Students will gain a global perspective and change their opinions about the world around them as they experience a culture completely different from their own. Learning about another culture can also help students to better understand their own culture, including cultural values and biases. This will influence their interactions with people from a different culture during their time abroad and when they return to the States. During SFS programs, students live in tight-knit communities with faculty and staff native to the countries where we operate, and they engage in various community interaction and outreach activities. Students also learn how to work as a team and see past each other’s differences, resulting in increased maturity and self-confidence.