An Open Letter to the MSU Study Abroaders

from Hortense Haversham

Hortense Haversham Retching-on-Avon Wales

After reading SpartanEdge's international issue extolling the virtues of Michigan State University's Study Abroad Program, all I can say is what poppycock and balderdash.

I have watched more than one giggly group of Guinness-guzzling Spartans pub-crawl their way across the British Isles.  (Those journalism hussies are the worst.) Since when does puking on your shoes in different countries constitute an international education?

From what I see, the classes you take are, at best, an afterthought. You spend all of your time with your fellow students and never meet any locals. Your idea of heightened cultural awareness consists
in eating "foreign" food.  (It's not foreign to us -- we live here.) And you treat us as if we are extras in the movie of your lives in which you are the only stars.  

Not only that, you're loud.

Incredibly loud.

Reading through this issue, I find myself wildly amused by the notion that Study Abroad grads believe that this experience should enhance their marketability when seeking jobs and internships back home. Are American employers really so naive that they consider a vacation in Europe as enlightening your world view? No wonder you elected George Bush.

Yours very truly,

Hortense Haversham

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Tuesday, October 10 at 06:21 PM:
Katie Luscombe from SpartanEdge (Michigan) wrote:
"Thanks so much for that feedback and perspective. I'll be in Europe myself (in Spain, though) next semester, and have heard over the past few years that many students like to go abroad so they can basically drink in another country. I hope to spend my time abroad observing and adapting to a new culture. My ultimate measure of success will be how well I will fit in with the Spaniards! Thanks for bringing this issue to light, as I have wondered about it myself. P.S. And please don't think we all voted for Bush!"

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