important now our days to go abroad once. I also wanted to see the world, meet new people and go out of my comfort zone.”
Clara Hernandez
Country: Spain
Major: Business
Semesters attended: Fall 2014-Spring 2015
Why study abroad?: “In Spain it is quite normal to study abroad for a whole year. We have various options in many different countries. However, USA was always my top choice. Five years ago I did an exchange program during the summer and since then I always spent the summer in the US, although I wanted to learn what it was like to live in America for a year.”
Dasom Lee 
Country: South Korea
Major: English
Semesters attended: Spring 2015
Why study abroad?: “My dream when I was a middle school student was to be a diplomat. So I have always had a dream to study abroad. Especially since America is one of the leading countries in the world and I loved learning English, I have always dreamed of studying either in America or England.”
Joakim Nyman
Country: Finland
Major: English
Semesters attended: Fall 2014
Why study abroad?: “It is part of my curriculum, however, I saw it as more of a travel and see the world kind of thing. A privilege rather than an obligation for me, really.”
Amandine Lebrun
Country: France
Major: Communication Studies
Semesters attended: Fall 2014-Spring 2015
Why study abroad?: “I wanted to experience new things, meet new people, start a new adventure while improving my skills.”
Malene Kruse
Country: Denmark
Major: Public Communications
Semesters attended: Spring 2014
Why study abroad?: “I wanted to study abroad in order to improve my English and to get more knowledge of the American culture. I found that the best way to do so was to study abroad and live among Americans.”
Tomoyo Hamaoka
Country: Japan
Major: Communication Studies
Semesters attended: Fall 2014-Spring 2015
Why study abroad?: Because my university has a program to study abroad at Truman.”
Marilena Himmelreich
Country: Germany
Major: Economics
Semesters attended: Fall 2013
Why study abroad?: “Ever since I can remember I’ve had the wish to spend a longer period in another country. I’ve always enjoyed traveling, reading from exciting traveling experiences and learning about other cultures. So I didn’t hesitate a second when I got the opportunity to apply for an exchange semester in autumn 2013. Grown up in a small village in northern Germany, I finally wanted to find out how it would feel like to exchange my familiar environment for a completely new one.”
Chloe Bell
Country: Northern Ireland
Major: Visual Communications
Semesters attended: Fall 2013-Spring2014
Why study abroad?: “I love adventure and traveling! A lot of people from Northern Ireland tend to go to universities over in England or Scotland but I stayed in Northern Ireland. So when my degree offered me the chance to study in the US for a year I just really wanted to give it a go, it felt very adventurous and independent.”
Nicoline Schonhofer
Country: Austria
Major: English
Semesters attended: Fall 2014-Spring 2015
Why study abroad?: “Ever since I was a little kid my biggest dream was always to either go to high school or college in the U.S. I fulfilled my dream of going to high school in the States my sophomore year and it was the most amazing experience ever! My sophomore year of college one of my teachers urged us to do a semester or year abroad and I just took the opportunity and left again for a year and I didn’t regret it!”
Zineb Chelh
Country: Morocco
Major: Engineering and Management Science
Semesters attended: Fall 2012
Why study abroad?: “My home university gives the opportunity to some of the students to go for exchange through ISEP. It was a great chance for me back then to apply in order to be able to go and discover a new country.”
Matteo Rinaldi
Country: Italy
Major: Journalism
Semesters attended: Fall 2014
Why study abroad?: “I’ve always heard great things about international exchange programs by the people who made them and I decided to give it a try!”
Estelle Hiard
Country: France
Major: Justice Systems
Semesters attended: Fall 2013-Spring2014
Why study abroad?: “I always wanted to study abroad. I always thought it was a great opportunity to be able to attend a school outside of your own country. I think it allows you to grow on a personal and on an academic level.”
Luka Stankov
Country: France/Serbia
Major: Business
Semesters attended: Fall 2013
Why study abroad?: “Studying abroad was almost like a dream, and I wanted to go to the USA so I could get better at English. I specifically enrolled into my French University for that purpose. A compulsory study abroad semester was on the program. My main field of study and my passion are languages. I am constantly trying to leave my country, go and learn the language and culture directly from abroad.”
Nur Uqaisha Kamarudzaman
Country: Malaysia
Major: Psychology
Semesters attended: Fall 2014
Why study abroad?: “I’ve always looking forward to study abroad. I want to experience different culture and make friends internationally.”
Takeshi Kishiyama
Country: Japan
Major: Linguistics
When at Truman: Fall 2014-Spring 2015
Why study abroad?: “I have heard that Truman has high student-teacher ratio, and I could have some scholarship from the university and the government. These allowed me to decide it.”
Be on the lookout for more updates from these students and their experiences!
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