Posted By: Career Enrichment Network
Photos and Content contributed by Bianca Santalla
Bianca Santalla, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Labor and Employment Relations, took part in an embedded course last summer. Read more about her experience below.
I took part in an embedded course as part of my PSYCH232 class, and we went to Japan. The class focused on cross-cultural psychology. As part of the class, the trip to Japan was to attend the International Psychology Conference that occurs every four years. This was an opportunity that would not come again during my college education. Attending an international conference abroad, in a country I never imagined going to, was very exciting. Furthermore, my ancestry has Japanese roots very far down the line, so it was even more exciting to have the opportunity to take an interesting class, attend an international conference, and learn more about my background all in one.
This course was offered during the summer semester. It fit well into my schedule, simply because between handling all of my classes in one normal semester would have been more difficult for me. Luckily, this course was offered during the summer, meaning I could put all of my effort into this class and experience.
Academically, I learned a lot about cross-cultural psychology through the class itself. Furthermore, I learned a variety of information throughout numerous branches of psychology by attending a week-long conference with famous speakers like Jane Goodall and Elizabeth Loftus presenting. With thousands of people from over 90 countries coming together to present and learn about new research, I can honestly say it was a privilege to hear about all the research first hand from each person. One of my favorite moments during this trip was after the conference, we took a nice trip to Kyoto, Japan. There we started exploring shrines, temples, and more. However, my favorite part of Kyoto was when we went to experience Zen meditation. Led by the sensei, we participated in a couple sessions of pure quietness and serenity. The sense of peace that the Zen meditation brought was fantastic.
I received enrichment funding as a support for this experience from the College of the Liberal Arts. Attending various talks regarding the industrial-organizational psychology field has affirmed my interests in following this path for my master’s degree in the future. Being able to hear different research from around the world at the conference allowed me to realize my interests in the field.
My advice for someone thinking about studying abroad is- Do not be afraid! I am naturally not a picky eater, for instance, but if you are – don’t let that stop you from trying new foods! And just because you aren’t fluent on the language, doesn’t mean you can’t learn! You learn to observe and mimic all the actions of people, as well as, some vocabulary. You’ll be astounded as to how much you’ve learned and experienced by the end of the trip.
The experiences and memories you gain from studying abroad is simply unforgettable. There is no better time to explore the world than now. Take the opportunities you have and run with them. You will not regret it.
To read more about Bianca’s experiences abroad, check out her blog. You can also view this video she made chronicling her experience on an embedded course.
To learn more about study abroad, be sure to attend the Education Abroad Fair this Fall, taking place in the HUB on October, 12 from 11am-4pm. You can also schedule an appointment with Jackie Smith (jds54@psu.edu ), Global Experiences Coordinator on Network Symplicity There will also be an International Course Fair next Monday, October 17 from 11am-1pm, learn more about the details here.