Hello, collegiettes™! This week’s theme is all about making sure you get the most out of your study abroad experience. For example, how can you make sure that you really learn about the foreign culture and language you are going to be immersed in? If you’re like me, this can be overwhelming, and it’s very tempting (and easy) to stick with other English-speakers in your program and miss out on a lot of opportunities. Homesickness is real and inevitable, but unless you are studying abroad just as a vacation opportunity, you need to remind yourself that you are there first and foremost to learn. As long as you make that your priority and don’t lose sight of it, you will have an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience. So whether you are thinking about studying abroad or already have it planned, these guidelines can help you make it your own.
1. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. I can’t stress this enough. Especially if you are going to a country to learn a foreign language, you need to be willing to open your mouth and speak the language every once in a while—even if you struggle, even if you wince at your own words, even if you feel that you’re only speaking jibberish. Because making mistakes is the only way to learn. And you will get better, and you WILL notice a difference in time. It won’t happen overnight, but as with anything, practice is the only way to improve. Also, don’t be afraid of being judged by the native people. They appreciate that you are making the effort to connect with them in their language and in their environment. Many foreigners come to countries and never make an effort to step out of their own native culture’s bubble, but by at least trying—even if it is only speaking a sentence or two or nibbling at a strange food—you are consciously breaking that barrier, and they will respect that.
2. Try everything. Find out what the typical activities and foods/beverages are in the country you’re in, and make it a point to have as many authentic experiences as you can—no matter how strange they seem. So the Spanish youth stay up until 6:30 AM dancing in discotecas? Try it one night when you have the stamina. So they eat ham with olive oil and sugar for breakfast? Ask your family to make it for you one morning. Even if you don’t like it, it makes a great story, and it will also help you understand the culture and the people of the country you’re living in.
3. Be respectful. This is perhaps the most important theme of all. You have to be open-minded and appreciative of the differences in culture. Remember that YOU are the guest, and that what you consider to be strange about a culture is the norm in the country you are living in. If the situation was reversed and you were playing the host to a foreign student, the student would consider your culture strange as well. Here in Spain, for example, the people are much louder and straightforward about everything: your appearance, their own opinions of other people, etc. At first, I was taken aback, but I quickly learned that taking every comment as a personal affront was ridiculous: that is simply how the people are here, and it was not a personal attack on me. Of course you will find things you don’t like about a culture, but you may also find things you like better than your own. Above all, it is essential to understand that there is no BETTER or WORSE way of life, there is only DIFFERENT ways of life.
4. Look for opportunities. If you’re studying abroad through a program, ask about volunteer opportunities or jobs on the side that you can do that will help you get out and involved in the community around you. Look for extracurricular activities through the university at which you’re studying; you can find intramural sports or fun classes outside of the academic ones. Try to find activities that you would do in your own country that you can get involved in. For example, I play Ultimate Frisbee here at Ohio State, and before I left to study abroad I did some research and found a team to play with here in Spain. I also have friends who have made it a point to go to church and join Bible studies with native youth. This is an easy way to enhance your experience, meet people, learn about the culture and language on a much more personal, intimate level, and also to do things you already know you enjoy in a new, exciting environment.
5. Engage yourself. Make an effort to participate and pay attention in class. Visit your teachers after-hours and ask them about any questions you have over the material, but also clarify out-of-the-classroom concepts—for example, ask them about some customs you’ve noticed that you don’t quite understand. You’ll find that they will be more than happy to explain them to you, as the truth is that most people—ourselves included—are proud of their culture and eager to share it. And not only will you learn something new, it probably won’t hurt your grade to establish a better relationship with your professors, either. But more than that, turn your daily life into a lesson. Interact with your environment—listen, observe, pay attention. If you’re living with a host family, make an effort to talk to them and pick their brains about everything they know. They’re a veritable treasure chest of information within easy reach, so take advantage of it!
6. Adapt. Don’t be stubborn. Be willing to go outside of your comfort zone, and soon you’ll find that you’re not outside of your comfort zone at all—it will expand your horizons. Try to “blend in” with the people around you. Watch their habits and imitate them: try to speak the way they do, live like they do, dress like they do, eat like they do, and think like they do. This isn’t betraying your own culture—far from it! It is a way to learn to appreciate your own culture even more, and also to give you valuable perspective and tolerance in life. Yes, you will find some things very difficult to get used to, but remind yourself that you are there to learn and challenge yourself and that the experience is also temporary.
Following these guidelines isn’t easy, and don’t expect it to be. But if you CAN follow them, you will not be disappointed. You will find that you grow, mature, and gain invaluable experience. And in fact, a lot of these guidelines could help out in any new situation—abroad or at home—so keep them in mind!
Photo: Me branching out and trying some new cuisine specific to Spain: Cava, Spanish champagne, and Iberian Ham, a very traditional dish.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at OSU chapter.
