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Charles Hamm
Charles Hamm is an Ambassador who studied abroad in London.
Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your trip that made a lasting impression.
While on my trip, members of my religion class were given the opportunity to spend 4 days in Turkey and explore a lot of what Turkey had to offer. This experience will stick with me for the rest of my life because it was unlike anything I had ever been exposed to. Growing up Catholic and attending Catholic school, I had never really been exposed to any religion besides my own. Turkey gave me the chance to see what Muslim culture was like and to really experience it firsthand.
Why did you choose the program in which you participated?
I wanted to challenge myself with an experience like none I had ever encountered in my life before. Study abroad was really seen as an opportunity for me to discover more about myself and to grow as an individual.
One reason I chose the London study abroad program was because of my concerns about a language barrier. I had encountered them before, but I didn't want to spend a whole semester dealing with one. Another reason I chose the London program was due to the fact that it was located in a huge city. I don't come from a big city, and I don't experience big city life here in Saint Joseph, so I saw London as a chance to really be exposed to what living in a big city is like.
Describe your overall study abroad experience.
I would say to them that study abroad is an opportunity you can't afford to miss. Not only will you meet a ton of great people, but the experience itself will stay with you for a lifetime.
How has the trip affected you? How are you different for having completed the experience?
I think more than anything the trip gave me a ton of confidence in new situations. I didn't know how I would react to being in a foreign place because I had never had that experience before. After traveling not only through England but also through other places in Europe, I feel as though I have a ton of confidence when new things come my way.
What advice do you have for future Study Abroad Students?
I would tell them to take every opportunity that presents itself to them while studying abroad. Don't limit yourself to staying where your program is located. Studying abroad is about experiencing anything and everything, and a major part of that is traveling outside your immediate area.