Andie Baldridge (ISA Italy)
Now that I am back in the United States and have been home for a couple weeks, I have had plenty of time to reflect on my time abroad. While it was over 5 months ago that I was first arriving in Italy, it feels like yesterday. Looking back I had a very large number of adjustments to make regarding behavior, attitudes and values. One of my must challenging experiences had to do with the classroom. Coming from the US and going to a different country I of course assumed that teaching styles, work loads, and exams were going to be different. However, it was a bit more difficult than I thought. For example, the class culture was way more dynamic, extremely focused on student participation grades. Coming from my home university participation is encouraged but never the focus of our grades. Typically I am extremely introverted in the classroom setting. Being put in the uncomfortable situation while abroad I was challenged to become more extroverted and start participate willingly. Of course, this took time. At first I found it impossible to allow myself to speak up. Although, the more that I participated and was encouraged by my professors and classmates it became easier. In my opinion, this adjustment was difficult but rewarding. Some of my classmates seemed to not have any problems and others looked as though they were never able to make the adjustments which reflected poorly on their grades.
I think that someone from my host culture would describe my experience as typical. Before going abroad I had spoken to many other students who had been before. while all of their experiences were different. they all had one thing in common, the difficulties with adjustments to cultures. I definitely had my low points in the beginning but I was able to overcome those and learn. This was certainly challenging and defeating at times but it is also super common when traveling anywhere new. My overall takeaway from studying abroad is now allowing me to feel a sense of freedom and excitement. It is crazy to believe that I was able to live independently and study in a whole different country. I now feel as though I am more comfortable with challenging myself not only with traveling but also in different aspects of life. I am aware that I will face ore conflicts and culture shooks but I am no longer scared of them. Choosing to study has been one of the biggest and best decisions for my personal and professional life. Giving me that ability to learn from mistakes, accept challenges, and embrace differences rather than staying within my comfort zone. I now feel that I am prepared for future cultural misunderstandings because I have already lived and learned through so many. I have learned to be more open to other opinions rather than settled with must mine. I have learned that there is not allows one correct way to problem solve. Most importantly I have learned that it is good to be scared when facing a new culture but to also always push yourself to try and embrace it.