HERE AND NOW: THE LASTING EFFECTS OF MINDFULNESS ON STUDY-ABROAD PARTICIPANTS

"The fields of international education and study abroad are inherently conducive to new experiences and attentiveness to the moment. However, they have not been fully explored as areas of interest for the integration of contemplative practices. We present a case study of a group of 10 respondents, eighteen months after returning to the US from a study-abroad program in France. The scaffolded curriculum of the program centered around mindfulness and the use of the five senses to engage with and learn about the host culture. During the program, students practiced techniques, reflected collectively and metacognitively in writing assignments. More than a year after the study-abroad program, ten of the thirteen students volunteered answers expounding on their connection to mindfulness. Content analysis of their answers indicates that students perceive a positive impact of mindfulness on their personal, professional, and academic lives. Notably, results indicate that students may have experienced an increased awareness of and attentiveness to their surroundings, improved interoception and metacognition, a greater ability to connect with those around them, and an enhanced capacity for recall and memory."