Heritage Seekers

Learning more about their ancestry and roots might be important to some students, and might be the main reason why they are considering studying abroad. These students are known as heritage seekers. The Institute of International Education coined the term “heritage seeker” as a student who feels drawn to study abroad in a particular country or culture “not because it is unfamiliar and new, but because it feels somewhat familiar.”

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Going to your ancestral homeland can be a very emotional experience because you are choosing that location based on strong personal reasons. In addition to the academic component of studying abroad, heritage seekers might have specific goals to connect with their heritage while abroad such as:

Learning about ancestral history, food, and language of their family.
Attending cultural festivities that relatives talked about while growing up.
Buying specific products that are traditional of that location or not found anywhere else.
Visiting specific places such as monuments and historic homes.
Visiting relatives or even meeting them for the first time.

While most of these goals will enhance your education abroad experience, there might be times you will feel the local community members have high expectations regarding your cultural knowledge and/or linguistic capabilities. Or how you viewed your ancestral heritage may not match your actual experience. So, going into that country with an open mind is crucial and will help you find a balance between being part of that community through your heritage, and your own heritage from living in the U.S.

These are some things to consider while you are planning your education abroad experience:

How do I think I will be perceived in that country/culture?
How do I think I will react, if I find something offensive for me, but acceptable in that country?
How will I handle it, if I am part of the majority abroad?
How will I handle it, if relatives ask for money or favors while I am there?
How will I balance my academics goals with my goals as a heritage seeker? For example, you may want to consider a program near your heritage location, because it might be a better fit for your academic goals, while still providing you access to explore and learn about your heritage.

Being a heritage seeker student will provide a unique and different experience to the experiences other students may have while studying abroad. Some of these experiences may help you return home feeling connected to your roots, and others might help you return home feeling more appreciative of your roots in the U.S. Either way, going abroad will give you a chance to learn more about your ancestry firsthand.

Start by doing some research based on the information above. To learn more about the education abroad process and programs offered at UWL, we encourage you to attend an Education Abroad 101 session, attend our Education Abroad Fair, and/or schedule an appointment with our office. We are here for you!

Resources

Diversity Abroad - Tips for Heritage Seekers