As students come back to AU for the beginning of the spring semester, many are returning to campus from much farther away. These study abroad students reflect on their time learning, exploring and soaking up new and diverse cultures, as well as the process of transitioning back to life in America.
Quito, Ecuador – Josie Parker (Junior, secondary Spanish education major)
What has helped you the most in adjusting back to life in the U.S.?
The fact that my family came and visited me for a week has helped a lot. As a result, I feel as if the people closest to me understand the essence of my experience. They got to meet my host family, see my home, hold the babies at the orphanage where I volunteered, and more. Now, when I talk about ahí sauce, the volcano Pichincha, or little Pedro, they know exactly what I’m talking about.
What is a lesson that you learned abroad that you would like to incorporate into your everyday life here?
I would love to emulate Ecuadorian hospitality and emphasis on relationships. The culture is so friendly—people are so welcoming and always have time to greet and hug visitors and their friends, no matter how much they may be in a hurry.
Dunedin, New Zealand – Emma Moore (Senior, Christian ministries, business administration, and intercultural studies major)
What was one of the most unexpected cultural differences between the U.S. and the country where you studied?
One of the biggest reasons I wanted to go to New Zealand was because we barely learn anything about that side of the world. The country has an indigenous people, called the Maori, which I had never even heard of before. To be honest, I also wanted to go because sheep outnumber people almost 10 to one, and you can’t get much better than that.
How would you say that your experience abroad has altered your view of the American way of life?
Being in another country during the election was interesting because I constantly had people asking me about the candidates and telling me how they believe the country should be run. I became a lot more knowledgeable about how the American government works compared to other governments and how the world views us. I love this country, but sometimes we can forget that there are so many different cultures and people out there that are content with living a life completely different than the one we have become so accustomed to.
Florence, Italy – Emily Doty (Senior, studio art major)
How has your experience abroad altered your view of the American way of life?
Rather than an expected ultimatum, I think it made my cultural perception more fluid. I can say, “This is how Italy does it,” and “This is how America does it,” and not ascribe negative or positive connotations to any of it. It’s all humanity; it’s all living. But if there was something that irked me the most between countries, it’s America’s consumerism that is not nearly as rampant abroad.
What is a lesson that you learned abroad that you would like to incorporate into your everyday life here?
Living in a foreign country does a lot of good for the spirit if you let it. I learned, to some capacity, albeit small, what it’s like to be foreign. I think that kind of empathetic experience is integral to knowing and loving people on an intercultural scale. I really experienced just how significant the difference between cultures is.
Oxford, England – Heather Cook (Senior, English major)
What was one of the most unexpected cultural differences between the U.S. and the country where you studied?
One of the most unexpected cultural differences was the instructor-student relationship. In my experience at Oxford University, professors and students seemed to share a more academically equal relationship than in the U.S. Students were seen as participating in scholarship and contributing to it, rather than just receiving instruction.
How would you say that your experience abroad has altered your view of the American way of life?
I learned about the English stereotypes of America. I was asked many questions beginning with “Do Americans really…?” But perhaps one of the most interesting eye-openers during my term abroad was during the election. The U.K. had just been through Brexit, and it seemed to me that they were relieved to see the focus of world news turned away from them and toward the U.S. I learned that the European countries seem to have a better knowledge of American news and politics than the U.S. has of outside news and politics. I think this is a disadvantage for us.
London, England – Hannah Overstreet (Junior, history major and public history and political science minor)
What are some examples of the reverse culture shock you experience when you returned to the States?
I think my reverse culture shock came mostly from the urban/suburban difference. In Anderson, I can’t jump on the subway, get Thai food from around the corner, or go see a professionally staged play for £10!
How would you say that your experience abroad has altered your view of the American way of life?
The U.K.—and Europe—certainly isn’t perfect, but I rarely felt myself thinking, “America does [blank] better than here.” My perspective of life in America didn’t change drastically, but I did think more seriously about living abroad someday.
What is a perspective that you acquired abroad that you would like to incorporate into your everyday life here?
One of the lessons I learned was not directly a result of England, but of studying abroad in general. I had one month where everything possible seemed to go wrong, but I made it through and everything turned out alright eventually. It showed me I could handle more than I thought I could when I left in August.
Santiago, Dominican Republic – Chris Parks (Senior, Spanish education and math major)
What was one of the most unexpected cultural differences between the U.S. and the country where you studied?
I would say that one of the most unexpected cultural differences between the U.S. and the D.R. for me was public transportation. I didn’t have a car at all so I had to come up with more creative ways to get around. Thankfully, unlike many areas here in the States, the D.R. had a lot of accessible means of transportation to use.
What are some examples of the reverse culture shock you experienced when you returned to the U.S.?
I immediately missed hearing Spanish constantly while out and about—that was something I got so used to while abroad. The other thing I missed right away was the clear absence of physical touch in interactions. In the Dominican Republic, you’ll always greet people with a hug and kiss on the cheek, even if you’ve just met them. Something tells me that wouldn’t go over very well if I tried doing that in a city here in the U.S.
What is a lesson or moral or perspective that you learned abroad that you would like to incorporate into your everyday life here?
I’d love to incorporate the more carefree, spontaneous perspective that seems to be so prevalent there in the Dominican Republic. I feel like I’m too cautious of a person who will often overthink things, so I definitely think that being more carefree and spontaneous would be beneficial for me personally.