Growing up in Commerce, I always had a fascination with the outside world. I knew it was an opportunity to fulfill my desire to travel internationally and experience a culture different from my own.
Monroe McCracken
- Alum
Study Abroad
Monroe McCracken participated in the 2022 Study Abroad program to Germany and France.
A Conversation with Monroe McCracken
Why did you choose to go on this program?
Growing up in Commerce, I always had a fascination with the outside world. When I first heard about the A&M-Commerce Regents Scholar program in high school, I knew it was an opportunity to fulfill my desire to travel internationally and experience a culture different from my own. I made it my senior year priority to learn as much about the program as possible and score an interview with the Honors College to express my interest in studying abroad. Since being accepted into the program, I have eagerly anticipated our venture overseas and have quite literally counted down the time until take off. While the Regents Scholar program has since fully assimilated into the Honors College program, the opportunity to travel to Western Europe and take global leadership-focused courses remained. Unfortunately, travel ceased for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Being part of the first group to commence travel with the Honors College since its last trip in 2019, there were many uncertainties, unknowns and risks to assess. In the end, despite these factors, I knew this trip would offer life-long memories and knowledge, so I took my chances.
What surprised you the most about your experience?
Prior to travel, I did a little research on the cultural differences between Germany and the U.S., and watched a handful of YouTube videos with titles like, “Things I wish I knew before going to Germany.” This provided a general expectation of what Germany would be be like, but it didn't amount to living and breathing there. Overall, what shocked me most were the cultural differences I least expected to find. I read before departure that punctuality and formality are important in German culture. This rang true, literally. I learned very quickly that it's always important to be mindful of where the bike lane is and to always avoid it. Otherwise, you risk being yelled at by angry cyclists or bombarded by the sounds of their bike bells—sometimes both. However, being well-mannered and obedient applies to the population of dogs in Germany as well. It was extremely common to walk past unleashed dogs on the sidewalks, and every dog kept within distance of their owner and didn't interact with other dogs around. This really stood out to me because I least expected that something like dog culture and behavior in Germany would differ so widely from what we view as normal here in the U.S.
What was your favorite part of your time overseas?
As cliché as it sounds, there was never a dull moment. Every location we visited either had something beautiful, interesting, or delicious to offer, or a combination of it all. Everything from the simplicity of strolling through grocery stores to the surreal moments felt at historic landmarks and famous attractions left me in awe. For nostalgia, I enjoyed living out my middle school dreams of visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France—very original, I know. Aside from what I saw and did, a constant joy for me throughout the trip was becoming more acquainted with my peers. This experience wouldn't have been the same if it weren't for the rest of the scholars on this trip. Trying new things, planning activities, exploring a new culture, and navigating a foreign country brings people together and creates a bond that can't be easily replicated.
How do you intend to use this experience in the future?
There are many other countries I'd like to visit, and now that I have an idea of what traveling internationally is like, I can better prepare myself for future excursions. As I’m writing this, it has been a little over two weeks since we returned to the U.S. I am still processing and realizing all the information I learned and everything I experienced on our journey. I feel I could talk for days about the trip and though my family has probably heard enough, I’d love to be a source for students interested in pursuing a study abroad program.
What is your advice for students who want to study abroad through this program in the future?
My advice to anyone planning on traveling with the Honors College is to do your research and study the countries you’ll visit beforehand. Learn what is socially appropriate in the culture and what is not. It also wouldn’t hurt to download a language learning app and start learning. In Germany and France, I was fortunate enough to get by only speaking English, but it would have been useful to know some of the native languages in both countries. Make a list of places you want to visit, dishes you would like to try, and any other fun activities you want to do so you can make the most of every day. I’d also highly suggest packing a small journal to write in throughout the trip and for holding receipts if you’re like me and like keeping those as a memento. Also, if possible, bring a camera other than your phone so you can save storage and battery. My biggest pro-tip of all: try as many new things as possible and don’t get too carried away with sharing it all over social media. Live in the moment and mingle with the world around you.