Encountering new perspectives and reflecting on international students’ place in this ever-changing world
By: Charlize Morrison
I landed in Valencia Airport on June 17th at around 4:30PM, Central European Time. I navigated the charming airport to find my luggage with a really sweet former classmate, now friend, who I shared travel anecdotes with. The FSU Valencia Study Center is located in the street in front of Torres de Serranos. I recently learned that the towers served as a safe haven for art; precious items from Madrid’s Prado Museum were securely stored there during the Spanish Civil War.
Torres de Serranos, Valencia, Spain, photographed by Charlize Morrison, 21 June 2026.
My second day of orientation took place in the Universitat de València, where over 2100 Erasmus students take classes. Erasmus is a study abroad program funded by the European Union that financially supports students in their pursuit of their masters degrees abroad. After a brief internet search, I concluded that there is no equivalent to this program in the United States. I sat in the café Mestizo this morning, pondering on why. After all, I believe it is in the United States’ best interest to support the acquisition and transportation of talent and skill into their domestic sphere. Nonetheless, I have observed that international students in the United States are often times financially supported by their home countries or families.
Lunch at Mestizo cafe, Valencia, Spain, photographed by Charlize Morrison, 22 June 2026.
I acknowledge my own interest in this topic stems from my own experience as an international student in the United States. I have navigated this experience mostly through faith and the support of my steadfast family, but I believe institutionally, more support could be provided to international students. Not only do international students contribute intellectually to universities, but they also bring new perspectives and cultures into educational spaces.
There is a pool of research on the difficulties of being an international student in the United States relating to social exclusion, homesickness, language and finances (Sherry et al., 2010). I wonder if the same can be said for international students in Europe, considering a lot tend to speak multiple languages, and if experiences vary by the countries/regions the students hail from. The desirability of international students from certain regions of the world has decreased due to newer migration policies and ideological exclusionary movements. Brooks et al. (2024) conducted an interesting meta analysis of existing literature on international students in Europe and contemporary challenges. Brooks noted that having more international students was a means of exerting soft power, indicating prestige, resources, and cultural enhancement. As an international student, I argue that there has been a slight but noticeable shift in this welcoming attitude. I want to gather other international students’ experiences in both Spain and the United States and explore their perception on attitudes surrounding their presence in the host country. I also want to focus on the benefits studying abroad brings to both international students and institutions worldwide.
I believe international students’ own experiences and input is valuable in considering how to provide better-suited institutional support. An educational institution is only as good as the support and guidance it provides to its students. Even while abroad and walking through the hallways of a different university, I remind myself of my favorite FSU banner standing tall by Westcott Fountain, daringly asking me and other passing students, “Who Will You Become While You Are Here?” I believe in an institution and system where international students can answer this question without worrying about work/internship possibilities due to visa issues, without having to worry about being judged for their accent, or their differing cultural or religious customs.
Vniversitat Do València Logo on Sliding Door and Florida State University Banner, photographed by Charlize Morrison, 21 June 2026.
I am in the process of making contact with international students in Valencia. It has been a challenging step in undertaking this research, but Dr. Ignacio Messana, a Valencian native and director of the FSU Valencia program, is a good person to start with. My professors Susan Hellstrom and Jack Clifford from the Editing, Writing and Media program in Valencia are also of great help in keeping me motivated and hopeful while attempting to complete these interviews. As for making contact with international students at Florida State University, Dr. Harden at the Center for Global Engagement at FSU has been a very helpful guide and point of contact. I do hope to maintain these relationships even way after completing this research project and graduating FSU. The skills and experiences I have gained even just these past couple of days since I landed in Valencia are invaluable, and I am excited to continue this educational and investigative journey alongside all readers, students and faculty alike.
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