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Dispatches from Abroad

Friday, May 4, 2012 2:32 p.m.

Updates from Scott, studying in Madrid

by Josh Perlman

Scott Figatner at the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas bullring in Madrid. Photo courtesy of Scott Figatner

This post was written by Scott Figatner who is studying abroad in Madrid.

I was taken aback when my program director sent out an email urging students to take a free course.

“If you are interested in getting to know what will happen upon your return to the States and how to affront it, we are invited to participate in this course,” she wrote.

Unsure if she knew something I did not, I expected to be greeted upon my return home with warm hugs from my parents, a cozy room just how I left it and a dog who might have gained some extra pounds.

Now I was being told I would have to “affront” something. Will my car not start? Will I sleep badly while getting reacquainted with my old bed?

Growing curious, I clicked the link to find out more about the course. Its description read: “Psychological aspects to take into account when going back to one’s country.”

Something might happen to me after I land at JFK Airport, and it could jeopardize my psychological stability. When I thought my summer was going to be “ill,” I certainly wasn’t referring to my state of mental health.

I did not take the course.

I am still the same person I was when I left home nearly four months ago and hardly think preparations are necessary. Sure, I have some Spanish clothes and can hold a conversation with a Spaniard. I can dance a bit of flamenco, navigate the Madrid Metro system and make a proper tortilla. I can conduct a tour of the Museo Nacional del Prado, share travel directions to Seville and Córdoba and spew out the history of Spanish literature.

But at the end of the day, I am as American as ever. I still eat eggs in the morning, watch Jon Stewart and drink Coke straight out of the bottle.

If anything, studying abroad has reaffirmed who I am and strengthened my ability to deal with change. I will return home after learning some valuable lessons.

I have learned the value of a dollar is .76 euros.

I have learned that sometimes it is okay to enter a stranger’s house, which might become a home away from home.

I have learned that there is no such thing as a free lunch, but there are definitely free shots.

I have learned that there is nothing wrong with living in your parents’ home until you are 30 or 40 years old. Mom, is it okay if we put the crib in your room?

I have learned to never ever read a book about Spanish culture if it was by someone who is not Spanish.

And I have learned to never limit myself because you can never stop learning.

So even if some dubious homecoming awaits me in the States, I am sure it will be a growing experience. Though I still have my doubts about these so-called psychological aspects, I am confident that I can affront whatever happens.

Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 2:23 p.m.

Updates from Lauren, studying in Sevilla

by The GW Hatchet

This post was written by Lauren Katz, who is studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain.

Lauren Katz outside of El Catedral in La Plaza del Triunfo. Photo courtesy of Lauren Katz

Six years ago, I said “adios” to my brother Jordan as he left the U.S. to study abroad in Madrid. Ever since he returned, I have been itching to follow in his footsteps.

Now, I find myself writing this blog post from Sevilla after spending three weeks adjusting to the language, culture and lifestyle of a new country.

I chose to study in Sevilla because I wanted a smaller city that wasn’t as popular for tourists. One where I knew I’d be forced to speak Spanish. So far, Sevilla has exceeded my expectations. I have yet to speak to a single adult in English – even at the hospital for a minor foot injury – and I have fully adapted to the traditional meal schedule of a 2 p.m. lunch and a 9:30 p.m. dinner.

In just two weeks, I have already managed to see some of Sevilla’s main attractions, including the Sevilla Cathedral, the world’s third largest church; El Alcázar, an ancient Moorish palace that still hosts the royal family when they visit; and Las Setas, an architecturally amazing and innovative free-standing structure that resembles a group of mushrooms. If the rest of my semester in Spain pans out to be anything like my first few weeks, I will leave here feeling as close to a cultured Sevillan as possible.

That is, if I stay in Sevilla long enough to experience it all. Having already booked weekend trips to Morocco, Portugal and Barcelona, I doubt whether I’ll be able to truly become familiar with my “home city.” The one thing I have been told by friends of mine who have studied abroad is, “I wish I would have stayed home on more weekends.” But with my light course load, I think I will have ample time during the week to do all the exploring I might miss while I’m traveling.

My abroad experience will be different than the majority’s, though, because I have chosen to live in “La Residencia,” dorm-style housing, as opposed to living with a host family. I chose this option because I wanted the freedom I’ve become so used to back at GW. While I’m missing out on home-cooked meals and living in a real house or apartment, I have the social schedule of my choosing, can be as loud as I please and can shower at any time of the day for however long I want – many Spanish families limit their showers to five minutes.

