Students at the Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona were taking a selfie picture in the Rome Colosseum while studying abroad in Italy. — Photo by Collins College of Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona

"Traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books."

  • -- a Chinese proverb

While many of the world’s renowned hospitality and culinary schools are located right here in the U.S., studying abroad for a culinary arts program can also be very beneficial. On April 25, we compared the options of studying in hospitality, culinary arts, or a graduate program. Today, we will discuss the options of studying in the U.S. vs. abroad for a culinary arts program. 

Imagine that if one wants to be a master chef in Italian cuisine, will it be better to study culinary arts in Italy or a different country? Nothing can beat the immersive learning experience in the home country that originates the heritage and culture of the ethnic foods. Most of all, living in a foreign country could be the most rewarding experience in people’s life. They can

  1. Experience a whole new world: Living in the culture that gave birth to the ethnic cuisine, they get to taste its culture, the people, and the food every day. They can also tour the heritage sites. Such experience cannot be traded with classroom lectures or discussions in the U.S.
  2. Appreciate a diverse culture: People will gain a much better understanding of a new place by shopping in the local stores and eating authentic food in local restaurants. They will appreciate the culture more.
  3. Develop problem-solving skills: When people live in a place where their old friends and family are beyond their reach, they will become more independent. They will learn how to solve many real-life problems on their own.
  4. Make lifelong friends: People will make new friends when traveling or living in a different place. Some may develop lifelong friendships; others may even find their life partners.
  5. Learn a different language: People can learn a different language or a dialect in a foreign country. A proficiency level in a foreign language is great, but a simple "hello" in a foreign language can sometimes be a good icebreaker, too.
  6. Broaden career opportunities: Sometimes, people will find new career opportunities in their home country or a foreign country because of the new connections they make. Or at least, they can speak intellectually in a job interview about a cultural issue or their problem-solving skills with their study-abroad experience.

Do you want to study in a foreign country? If so, what do you aim to learn?

Linchi Kwok
Professor at The Collins College of Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona
CAL Poly Pomona

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