For many students, studying abroad is one of the most sought-after experiences of their college career. But the process, from applying to living away from family and friends to financing, can seem daunting. It doesn’t have to be so intimidating, though. For Judith Trujillo, political science, studying abroad was one experience she knew she wanted to have, and with the UC Education Abroad Program, she was able to spend a quarter living and learning in Thailand last fall.

For those who are considering studying in another country, the university offers tools to help make the transition as easy as possible, and there are financing programs in place. As UCEAP deadline’s approach for next spring (depending on the country and program due dates range from April to June – you can find them here), Trujillo shares a bit about her experience in Thailand, how pop culture fueled her desire to go abroad, and why she encourages other students to take the leap.

 

Why did you decide to study abroad?

Studying abroad was a must for me when I decided to transfer into a four-year university. I never knew anybody who studied abroad until my friends and I started college and seeing them do it made it feel more attainable for myself. As a kid, I Ioved Lizzie McGuire and seeing “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” when she went to Rome fueled my desire to visit other countries even as an 8-year-old kid. Also, since I receive financial aid, I thought why not take advantage of an opportunity I may never have again.

 

How did you choose your location?

When I originally thought about studying abroad I always thought about going to Europe. But when I was looking at programs I saw that Thailand was an option for me. As a millennial I hate to admit this, but social media played a huge role in my decision to choose Thailand. I saw Instagram posts of wild elephants, tourists feeding monkeys, islands with crystal clear water, Gatorade-blue waterfalls, and the famous lantern festival like in the movie “Tangled.” I was happy the Thailand program offered courses that would keep me on track for graduation, but as a nature lover these things solidified Thailand as the country I was going to study abroad in.

Going to Asia was something that I had never even thought of and while I was scared because I didn’t know the language, going with another group of students as well as the support that UCEAP offers seemed like the best and most comfortable way to go there.

 

What was your favorite part of studying in Thailand?

My favorite part about studying in Thailand was all the food and without a doubt the prices. A lot of my best memories were the group dinners we had once a month with the whole UCEAP group. We’d always go to fancy restaurants or buffets and have amazing food. There were also so many different kinds of fruits to try and discover.

 

What was the most unexpected or challenging part of studying abroad?

Something that now seems obvious is the language barrier. I struggled with this a lot, especially since I did not enroll in Thai language courses. It was also exhausting (one time when I was learning how to take the bus I ended up an hour away from a night market I wanted to go to). I did eventually learn just enough Thai to be able to order food, give directions, and find my way around and that definitely made everything so much smoother.

Traveling was also something that was challenging, but every trip I went on was worth the experience. I really appreciated my car after five months of public transportation though.

 

What would you say to students who are considering studying abroad but are not sure?

If you’re feeling scared, I can tell you that I was too. There were many things I was afraid would change if I left; relationships, friendships, family, pets. But even though not everything was smooth sailing I’m so proud of myself for doing it. I had so much support through UCEAP, I became a lot closer to my mom who I had a newfound appreciation for, and in many ways I got to see who was really there for me. Though I did miss out on some things back home, I got to do things most of my friends will probably never do. Like live in a foreign country in my own apartment, experience a royal cremation, bathe with elephants, see fireflies, and celebrate Thai holidays just to name a few.

 

How do you think your perspective has changed since studying abroad?

It has been interesting to learn what it’s like to be foreign and feel out of place. I use to work in Santa Monica, which has many tourists, and it was definitely hard to communicate with some people. Since being in a situation where I was the foreigner I definitely feel empathetic towards people who make bold moves like traveling in foreign places or moving into a foreign country.

I also used to think about going to school in another city or across the country, but after this experience I’m thinking bigger. I could do grad school in Germany or maybe get a job in a different country. I feel like I have even more options than I did before I left.