Study Abroad Fair showcases programs

The Study Abroad Fair on Sept. 20, 2018. Photo by Zack Benz

On Sept. 20, 2018, the Study Abroad Office had their annual Study Abroad Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Kirby Commons.

“I encourage all students to study abroad,” Lyndsey Andersen, the associate director for the Study Abroad Office, said.

At this fair, booths were set up with student peer advisors and program leaders talking with students about these opportunities. Along with them, the entire study abroad staff, returned study abroad students, current exchange students at UMD, and cosponsor programs were there to help answer questions.

Lyndsey Andersen, the associate director for the Study Abroad Office, at the Study Abroad Fair on Sept. 20, 2018. Andersen wants to help encourage all students to study abroad. Photo by Zack Benz

“We’re here to showcase all the opportunities for students,” Andersen said. “We partner with seven study abroad programs. We partner with them to offer more programs for students.”

According to Stephanie Bartsch, graphic and multimedia communication associate for the Study Abroad Office, UMD study abroad also partners directly with the Department of Education for their International Student Teaching Programs.

One of the booths at the fair was for the short-term program Community Health History in Italy. Representing the booth was program co-leader Lisa Vogeslang.

According to Vogeslang, this is one of UMD’s most longest running short-term programs.

Lisa Vogeslang, co-leader for the short-term program Community Health History in Italy, at the Study Abroad Fair on Sept. 20, 2018. Vogeslang wants to show the relations between health and history to students studying abroad in the program. Photo by Zack Benz

“Our class was the first class ever to visit the island [Lazarretto Nuovo, Italy] since the plague,” Vogeslang said.

In this program, students go to Italy to learn how community health and history are connected.

“Just as architecture had to be discovered, so did art and culture,” Vogeslang said. “Each stage of history is so intertwined that you can’t pull it apart.”

This is open to all majors, undergraduate students and graduate students.

Pim Nelemans, an exchange student from the Netherlands, at the Study Abroad Fair on Sept. 20, 2018. Nelemans was standing at one of the booths helping answer questions from students. Photo by Zack Benz

One of the exchange students at the fair was Pim Nelemans, who is from the Netherlands.

“I came here five weeks ago, and I’ll be here the for the semester,” Nelemans said.

One of Nelemans’ main reasons for deciding to study abroad was to learn a new culture. He had only studied in the Netherlands and thought it was time to do something new and different.

“I think it’s fun to do something different,” Nelemans said. “It’s an experience. I definitely recommend it.”

Also at the fair, there was a wheel that could be spun from students with different prizes on it, including a prize to have the $50 study abroad application fee waived.

Study Abroad has been been helping send UMD students to universities around the world since at least 1980, when they originally just had their Studying in England program.