My tiny apartment is equipped with a bathroom, mini fridge and microwave. Bunk beds and one armoire occupy most of the wall space, and I am expected to do my own laundry and hang-dry my clothes. The upside? All I have to do is open my door and walk onto a beautiful rooftop patio that sits directly beneath the warm afternoon sun. I am already counting down the days until the weather is nice enough for me to sit outside and relax on the lounge chair.

So have I fully adjusted to Spanish life, you ask? Probably not. I have, however, been pleasantly surprised at how easily I’ve been able to transition. I am looking forward to the next three months, and I already know coming back to the States will be a little bit more challenging than I had planned.

Monday, Dec. 26, 2011 3:11 p.m.

Updates from Jennifer, back from Sevilla

by Josh Perlman

This post was written by Jennifer Krems, who studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain.

Jennifer Krems in Jerez, Spain. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Krems.

A week ago, I arrived at the Sevilla airport with my suitcases overflowing with a semester’s worth of clothes, souvenirs and memories. I had booked my flight six months earlier with no understanding of how hard it would be to leave when this day finally came. With only two hours of sleep, I was a bit uncertain why the ticket agent told me in Spanish that my bags were too heavy and I might have to leave some items behind. She was very unfriendly until she learned I had spent the last several months as a resident of Sevilla. She then complimented me on my Spanish and asked if I’d be coming back. I replied in Spanish, “At least to visit, but who knows what the future holds.” Wishing I were just going home for the holidays and returning in January, I ended up reorganizing my bags and paying 100 Euros for the added weight.

Back home in Boston, I am constantly reminded of my life in Spain. It’s been hard being away from Sevilla and the close friends I made while living in Europe. One friend from Italy, who was also studying in Sevilla, reached out to a group of us through Facebook. She wrote “Merry Christmas” in Spanish, Italian, English, French and Dutch, for each of the friends tagged in the post and said, “I hope you have a great celebration in whichever part of the world you find yourself.”

I went into the study abroad experience expecting to form a strong connection with Spanish culture, but I came out from the semester with close friends across the world. It turns out Sevilla is a major study abroad destination for the European Erasmus program, which attracts students from more than 4,000 higher education institutions and over 30 different countries. I was lucky enough to form close ties with many of these students, both through classes and my internship at an international student travel and entertainment company. I was also introduced to a diverse group of Spanish and international students when I became involved in the University of Sevilla chorus.

Although oftentimes I was the only American in the room, blending in was never an issue. I never felt like an outsider, apart from one occasion when an Italian student told me I have a “typical American face” – whatever that means. But on another occasion, in Jerez, Spain, I met my friend’s grandmother who said to him, “She’s not from Spain? She looks just like us.” I suppose my face received some mixed reviews. But as I grew accustomed to European life and the culture of Sevilla, I began to feel as if I had lived there for years.

To say I was lucky to be able to study abroad in Spain, meet people from around the world and travel around Europe and Northern Africa is just scratching the surface.  What I learned from this experience and my new friends is that despite our differences in background, they are insignificant compared to the similarities we were able to discover. The next time I travel to Europe, I know I’ll have a friend nearby no matter which country I’m in. That’s a future I am happy to look forward to. And I’ll remember to pack lighter next time.

Friday, Dec. 23, 2011 2:57 p.m.

Updates from Nicolas, studying in Paris

by The GW Hatchet

This post was written by Nicolas Diaz, who is studying abroad in Paris, France.

Nicolas Diaz in front of the Hôtel des Invalides. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Diaz.

With the semester coming to a close, I can’t help but dread leaving this city and ending one of the most enriching experiences of my life. As I reflect on my semester in Paris, I have come to realize the most important part of any study abroad experience is precisely what I am facing right now – the last handful of days.

I am forced to conceptualize all the friendships, traditions and daily routines that will be physically left behind but forever attached to who I have become. My last few days here have actually come to resemble my first hours in Paris back in August. In the short time I have left, I want to take in all this city has to offer, from eating traditional French pastries even when I’m not hungry to walking through Champs de Mars at sunset just to see the Eiffel Tower for the thousandth time. I suddenly feel the need to retrace my steps of this semester and do everything I loved one last time before boarding a plane home.

But having been away for so long, I realize what awaits me back at GW will be even more meaningful. After spending this year’s spring semester in Milan followed by Paris in the fall, I am ready to bring all those lessons learned, memories created and obstacles surpassed back to D.C. I look forward to applying all that I gained from this year abroad in my one true home – GW.

Though the final stage of my Parisian semester has mainly involved studying for finals and running last-minute errands, I still struggle with the fact that Paris will no longer be another home. Learning the ways of the locals for the past 120 days and adopting them to my daily routines has been an experience to say the least, but learning about myself in a city teeming with culture, art, music, diversity and overall enlightening people has made me as satisfied as I can possibly be.

I lived through everything I had once planned for this city and so much more. Now it’s time for me to bring all those experiences back to D.C.

Friday, Sept. 30, 2011 12:21 p.m.

Updates from Nicolas, studying in Paris

by Josh Perlman

This post was written by Nicolas Diaz, who is studying abroad in Paris, France.

Photo courtesy of Nicolas Diaz.

In just four short weeks, I’ve already experienced so much during my time in Paris.

As this is my second-consecutive semester abroad, I arrived in Paris thinking I knew everything. Last spring, five months in Milan were more than enough to show me how little I knew about myself and how many challenging and enlightening experiences I had to gain.

I tried to remember that when I left for Paris at the end of the summer, and arriving in such a beautiful city was far from disappointing. My very first day in Paris reminded me of how important it is to never lose the ability to be amazed by something new.

Simply put, I’m forcing myself to step outside my comfort zone. From making the effort to meet the locals to practicing my very basic French, knowing the chances I’ll be understood are slim, I have left that comfort zone which I know can ultimately change the course of what I hope to accomplish in Paris.

Whenever I fear that leaving this comfort zone will only bring more problems, I remind myself of my semester in Milan. After starting out feeling lonely, frustrated and homesick, I knew I needed to turn it all around. With just a quick attitude adjustment, I was on the track to new friendships, memorable experiences and endless life lessons.

Whether it’s the more laid-back French pace of life or certain deficiencies of my university here, I refuse to let these simple differences phase me. Every moment I spend feeling frustrated is a moment that could be spent climbing to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, or taking a tour of the Louvre, or even going to the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore and library where Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ezra Pound spent their days while in Paris.

I wake up every morning here in Paris and continuously find it hard to believe that I’m actually living these experiences. I see the Eiffel Tower at least 10 times each day on my way to and from class, I attend Sunday mass at Notre Dame and I often meet new friends while indulging in some French wine by the Seine.

I simply could not ask for more at this point in my semester abroad. Given the absolute marvel that is Paris, I am certain I will be receiving so much more from the city I still get to call home for the next 90 days.

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011 9:25 a.m.

Updates from Jennifer, studying in Sevilla

by The GW Hatchet

This post was written by Jennifer Krems, who is studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Krems.

Two weeks ago when I arrived, I would have never guessed how comfortable I now feel in Sevilla, Spain.

On the day of my midterm for my intensive advanced Spanish grammar class, I woke up at 12:30 p.m. because my alarm did not go off as planned. My class had started at noon and in a panic, I frantically looked for the phone number of the CIEE center. I explained in Spanish what had happened and assured the woman on the other end that I would take a cab and get there as soon as possible. The woman responded calmly by saying, “tranquila,” meaning relax. She said I could just tell my professor what happened when I got there and everything would be fine.

If something like this had happened at GW, I don’t think anyone would be telling me to relax. Most likely they’d tell me to be more responsible and to get a new alarm clock.

This incident was indicative of the way of life here in Andalucía. Unlike in D.C., people are rarely in a hurry. On my rush to class across the bridge from Triana to the center of the city, I pass many businesspeople chatting at coffee shops that appear to be carefree.

When I was deciding where to go abroad last winter, a friend told me that studying in Sevilla changed her life because she learned how to relax. She said her trip taught her to not get stressed out all the time and to simply enjoy life.

At GW we complain about the line at Starbucks and the food at J Street – which I’ve heard is better now. But here, everything is much more carefree. People are much friendlier, including cab drivers, which shocked me at first.

Sevilla is beautiful and although it is a city with a population close to that of D.C., in some ways it feels much more like a small town. On my first few nights out here I missed knowing most people when you go out, but now that I’ve been here about two weeks,

I’m always seeing familiar faces and meeting new people. Sevilla is a hub for students just like D.C. and when I go out, one of my favorite things is talking to British students and being able to wow them with the line from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” – “You sound like you’re from London!”

Already in just a few short weeks, I have greatly improved my Spanish, made amazing friends and had experiences that wouldn’t be possible if I had stayed at GW this semester. Though there are parts of GW I miss, I know that this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I am going to make the most of it. But don’t worry, I’ll be back in the Smith Center wearing my Colonial Army shirt by the time basketball season starts to heat up.

Sunday, April 24, 2011 3:42 p.m.

Updates from Ashley, studying in London

by Josh Perlman

This post was written by Ashley-Lynn Goldstein, who is studying abroad in London, United Kingdom.

Her trip may have started out with some major adjusting, but junior Ashley-Lynn Goldstein has fallen in love with a home away from home. Photo courtesy of Ashley-Lynn Goldstein.

 

When someone would ask me, as a freshman, sophomore or even as a junior, if I planned to studying abroad, my answer would always be, “I’m not sure. The whole idea seems too overwhelming for me.”

In spite of my fears and reservations, – and with a push from my parents and friends – I submitted my application to study abroad in London last  October. At that point, I tried not to think about it too much and instead went through the motions of getting my transcript together and figuring out what classes would transfer back to GW.

It was not until I was standing at JFK and had just said goodbye to my parents, grandma, sister, boyfriend and friends that the entire experience became real to me. I was headed off to a foreign country where I didn’t know anyone, and I would not be back on American soil until May. Fear began to rush over me, and the anxiety stayed with me for weeks after arriving in London.

When I first arrived I was completely overwhelmed. Not only was I meeting all of these new people, but also I had no idea where I was going. I was having an unanticipated culture shock. I wrongfully assumed that because the English speak the same language as us their culture is the same.

For much of those first few weeks I felt alone and scared, not knowing what to expect or if things would get better. I missed not only the ones I had left at home, but also the comforts and familiarity of home. I wondered if I had made the wrong choice and should have studied with my friends in Barcelona.

A few weeks into my trip things started to turn around. I mastered navigating the city, memorized the tube and knew all of the British lingo. I had found comfort in finding my own spots in London. I now had my favorite lunch place, a frozen yogurt place, a place to go grocery shopping and a place to study. I began to enjoy my experience and see London not as a foreign city, but as my city.

Today, as I look back on my experience, I realize just how much I have changed. I have learned to adapt and not worry so much about the unfamiliar. I have become more independent traveling around Europe without anyone to help me. I have also gained a look into cultures different than my own and have realized that different isn’t better or worse – it’s just different.

As I begin to pack my bags and head back to America, I feel mixed emotions. I am so excited to see all my loved ones at home. At the same time I know I am going to miss London. London will always have a special place in my heart because it has become a second home to me. London will always be my city.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 1:44 p.m.

Updates from Miranda, studying in London

by Christian Ewing

Junior Miranda Green discovers that London moves to a different beat. Photo courtesy of Miranda Green

I’ve had pretty limited culture shock since I’ve been in London. The Tube system is the D.C. Metro but better, and London is just another wet and windy city—with much less sun. But when I sat down to dinner on my first night in town at a swanky Italian restaurant and had to listen to Rihanna’s greatest hits on repeat, I realized that this city definitely moves to a different beat.

And when I say beat, I mean just that. Music, tune, note, song; any terminology you want to use. Forget Estelle –  London Town is stuck in the 90s.

I wish I could blame international music laws as a reason for the city’s slow matriculation of good music. Although England gets all of the singles from America about a month later than in America, the top ten iTunes playlist still looks significantly different than what you’d except from a teenage to mid 20s music consumer. There’s no Lil Wayne and no Drake. Instead, it’s riddled with poppy numbers from either aspiring solo artists, or even some boy bands. I promise that if the Spice Girls were still together they would be selling albums at the top of the charts. And Princess Diana? In London, Katy Perry is the new people’s princess.

I finally comprehend how different British music taste is the other night. I was pre-gaming in a room with about 7 Brits playing the typical game of “Teach the American how to be less so.” Tonight our topic of choice was music. For an hour straight in jaw clenching agony I sat listening to Be-Witched—“Have you heard of them?” my friend Dave asked me—and Alexis Jordan’s bubble-gummy, feel-good hit “Happiness,”—I beg you to not look it up.

Finally a miracle happened. The song “Get Low,” came on the playlist. I was in the middle of my “To the window, to the wall” routine when I looked around to find everyone staring at me.

“You’re a wigger!” one of the girls said laughing at me.

“A ‘wigger?’”

“Ya,” she responded, “You know all the words. That’s black music.”

Cue the screeching of a record.

That night I learned that “Black music” doesn’t refer to the artist. For example JLS and Rihanna are huge in the UK, but if the music doesn’t fall into the pop category, and resounds around a category all it’s own (ie. Hip- Hop), than it’s not something you will hear played on the radio, in a club or even in a pre-game bedroom. Maybe English music isn’t the only thing stuck in the 90s—attitudes are as well.

I figure I won’t be hearing any Pitbull in the clubs here anytime soon, and I’ll have to just suck it up when listening to “Firework” for the gazillionth time, but I have to say that I look forward to that time when I can once again “Get Low” back in the states.

Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 4:01 p.m.

Updates from Ashley, back from Paris

by The GW Hatchet

This post was written by Ashley Carufel, who was studying abroad in Paris, France.

Though Ashley's trip to Paris ended with grueling travel conditions, she said studying abroad was a great choice. Photo courtesy of Ashley Carufel

Paris gave me four wonderful months of wine and culture, and I guess it just did not want to let me go.

In the middle of December, as final exams were finishing up and my friends in Paris were beginning to fly back to America, Mother Nature decided to throw a hissy fit and bring down more snow than Europe has apparently seen in decades.

For myself and many of my fellow study abroad-ers who had grown homesick, this deluge was not boding well for my impending flight home. Months ago when I was booking flights, I strategically (or so I thought) chose a later flight back to the States to avoid the chaos of taking my last exam and having to immediately get to the airport.

Initially, my plan worked well because I had three full days after exams to go Christmas shopping at my own pace, and soak in my last moments of Paris. Meanwhile, just about everyone I knew was stranded at the airport – some for days – sleeping there in hopes their flight would eventually depart.

My flight was scheduled to take off four days before Christmas, and I went to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, which should be renamed Legion of Snowy Despair Airport, assuming that the melting snow would mean I would be home soon. However, my Irish ancestry turned on me as the blizzard had moved to Dublin, the scheduled location of my connection.

Needless to say, my flight too was canceled, and I began my stay at “Hotel-Paris-Airport-Eats-Souls.” Some would say being stranded in Paris would be a dream. I only have choice French words for those people—and, trust me, I only learned the really foul ones.

During this time, it seemed every single college student on my plane began to unknowingly recreate the cast dynamic of “Lost.” Some of us became the group’s leader trying to fix the situation, some would collect our food vouchers to periodically bring back snacks for sustenance, and some of us just wept. I became the logical one who decided I just needed to get out of Europe. I figured if the storm had moved on to Ireland, then I should not be trying to get on standby for any flight headed there. Myself and a few others banded into an alliance and used our option for a free rebooking on a different airline to get direct flights to Boston on Christmas Eve.

Not wanting to spend three whole days in the airport waiting for that flight, my comrades and I pestered our new airline to get on an earlier standby flight. With only four hours of sleep in us, the Air France employees took pity on our poor pathetic souls and magically got us seats on the one flight that day to Boston. I remained very calm during this 36-hour ordeal, but once I got my boarding pass the waterworks started.

Now that I’m back at GW, I am definitely happy to be back amongst the normalcy of my home, English-speakers, and Dunkin’ Donuts. Spending my first semester of senior year studying abroad was the best decision I could have made, but once midterms hit I know I’ll be wishing I could be back in the “City of Lights” with my beloved cheese and pretentious Parisians.

Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011 12:59 p.m.

Updates from Melissa, back from Buenos Aires

by The GW Hatchet

Photo courtesy of Melissa Turley

This post was written by Melissa Turley, who was studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Newton’s first law of motion states an object in motion will stay in motion unless some outside force changes its course. The outside force ending my whirlwind course of motion around South America was the looming deadline of my Dec. 21 flight home. Time has this pesky little way of ticking right along and no matter how many times I tried to prolong my stay, I eventually had to embark on the nearly 24-hour journey back home.

After five months, I realized I had fallen in love not only with the country but also with a completely new way of life. The cultural differences that had once felt like a barrier had found their way into my daily routine. Little things like kisses on the cheek instead of handshakes, having to practically yell at the waiter to get service, walking with my head down to avoid large gaping holes in the sidewalk, and running for my life through crosswalks had all become second nature to me.

I had embraced South America for five months and now, returning to New York, I felt like my entire life had been changed. South America’s casual and slower way of life had turned me from an appointment-making, deadline-chasing, procrastinator into a much more relaxed, easy-going and, I’d like to think, more accepting person.

Newton has a third law of motion that states for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. For me, going to Argentina gave me a new outlook on life and taught me to take each day as it comes because you only live once, and you never know what adventure or tragedy tomorrow will bring.

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