School of Public Policy

“When I committed to the Indonesian study abroad program, I started learning Indonesian and I’m so glad I put in the effort to learn and use some of the language…I unlocked a unique connection to whoever I'm interacting with that goes beyond typical tourist behavior.“ | Jillian Mikutsky, UMD Winter: Indonesia

For those who may be unfamiliar with you and your work, can you share a little bit about yourself, your research interests at UMD, and the scope of your project?

"As a Public Policy major, I would say that thinking about the history, culture, etc. of your study abroad location in real-time gives you much more perspective on the policies of today. Being able to interact with locals and gather their opinions on policies that might be unrecognizable or complicated to us as foreigners was really enlightening for me."

"During this process, I learned that I could not simply apply the thought process about how to solve public problems with my American perspective. I needed to learn the needs and wants of Czech citizens, and how they would approach a similar problem."

"As a public policy major, my advice is to take any and every opportunity you can get to learn about other cultures and perspectives... It was eye opening to see how people from different backgrounds responded to my questions and learn about how they thought their home country compared to the US. "

"I learned how to communicate with people when words failed me, and I learned a great deal about patience with myself and with others."

"With all the programs that exist today, you are bound to find something that suits your needs. All majors cross borders and I know for a fact that your educational experience will be so much better when you study abroad."

"The hesitations of going abroad as minority group members due to safety, cultural reservations, or lack of seeing potential growth is common. However, I MUST urge you to do it!"

"Study abroad allows you to grow, learn, and understand others in a unique way that your home university can't offer. It can be intimidating, expensive, and seen as "unnecessary," but it is possible and within your reach if you are committed to making it happen."