How did I prepare to study abroad?

How did I prepare to study abroad?

Studying abroad is obviously not as easy as living at home and studying there. I chose not to be part of an organizational program to find my study abroad destination, as I knew where I wanted to go for college and therefore had to do a lot of research and complete all of the following steps on my own. Nevertheless, I completed the exchange year during high school with a study abroad organization. If you to take part in a program offered by a study abroad organization, the institution will assist you with getting a visa and more. At first, it may seem like a lot of work, but it is worth it!

Exploring Knapp's Castle

Beautiful palm trees in Santa Barbara

First of all, you have to know where you want to go. For me, the choice was obvious but if you are a little adventurous, you may choose a country that you have never visited before, don’t know the language, or never even heard of. Taking into consideration that I mainly wanted to improve my English, my options were limited (U.K, Australia, and U.S). Since I am definitely a warm-weather person and cannot stand the cold, I short-handedly decided to go to California when deciding where to do my exchange year. In addition, I wanted to live near the beach and have sunny days all year round, so Santa Barbara was the perfect choice for me (BTW, SB got voted the city with the best weather in the U.S!!!). Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t handle much rain and coldness. Furthermore, if you already have your mind set on a specific major, you may want to select a university by looking for the best program in your major. Not all universities offer all majors. Therefore, you could start your google quest by researching (i.e. the best business universities in the U.S). If you don’t have a specific major, but you know that you want to attend a prestigious college or university, just look for the best universities in the U.S. SBCC got voted the #1 Community College in the Nation so this would FOR SURE be a great place to start! 

Hiking to Lizard's Mouth

Great websites include www.internationalstudent.com, www.usnews.com, www.topuniversities.com, www.niche.com, www.businessinsider.com, www.forbes.com, and many more. In addition, I conducted some research about Santa Barbara and about California in general... what to do, what to see, demographics, and more. Nevertheless, don’t worry about having to do extensive research because it is important to take things as they come and form your own opinion about the destination, the sights, and citizens.

View from the Humanities Building at SBCC

Once I decided what college to attend, I had to apply to SBCC. (See application checklist and procedures). Then, I had to wait for the acceptance letter before I could apply for my F-1 visa at the American embassy in Austria. In the meantime, I prepared all documents needed for the visa application process. Getting a visa took about one to two months including the time to get all the documents in order. The documents include, but are not limited to an application form, passport pictures, a financial statement, and the acceptance letter from SBCC. Eventually I had to go to the American embassy for a quick interview and that was about it. Two weeks later, I received my passport with an American F1 visa in the mail and I was ready to move to the other side of the world!

Santa Barbara Waterfront Pier

For a girl, I was always a light-packer and I only brought one big suitcase and one carry-on handbag with me. The only things you basically need are clothes, shoes, electronics, documents and other personal things. I bought all personal hygiene and household stuff as well as furniture in the U.S, which is definitely the easiest thing to do. Since I am living with my boyfriend now, I did not have to worry about getting an apartment, but there are always great options for international students no matter where you go! In Santa Barbara, there are many apartment buildings close by SBCC, there is Coral Group (specifically for international students), the Orchid House, and many more organizations, which you can all find online. On the day of my departure, the goodbye from my family was the hardest. However, I always keep in mind that I will see them again (I always go home for the winter holidays and for summer break). Also, thanks to our advanced technologies, I am able to FaceTime with them almost every day to keep up. Naturally, it is difficult to leave family and friends behind, but wherever you go, you’re gonna meet new people and make great friends soon! The relationships you build while studying abroad are simply the best because you will have been through so much together and have shared so many amazing experiences with one another. Whether you’re thinking about studying abroad for one month, half a year, or for your complete studies, it will be the greatest time of your life!

Making new friends!

Why does the food pantry exist?

College has different meanings for everyone. I want to share my experience at SBCC here today. Many people don't know who I am, but you must know the international office and food pantry on campus. Someone will ask what does this have to do with my college life? I actually work in these two departments. It also has a close connection to my major. As a Sociology student, this is what makes it easier for me to understand the fun of this profession. All of my friends know that I am a kind person. I like to chat with others. I like to help others relieve stress, as we all have a variety of pressures in our college life. Everyone needs someone to help them relieve stress. At SBCC, you will find that many people in this campus are caring for you silently. As I mentioned, we have a food pantry.

At the food pantry, we have staff meetings. The picture on the left is our staff meeting at the start of Fall 2018. In that meeting, we told people how our department  is doing. As an international student, I know how important money is to college students and having free food for them can help them save their money to buy textbooks or school supplies. The availability of free food can change how successful a student becomes. Many students don't understand why we have such a department, but I hope students learn more about it now that I am writing about it. The food pantry is an example of how the school cares and provides support for each student. We all know that the price of Santa Barbara is quite high. So the school uses such a resource to indirectly help us to better fulfill our college dreams. My experience at SBCC is just a microcosm of most international students. Now, I am going to transfer to a four-year university. SBCC has also become the starting point for my dream in the United States. This is just like the old saying in China: "There are always stories in the beautiful places."

Yvonn joins Honor Societies!

My name is Yvonn Myren, and I am a 20-year-old international student from Norway. This is my second (and last) year at SBCC, and this semester I decided to get more involved on campus!

