Victoria Robertson, 2014-15 Fiji International Tourism for Development student blogger, writes:

Ever need to get away? To prove to yourself you can be independent in an environment foreign to you? Ever want to immerse yourself in a new culture completely?

I know I had all of these feelings when I first applied to study abroad in Fiji. And if I’m being completely honest, all I knew about Fiji was that it tends to be a fairly popular vacation destination. Oh, and it hosted Survivor one year.

Photo Source: Wikimedia

But in further research and multiple excited reviews of my program’s itinerary, I learned that it is so much more than that. Fiji offers an abundance of plant and animal life to be explored, the undeniable beauty of the South Pacific Ocean to absorb, and diverse customs and culture foreign to my own from which to learn.

I can’t wait until I can take pictures this beautiful of my own!

And hey, isn’t that exactly what studying abroad is all about?

When I first submitted my study abroad application, I didn’t think I had a chance. I didn’t think an English major belonged on a program focused on studying tourism and its impacts. I couldn’t have been more wrong and am thrilled that I ignored this thought and applied anyway.

The bottom line: study abroad is all about taking in something new. You step out of your comfort zone and experience what the world has to offer as you never have before. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing.