Studying abroad is a great way to experience new things. Whether those new things you want to experience are  new people, a new culture, new food or just a new land in general, visiting a different country will provide that.

Edmonds Community College has been offering study abroad programs for over 25 years. They have 15 programs in 13 countries all around the world, such as China, Morocco and Germany.

Jessica Enebo, the Study Abroad Programmer here at EdCC, studied a semester in Salamanca, Spain while she was a student at Eastern Washington University.

“The short time I was in Spain sparked a deep desire to understand a broader range of cultures, to learn more about humanity this way,” Enebo describes how studying abroad has changed her life. “Over the past couple years this has led me to live with people from all over the world, and in various countries around the world. My initial desire to explore led to a desire to understand, and now a desire to give others the opportunity to have meaningful experiences abroad”.

The application process to study abroad at EdCC is pretty straightforward. A basic application packet, a one-page essay as to why you want to study abroad, and two letters of recommendation, one from a teacher and one from outside the school, is all you need to apply. As long as you are 17 years or older, have taken at least 12 credits at EdCC, and have a 2.5 GPA or higher, there is a good chance you will be accepted into the program. It is recommended that you plan to take a study abroad trip two to three quarters in advance.

Programs vary from two weeks to a full quarter abroad. Living situations vary from dorm style rooms to living with an actual family who will take care of you throughout your journey. Excursions within the study abroad trips are also offered, for students to get a better understanding and appreciation for the land they are inhabiting.

Most of the trips offer qualification of basic credits, so that most students are able to have this opportunity. However, some trips are specific to certain paths such as the trip to Beijing, China this summer, which is specially designed for IT students, as it has a large focus on technology.

There are different programs every quarter, so if one doesn’t fit with your schedule, there are always other opportunities every few months.

EdCC works hard to try and make it as accessible as possible for all students to be able to participate in a trip, so why not try to go on one?

Everybody has heard the typical study abroad approach of learning about other cultures and really gaining an appreciation for humanity as a whole, but a trip abroad really does provide even more than that. The experience of going to an entirely new country, not knowing anybody, and basically starting a whole new life, meeting new friends and trying new things is really life changing. Most people don’t understand the true magnitude a world adventure can have until they actually do it, which is exactly why studying abroad is encouraged.