Enjoying the sunshine at our stadium!

First, I received an email from Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), which is the national Honor Society, and I decided to join. This is an honors society for students with academic good standing. You pay a one-time fee of $100, and you’re set for life! By being a member of PTK you get access to different benefits, such as scholarships to transfer to a four-year university. You also get access to their merchandise, which is a cool memory to bring home after graduating.

The second honor society I joined was the Communication Honor Society, called Sigma Chi Eta. That is a honor society specifically for my major: Communication. By joining them, I am able to meet like-minded students with the same interests as me. On our meetings we talk about different educational paths you can take as a Com major. We discuss career opportunities, and we are currently planning a charity event to help the community. Within Sigma Chi Eta you can also apply for different roles, such as President, Vice-President and Commissioner for different departments, like events or marketing.

Why should you join a honor society? This will not only be a fun and social activity, but it will

also be a learning experience. You will gain knowledge about leadership, charity work, and social events. It is a way to turn the skills you have already learned in school into practical work, while at the same time meeting new friends. You will be able to say that you made a difference in the community, and used your passion for the better. It is also a great opportunity to improve your resume if you are planning on transferring to a four-year university.

Find out if your major has its own honor society or join Phi Theta Kappa. Get involved today!

Click here to visit PTK's website!

Interview with Interior Design Student, Anna Parfenova

Receiving the President's Honors Roll Certificate

Your proudest accomplishment/s at SBCC so far?

I really love what I study. I spend a lot of time and effort to learn something new, to carry out a project successfully or to find inspiration for an art work. Therefore, it is nice to realize that my efforts are noticed and appreciated by others. This year I have earned recognition with the President's Honor Roll and an International Student Support Program Scholarship. But perhaps the biggest and most unexpected reward for me was an invitation to participate in an Interior Design TV show. I was incredibly flattered and encouraged that I became one of those students, who was chosen not just to prove myself in the show, but to represent Santa Barbara City College and our Interior Design program. It became a great honor and an unforgettable experience for me.

How has this activity enhanced your college experience?

Participating in a TV show

Participation in the TV show taught me how important it is to learn how to communicate with people in school, in a job, and in any other activity. You can do an excellent job, create incredible masterpieces, be a master in your field, but if you do not know how to communicate with people, it does not matter. It is important to be able to present your work and do it well, be able to negotiate with the client, be able to work with the supplier, with your team and with a team of professionals in another field, be able to avoid conflicts and mistakes, while still keeping your goals and staying true to your principles. This experience gave me an idea of ​​how much sometimes your success depends on other people and that it is a hard job to collaborate with these people to achieve your own goals.

And of course, participation in the TV show is an excellent experience in public speaking, of manifestations of organizational and oratorical skills, of using time management and good preparation, of struggling with fears and complexes. The practice of all these skills gives a good competitive advantage in any work.

What advice  would you like to share with a new student who wants to make the most of their SBCC experience?

First of all, be true to yourself. Do what you really like and do it well. Listen to yourself, choose with your heart and always be faithful to yourself on your way. Second, if you are afraid - do it. If you are not confident in your abilities, think that you will not succeed, feel embarrassed, shy, afraid - be sure to try it. Without it, you will never grow. If you fail - it will make you stronger, and if you succeed - you will take yourself to a new level. But you will never lose.

And the last, just enjoy. Enjoy all that you do, see, feel, all that surrounds you. You will never catch the same moments in life again. Love them all.

SBCC Men's Soccer Student-Athlete, Armeyawu Muntari

Armeyawu Muntari from Ghana

My name is Armeyawu Muntari and I began my studies at SBCC in Fall 2017. While I was playing soccer in Sweden, a teammate shared with me the idea of playing soccer at SBCC. I visited SBCC and took a campus tour. I fell in love with the campus and applied. I went back to Ghana, my home country, to begin the visa process once I was admitted to SBCC. Unfortunately, my student visa was denied and I was unable to appeal the decision. I was devasted, but nonetheless I preserved. I sought other means to make my dream of playing soccer in the United States come true. After I was denied my visa, I got a full-ride scholarship from a college in Oklahoma to play soccer. I was granted my F-1 visa immediately. There were a number of obstacles in Oklahoma that prevented me from playing soccer, and so I was determined to apply to SBCC again to play soccer. In Fall 2017, I showed up a week before the season started. I began training with the team immediately since coach John Sisterson already knew about me. I remember cramping in the first game! I had not practiced for almost a year! I can play with both feet so I play left wing and right wing forward. It is my last season with the Vaqueros so I want to enjoy it and have fun. We've played five games and have won all of them. I have scored three goals and assisted five. We practice every day from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Besides playing soccer, I enjoy my academics at SBCC more than I have at any other school. The support I get here is one of a kind, which comes from counselors, faculty, coaches, and advisors. My coach, John Sisterson, and my advisor, Shelby Arthur, have helped me a lot in transitioning to SBCC. I'm a few classes away from earning my AA degree and will continue to pursue my Bachelor's degree. I love Santa Barbara and soccer has opened a lot of social circles for me. I recommend SBCC to all students and believe all students should be here! Catch me on the field... 

SBCC Men's Soccer team walking onto the field for warm-up before match against Taft.