The View From The Veranda Analysis

The ability to travel abroad has gained not only popularity in the past decade, but has become much more accessible to the average student. This newfound availability has had both positive and negative effects. In Anthony Ogden’s article, “The View from the Veranda: Understanding Today’s Colonial Student” he discusses that with the rise of American students traveling abroad to continue their education, they are expecting the same conveniences offered at their destinations. Ogden calls these students ‘Colonial Students’ stating that they are a group of students who, “…wants to be abroad and take full advantage of all the benefits studying abroad offers, but is not necessarily open to experiencing the less desirable side of being there” (Ogden …show more content…
As someone who is going to a country that is normally not an abroad option, I was not that happy with his generalizations of American students. His thoughts that preparing for the abroad trip also irked me in that with the forced interaction with citizens is counterintuitive. As for some of the conveniences that he states, there is some expectations, but this is an increasing globalized world and now many places have similar items available. As for avoiding falling into the pitfalls of expecting life to be similar to America I plan on experiencing life there to the fullest. Going out every day that I have time and traveling to a new place on or off the island. I will document each travel in a journal and retell my feelings and my thoughts of that place. Will it be easy and will I miss certain commodities, of course I will miss things, but this a time to experience a new commodity and perhaps when I return to America, I will miss the newfound comfort. This is a one in a lifetime chance and I do not plan on squandering it one just staying on the veranda like Ogden believes so many American students