Submitted by Bianca Mers on the 2018 winter session program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Communication…
I think sometimes it’s easy to let expectations, especially of people and places, cloud the potential of a situation. I say that because for me at least, my first few days in New Zealand were not what I expected. That’s not to say that they were any better or worse, but let’s put it like this: of the 101 different scenarios I played in my head before my program, not even one was in any way like my actual experience. Allow me to explain.
I was told it was going to rain our first few days. I was expecting to be flexible with our courses. I even knew that internet access was going to be spotty. I was not expecting torrential downpours and wind gusts so long and powerful that they created a wind tunnel in our first dorms. I was not expecting to be only formally in a class room for an hour and doing most of my learning in a park. I definitely was not expecting WiFi so limited that I was essentially off the grid until we got back to our hostel, and even then, I couldn’t send pictures or emails, because the access was so slow and constricted. So I suppose technically speaking, my expectations were not met, but I have decided that not only is that okay, but I’m rather glad for it.
I have realized that expectations, while they have their merits, are limited. I firmly believe that expectations are a good thing. They help prepare us mentally and physically for what is about to happen, so that when that something eventually does happen, we can fully appreciate and engage with the experience and not just be overwhelmed or put off by the initial shock. That being said, expectations can distort reality. Too high hopes can cause us to feel disappointed, even though the experience in and of itself is still amazing. Conversely, poor expectations can make us dread an incredible opportunity. But while expectations aren’t perfect, they are still an important part of going abroad.
If you think about it, expectations are really just the desire to understand your environment. We come into a situation with our own preconceived notions of what something is going to be like. This is especially the case when going abroad. Of course, we can never predict the future and thus our expectations are often incorrect. And yet, by correcting these inconsistencies and by acknowledging the discrepancies between reality and our incorrect initial notions, we can dispel the popularly held opinions and conceptions and form our own understandings and appreciations for the unique culture of the country. So I am happy to say that my expectations were wrong, and thus not met. But now that I have cleared away the preconceived notions, I’m ready to fully appreciate New Zealand for the amazing country it is.