Amsterdam is often referred to as the city of bikes, and while the city certainly is definitely structured to be bike-friendly, arriving in the country in late January amidst a series of storms meant that most of my transit was via public transportation rather than bike. While navigating public transit in a new city can…
Category: SIT Study Abroad
Final Blog Post: Portugal!
When eating at group meals during excursions with my Academic Director, we usually ate at restaurants who served traditional foods. At Portuguese restaurants, they expect customers to finish their entire plate of food. If the meal is not finished, they assume the person didn’t like it or they were dissatisfied with it. When clearing plates,…
See you soon, Amman
After an amazing semester in Jordan, I am back home in Orlando, struggling to re-adjust to my home life and culture. When I was departing to begin my semester, I thought that leaving my home behind would be one of the hardest things I’d ever do. During the last few weeks I spent in Amman…
Blog #3 – Final Prompt
The opportunity to study abroad in Iceland has been an amazing experience that I highly recommend to anyone interested in traveling. The insights, experiences, and opportunities are immense. That being said, in going to any new country, you have to expect to encounter some confusion or additional cultural shocks. Some things that shocked me while…
Blog Post #2
Coming to Iceland, I was expecting to be struck by norms that are not common in the United States. Upon arriving and meeting a plethora of Icelandic people, I found that some of the expectations I had were inaccurate. Some ideas I had before arriving in Iceland, that I was bracing myself for, was a…
Cultural Confrontation in Irbid
I have been in Jordan for a little over a month now. Throughout this month, I have been surprised at the LACK of culture shock I have experienced here. Life in Jordan is extremely different from life in the U.S., but my excitement and curiosity have kept me from feeling frustrated by cultural differences. I…
Cultural Confrontation: Portugal!
I can’t lie, I have experienced multiple instances of cultural frustration I could write about: being a vegetarian in the Iberian peninsula; how difficult it is to get water at a restaurant, and also the lack of ice; the lack of spices to cook with in the grocery stores… But for this instance, I would…
Prompt #1 – PreDeparture
Growing up, children stare out the windows and envision a world of fantasy, going on adventures, and being embraced in something larger than themselves. Even in college, I stare out the windows and wished for a new perspective, an adventure that will change my thinking and push my comfort zone. I am thrilled to begin,…
Pre-Departure Blog: Portugal!
Consumerism is a key part of the American culture. It drives the mindset of many in the U.S., leading them to buy and own more than what is required for them to survive. Buying new items is sometimes associated with instant gratification and can bring the buyer a fleeting happiness. Additionally, having many “nice” or…
5 Days Before Jordan
Every family in the U.S. differs in their dynamics and values, so it is hard to pinpoint a specific aspect of U.S. culture that applies to everyone. Generally, though, many families in this country value individuality and autonomy more so than those in the rest of the world, especially in regard to the freedoms that…