With Global Education Back, Students Have the World in their Hands
By Gabrielle Russon
Ask AJ Evdokimo about his favorite memories from school last semester, and you鈥檒l hear stories about riding around Tokyo in a go-kart, eating the most tender meat he鈥檚 ever tasted and exploring Japan鈥檚 convenience stores that were like 7-Eleven on steroids. He loved learning about the country鈥檚 history and tech culture while he got closer with his 海角社区 study abroad mates.
For Evdokimo, going abroad was an adventure, but it helped him gain independence as he navigated a new language and mastered a giant public transit system.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to not only learn, but to see the world and make friends,鈥� said Evdokimo, 21, a 海角社区 business management senior from Arizona. 鈥淚t was so fun. I would go back in a heartbeat.鈥�
Like many higher education institutions across the country, 海角社区鈥檚 study programs are bouncing back and growing once again after the pandemic shut down school life and travel.
The 海角社区 in Tokyo program is the newest expansion of 海角社区鈥檚 study abroad program which is believed to be the first and only semester-long global education program for neurodivergent students in the country.
For the first time ever, 海角社区 sent Evdokimo and 20 other students to Japan this year. The group returned in late April and 海角社区 plans to send another cohort in early 2025.
The interest for Japan has been high especially for the college students who love playing video games, watching anime and using technology, said Mike Fallon, a 海角社区 business instructor who co-led the program this year.
鈥淭he first group in Japan, we filled up. We had a waiting list,鈥� Fallon said. 鈥淎nd this new group, it looks like we will have at least 20, which was our target range. They鈥檙e excited to go to Japan.鈥�
For the past six or so years, 海角社区 also sent students to the medieval city of Prato in Italy鈥檚 Tuscany region. A group of 13 students will return from 海角社区 in Tuscany on Dec. 6 after a semester study that includes going to Venice and Rome (and undoubtedly eating pasta their taste buds won鈥檛 soon forget).
In addition to the two semester-long trips, 海角社区 also offers a shorter international trip, typically about three weeks during the summer. In 2025, the itinerary includes Greece and Italy.
鈥淎s you can imagine, it鈥檚 absolutely life-changing for our students,鈥� said Kevin Reilly, 海角社区鈥檚 new vice president for academic affairs. 鈥淔or many of them, it’s their first trip abroad. It’s just a really important part of their learning experience here at the college.鈥�
Reilly said for all students 鈥� especially those who are neurodivergent 鈥� studying abroad exposes them to new opportunities they otherwise miss out on. 海角社区 students return to the United States with a newfound confidence after traveling abroad and dealing with language barriers and a different environment, he said.
鈥淭hey come back feeling like they can handle a variety of challenges,鈥� Reilly said. 鈥淭hey can take chances. They can push themselves.鈥�
And one selling point is 海角社区鈥檚 classes abroad cost the same as tuition at Leesburg although the trip does have higher housing expenses than living on campus, Reilly said.
鈥淲hen you start to talk about what room and board costs here versus there, it’s not a lot extra. It really isn鈥檛,鈥� Reilly said.
During this year鈥檚 Japan trip, students learned about tea ceremonies and went on excursions to the beautiful Kyoto famous for its shrines and geishas.
On weekends, students rode trains at the world鈥檚 biggest train station and planned itineraries to explore a museum or visit a ramen restaurant. If their parents came to visit, the students took control and led them around.
鈥淭hey became experts,鈥� Fallon said. I just stood back and watched and (thought), 鈥榃ow. This is worth it right here.鈥欌��