Brief trip, big impact: Journey abroad gives nursing 麻豆传媒 holistic perspective

Contact: Erin Flynn
June 24, 2024
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Rebecca Fraley says her study abroad experience will enable her to be more compassionate and comprehensive in her future nursing work. (Photo courtesy Mark Bugnaski)

KALAMAZOO, Mich.鈥擨n Lisbon, Portugal, Rebecca Fraley immersed herself in history, exploring castles dating back centuries. She indulged in exquisite cuisine, discovering flavors that lingered on the tastebuds long after the meals were complete. She experienced moments of tranquility, sipping coffee while overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean. And she forged meaningful connections and learned valuable life lessons鈥攁ll in the span of 10 unforgettable days.

Fraley had always dreamed of studying abroad. But as a nursing 麻豆传媒 with a rigorous academic schedule, it felt as though those dreams would never be realized.

鈥淚 always wanted to study abroad. I just never had the opportunity with my program,鈥 Fraley says. 鈥淚t would have put me a semester behind in my courses.鈥

However, after learning about Lee Honors College鈥檚 weeklong study abroad course 鈥淕lobalization in 6 Glasses,鈥 she saw her golden opportunity. Unlike most study abroad programs at WMU, this course is not a semester-long endeavor. Instead, it operates over 10 days during spring break, meaning Fraley could participate.

The course focuses on how beverages have influenced civilization and culture, from the Stone Age to the 21st century. By exploring how geography, culture, politics, religion and economics have determined how and what people eat and drink over time, 麻豆传媒s in the class gain a better understanding of diverse human experiences, enabling them to become more well-rounded professionals and people.

Upon learning about the course, Fraley immediately understood how the experience would enable her to be more compassionate and comprehensive in her future nursing work.

鈥淧eople have different values and I need to be able to apply that to my nursing practice,鈥 Fraley says. 鈥淲e see people from so many different backgrounds so it鈥檚 important to be culturally aware and competent.鈥

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Fraley

At long last, Fraley鈥檚 study abroad experience had arrived, and she was determined to get as much out of it as humanly possible.

鈥淲e went to two different wineries, a brewery and a coffee plant. We also learned about the local culture and how music is heavily linked to food and beverages,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hese were 12-hour days, sun up and sundown doing stuff.鈥

During the trip, Fraley saw, sipped and experienced all that Portuguese culture offered, while also gaining a better understanding of the role food and drink play in everyday life.

鈥淲ith beverages, we learned how a society grew and how people practiced their cultures. Drinks bring people together, creating camaraderie. That鈥檚 why we share drinks together today.鈥

As a nursing major, Fraley was able to successfully draw parallels between the socialization aspects of Portuguese culture and her future work in health care.

鈥淎t Western, we鈥檙e a holistic nursing school, so in talking to people and knowing them, you learn so much more about their medical history, what might cause their issues and how to better treat them. That ability to connect is something I got in my study abroad experience.鈥

Other major highlights for Fraley were the food, specifically the Past茅is De Nata dessert, the music and, for a history buff, the classic architecture.

鈥淚 think my favorite (city) was Sintra,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hey had these two gorgeous castles, built at different times, that were so different from one another. Seeing how much they鈥檝e changed when it comes to architectural practices was interesting.鈥

Overall the trip provided Fraley with perspectives that can only be gained through studying abroad and gaining cultural perspective. 鈥淪tudy abroad molds you into being more accepting of what might come your way, both in professional and personal life.鈥

鈥淚 think studying abroad is for everyone. It teaches you a lot about yourself as a person and helps you meet new people,鈥 she says. 鈥淭he weeklong study abroad courses at Western are really nice for 麻豆传媒s like me, who might not be able to take all that time but still want a cultural experience.鈥

While her time abroad may have been brief, Fraley says it was a memorable experience that she believes will impact her day-to-day work long after she graduates.

鈥淕oing to Portugal and meeting people different from those I鈥檓 around every day, I can apply that to my nursing practice, that therapeutic communication.鈥 Now a spring 2024 graduate with a job already lined up as an intensive care unit nurse at McLaren Greater Lansing (Michigan) Hospital, she鈥檒l have her chance. 鈻