ISE Travel Blog

Internet Link – How Facebook Can Ruin Study Abroad
 
I recently came across an article by Robert Huesca in the “Chronicle of Higher Education” that compares studying abroad 20-30 years ago, when the main method of communication was “snail mail” to studying abroad today, where students can be connected 24/7 to their friends and family back home via social media. 

The article reminded me of my first study abroad experience in 1979 in rural USA. I bought stamps by the dozen and waited anxiously by the mailbox everyday hoping for letters or postcards from my friends.  During my year in USA, my mom and I would split the cost of a 15-minute, long-distance call every other week. 

Now, when I travel abroad, I barely even have to tell people that I’m traveling internationally. I have Facebook, email and IM on my cell phone (my main means of communication these days anyway) and, other than the extended international flights and the horrific time difference, I hardly lose contact with any of my friends and family at all. 

It barely even costs any extra; on my last international voyage in June, I paid an extra $15 for the international data I used during the 17-day trip.  However, I definitely don’t feel as connected or even need to try nearly as hard to communicate when I have a translation app on my phone and I can Babelfish translate almost anything I want to say. Social media is great for keeping in contact with the friends I’ve made during my international travels, but it is also removing a key element from the study abroad experience. 

To read the full article, click on the title linked above