Studying abroad in Spain has been an eye-opening experience, particularly in observing the distinctive nature of the relationships between teachers and students. Throughout the semester, it became evident that these connections were much more personal than what I had encountered in the United States. In the classrooms, the dynamic between teachers and students transcended the…
SIT Switzerland – Final Reflection!
During my stay in Switzerland, I noticed the incredibly diversity within the country. For context, there are 4 main languages in Switzerland: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. These linguistic traditions reflect the nation’s harmonious blend with its neighboring countries (France, Italy, Germany). I found Swiss German are typically hard workers and straight forward, Swiss Italian…
SIT Australia: Final Blog Post!
My semester in Australia was packed with wonderful new experiences and lots of travel! I learned about the reality of sustainable practices and have gained countless skills and techniques to reduce impacts on our environment, that I plan to implement and share with those in my life. The time I spent in Byron Bay, Sydney,…
Lancaster Blog Post #3
Before arriving in England, I characterized the English as much more polite than Americans. For a while, I did not notice a big difference in their personality; I thought the opposite. As someone from the regional south in the US, the lack of small talk and smiling-in-passing contributed to my view of the British being…
Letters to America: Japan, Final Post
Having the privilege to experience another country and culture for four months has given me much perspective and opportunity to grow as an individual. Our semester started earlier than that of the Japanese students, so we had an easeful transition into our new daily routines. Once the Japanese students began their semester on campus, I…
Final Reflection – Ecuador
While I was in Ecuador, we traveled to many different “habitats” in the environmental sense (the Andean highlands, the cloud forest, the Amazon, the coast, etc.). The culture was equally rich and diverse in each of these ecologically diverse regions. Thinking back to my experience in coastal Ecuador, I had traveled to the small town…
Blog Post #3
Reflecting on cultural differences, I recall my initial impressions on the first day abroad during our internship orientation. We explored perceptions of the British workplace, highlighting their focus on professionalism, a value for work-life balance, and a formality distinct from the U.S. or other cultures. Additionally, people mentioned the perception of dry humor among the…
ISA: American University of Rome
As I finish my study abroad in Rome, I look back at these last four months and am delighted that I decided to do this. Throughout the months leading up to my departure, I was thrilled and excited to explore the Eternal City, which is constantly bustling with life and moving around. While my expectations…
Final vlog post
As an objective observer not knowing what I know today I could view the Japanese as a little unapproachable or cliquey to an outsider. I found out from my Japanese friends that they join or are part of a circle, like a club. These clubs are a tight knit group and can be restricted with time consuming …
Greece: CYA Athens Study Abroad Experience
Studying abroad in Greece was an amazing experience, one which allowed me to see how differently various cultures operate from day to day. It was filled with various encounters that I would think to myself, ‘you would never see this in America’. One of such observations that sticks out is the informality of the business…