For many people, traveling abroad is a dream that is never realized. There are a lot of factors why this might be: financial problems, fear of the unknown, language barrier, etc. While many wish to travel, many people never get over their doubts. Sometimes all we need is someone to tell us to stop worrying and go out and do it. Luckily, those who attended University Day were given such a wake-up call.
Virginia Fuhrmark, a senior at the Carleton Project, gave a presentation at University Day to discuss her trip to Europe last year. Through a program called Schloss-Hamborn, Fuhrmark was able to visit and stay in such places as Cologne, Berlin and Paris. The main goal of her presentation was to educate the attendees on her experiences and challenges living in another country.
Some of the key points Fuhrmark discussed were the challenges she had to overcome living in Europe. She divided these into three categories: patience, learning and distractions. “Living in a place where there is a language barrier, it is really difficult to not get frustrated. Thankfully, I was surrounded by people who did all they could to help me,” Fuhrmark said.
While in the Schloss-Hamborn program, Fuhrmark and her group would help out with chores around the facility such as feeding the horses and baking goods. She also would help out the younger children with their homework. All these experiences helped her overcome the language barrier, as well as gave her a routine.
Weekly chores aside, living abroad was every bit as exciting as Fuhrmark hoped. Some of the sites she visited included the Museum Ludwig and a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) protest in Berlin. Fuhrmark was also able to experience the different foods and art museums Europe offered.
After her presentation, Fuhrmark answered attendees’ questions on her experiences traveling, as well as gave some tips. “The best advice I can give those who want to travel is to take time to go over the language barrier, wherever you go. You can learn and appreciate so much more if you’re able to communicate with those around you,” Fuhrmark said.
The overall goal Fuhrmark tried to accomplish with her presentation was to encourage others to get over their fear of traveling and experience life. Judging by the responses of students who attended, she did just that. “I really never thought about traveling abroad,” Karson Wilcox, an UMPI student, said. “After hearing her presentation, I want to go out and learn the history of these places.”
