Over the last few years, more and more N.C. Central University students have been studying abroad.
"Since Spanish is my former minor and now my major, I felt that the only way to learn the language was through immersion," said Spanish senior James Powell.
Powell studied abroad in the summer of 2011 at the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras in San Juan.
Though study abroad can be costly, students say financial aid is available to help with expenses.
"I paid $1,100 in tuition, and $450 for my round trip ticket," said Powell. "I spent around $1,000 in food and shopping. But $500 is about how much a student will spend on food."
Another student said he spent a lot more because he spent the entire fall semester of 2009 abroad.
"I spent probably around $7,000," said history graduate Joshua Tower.
Tower attended the University of Mannheim in Germany.
He said that studying abroad could be very expensive, but financial aid was a great help.
Students who have gone abroad say the benefits outweigh the costs.
"I got to experience a whole new world," said Maria Vasquez, who also studied in Puerto Rico. "Not everything is the same as in America.
"If I could do it again I would," said Vasquez.
"I have two whole new families: the people I went with and the people I met in Puerto Rico. I still keep in touch with everyone."
Tower descibed interacting with individuals from another culture as "invaluable."
"In Germany I met people from at least 10 different countries," he said.
Powell said his study abroad experience will look good on his transcript and will serve as a valuable "conversational piece."
Powell and Tower both said they would definitely recommend the study abroad experience to their their classmates and friends.
Powell had some experiences that he will never forget. "I got to experience things that none of my brothers, friends, and family have seen," he said.
"I did things such as kayak, and swim in the open ocean in crystal blue water, swim to a private island, and lay on the beach."
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article! Log in to Comment
You must be logged in to comment on an article. Not already a member? Register now