By Justice Bufford Abroad writer
During the spring semester of my first year, I made an appointment with the GO Office to discuss possible study abroad destinations.
I knew what I wanted. One full semester. Destination: Japan. It was going to be a dream. What better way to fulfill my graduation requirement than to go to a country with a culture completely different from one I’m used to? I would learn so much.
Except there was a problem. I was pursuing a degree in neuroscience: a demanding major that was underdeveloped in U.S. universities, much less abroad. The GO Office advisor was quick to point this out; “we prioritize academics over destination,” was the message. Why couldn’t I be an Asian Studies major? Maybe then my destination of choice wouldn’t be restricted by my choice of study.
At the end of the day, I had to change my mindset and my destination. Not everyone is afforded the opportunity to study at a university in another country for a full semester, so putting my desires into perspective helped me be okay with going somewhere else. The country I chose may not be completely different, but it wasn’t the U.S., which was the important part.
Because of my field of study, I could only choose countries in Europe. But the fact of the matter was that I really didn’t want to go to Europe.
Europe, despite being a diverse cultural center, shares a lot of the same values with the U.S. And I wanted to step outside of that and go abroad in a way that would allow me the opportunity to feel as if I lived there instead of just visiting.
So the natural choice was Scotland. I didn’t know much about it outside of kilts, golf and Nessie. It was a place with its own rich history and didn’t quite feel like Europe. I didn’t know anything at the time, but I had a feeling it was somehow different and I wanted to understand what that difference looked like.
And although I’ve only talked about what led me to come to Stirling, Scotland, I want to acknowledge the importance of that path and of deciding where to go and my attitude going forward. If I hadn’t been diverted to consider somewhere else, I would have gotten what I wanted but may have missed something more important because I was so focused.
By getting the opportunity to consider coming to Scotland, I’ve been allowed the chance to broaden my scope and take things as they come. So although I’m not sure yet what makes Scotland unique, I have no intentions of letting this country pass me by.
I want to experience it, live in it and embrace the little detours in my time here. Because then maybe I can get outside my own head and see the world differently.
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