That’s the question I’ve been asked countless times since 2006, when I decided to study for two semesters of my Journalism/Arts degree with UQ Abroad. My plan was to spend nearly three months holidaying in South America, take a semester of Political Science at Charles University, Prague and then head to India for a semester of my Journalism degree at Manipal University.
Nobody had a problem with Prague. Einstein was a professor at Charles University and the city’s history is tied up with illustrious figures like Mozart, Johannes Kepler, Alfons Mucha and of course Kafka; how could I go wrong? Besides, the beer was cheap.
It was India that people struggled to comprehend; why leave Brisbane to study in a country that’s still developing? Will there be electricity or hot water? Internet? Computers? What about the food? How will you get around? Can you even find safe, clean accommodation?
The five months studying in Prague were like nothing I’d ever experienced. The atmosphere in the city was amazing; every brick and cobblestone had witnessed countless empires and revolutions. Students from all over Europe and the world came together to study and exchange ideas; my fondest memories were of evenings up in the Castle ruins at Vysehrad watching the sun go down over Prague while discussing the great complexities of life with my fellow students.
Then I landed in Mumbai, and the great complexities of life slapped me in the face. By the time I’d travelled the 18 hours down the west coast to Manipal, I’d realized that although there was electricity, internet and computers, a sea of humanity 1.2 billion people deep can still be a tad disconcerting.
However life in Manipal wasn’t quite the same as the rest of India. The University grew out of a Medical College, established in 1953, and is now considered one of the premier Universities in India. Students from North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania bring a strong multicultural atmosphere to the small, rural town. Even though the Institute of Communication is new to Manipal it had fully equipped television and recording studios, and was building a new library. An amazing beach was just 20 kilometres away and Goa only 4 hours by train to the North.
Although some aspects of life there were, at times, hard to deal with (I don’t know how many times I got food poisoning) the differences in culture and world view taught me things I previously took for granted; the joy of community, the importance of identity and the fulfillment a hard yet simple life can bring.
Coming home has been the hardest part so far (a lot changes in 14 months) but I now believe studying overseas towards your degree shouldn’t be optional. Go to the UQ-Abroad website and check out the 27 countries you could study in. The challenges and opportunities you’ll come across and the people you’ll meet will change your life forever; it did for me.
Joshua Hoey