5 secrets about study abroad every Hokie should know

Studying abroad isn’t just about earning credits in another country. It’s about experiences that shape how you see yourself and the world — lessons that stick long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase. 

With hundreds of options across every major and plenty of scholarships and financial aid, studying abroad is within reach for every Hokie.

Want to see for yourself? Stop by the Study Abroad Fair on the Drillfield, Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Under two big white tents, you’ll meet faculty program leaders, providers, and the Global Education Office team ready to answer questions and help you picture your next adventure.

In the meantime, here are five “secrets” Hokies have learned from their own study abroad experiences — lessons that no classroom can teach you but that can shape how you grow, adapt, and connect with others.

1. Food can be the best translator

Trains and passports are easy enough to figure out. The real challenge comes when you’re hungry in a place where you can’t read the menu. That’s when meals become more than sustenance. They’re lessons in communication, connection, and confidence.  

“I truly think food is the most universal method of communication. Whether it was getting lunch with other TIU students or meeting local businessmen in late-night izakayas, there was always a new experience to be had when obtaining a meal,” said Mitchell Cao, who spent a semester at Tokyo International University (TIU).

2. Discomfort = growth

Your first days abroad can feel overwhelming. The language is different, the food is unfamiliar, and even grocery shopping feels like a pop quiz. But that discomfort? That’s where the learning happens.

“I was so scared for so long to do things that felt uncomfortable. But then once I realized how much growth happens when you’re living in the discomfort, I just keep seeking that," said Samantha Boyer, who studied Russian in Latvia and Persian in Tajikistan.

3. Life at the Steger Center is part study, part adventure

The Steger Center for International Scholarship is the university’s hub in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland — a historic villa that serves as home base for many Hokies abroad. Within the center, the Casa Maderni Living-Learning Community brings students from across majors together under one roof.

When staying in the heart of Europe, it's surprisingly easy to travel to dozens of countries in one semester. One weekend may be spent hiking in the Alps, the next could be exploring cities like Budapest or Barcelona. But it’s when they return to the villa that the magic happens. Sunday dinners, shared rooms, and late-night conversations turn travel stories into lessons that cross disciplines.

“It gives me a sense of community. It gives me a way to connect with people and makes me feel at home even when home is actually far away,” said Sydney Sokol, whose semester in Switzerland mixed travel, study, and community.

4. There’s a study abroad option for every budget

From short-term faculty-led trips to semester-long exchanges, Hokies can find options that fit both their goals and their finances. Scholarships and financial aid make it possible for more students to turn “someday” into a plane ticket.

“If you feel as though these kinds of things aren’t in your future because of financial strain, there are ways to get that experience and there are people out there that really want to help you go and have this experience,” said Terra Famuliner, who received a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship to help fund her study abroad in Panama.

5. Your experience can open career doors you didn’t know existed

For many Hokies, study abroad isn’t just about new places, it’s about discovering career paths they hadn’t imagined before.

On a two-week experience through the United Kingdom and Ireland, for example, students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences saw everything from family-run dairy farms to premier research labs. Along the way, they met farmers, scientists, and diplomats who expanded their sense of what’s possible – and showed them how Virginia Tech’s classrooms connect to global challenges.

“I never thought it would be possible for me to be someone who influenced policies or laws to help protect farmers. After meeting USDA staff at the American Embassy, I realized that it is something I can do. It didn’t seem attainable before. Everyone we met had stories like mine, and they were normal people just like me. I now want to pursue a job in public service,” said animal science major Zoë Wachsman.