Category: Fall Semester

Submitted by Ceara Stewart on the 2019 fall semester study abroad program in Barcelona, Spain…

This has been my first week in Barcelona. It was filled with hours of orientation and meeting new people, the usual stuff. I’ve always felt a calm when traveling, but I do have some tips and pointers for getting through your first week.

1. Get out and meet people: if you feel isolated or isolate yourself you will feel homesick and not have the best time you possibly could have.
2. Don’t limit your foods: Even if foods aren’t American do at least try them. European food is all delicious and super fresh. But don’t worry if you really need a good Big Mac there are American food chains, but don’t rely on those forms of sustenance very often or else homesickness might set in and you’ll limit your cultural experience.
3. Do try to adjust to the new time zone. If you go out every night and stay up till dawn you will not get used to the new hours and will have jet lag far into the semester. This will cause you to feel terrible during the day and we don’t want that.
4. Do not overly stress about classes. It will all be okay. You are studying to enjoy a new culture!

Along with these pointers, we actually went and and explored Tarragona. It is an old Roman city to the south of Barcelona. We spent the early afternoon on the beach bonding which was so very important because you need to meet a lot of people! After the beach, we split into groups and had a guided tour of what is left of the ancient parts of the city. Fun fact: Tarragona was considered the capital of the Spanish region of the Roman Empire.

And finally here is one thing I had to deal with this week… actually speaking Spanish in a natural setting! I felt accomplished because I was able to order a full lunch and coffee while speaking Spanish and the waitress had no clue I was from the United States. I also converse daily with my host mom which is difficult at times, but I am learning, which is why I am here.

 

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Submitted by Zachary Shulman on the 2019 fall semester DIS program in Copenhagen, Denmark…

My third week in Copenhagen felt profoundly different than the two weeks before it, and after reflecting on it, I realized that I am in the final stages of a crucial transition; from tourist to local. I had a series of experiences this week that alerted me to the level of comfort and familiarity I associate with my homestay, the commute to the city, and Copenhagen itself. This transition is a unique experience for every student and can take a different amount of time depending on a variety of factors. It is, however, inevitable.

My first indication that I was beginning to become truly in sync with the city was during a boating trip through Copenhagen’s main harbor district with other students from my homestay network. We rented a small, battery-powered boat and took it for a spin in and out of the canals of the harbor, stocking up on picnic food for the two-hour excursion. Throughout our adventure, we interacted with other sailors, people on the streets along the canals, and had a genuinely relaxing and peaceful time together. It was one of my first experiences that I would confidently describe as “hygge”, the Danish cultural tradition that can best be described as a feeling of contentedness or coziness, typically in the company of good friends or family.

The second major experience I had that solidified my assimilation into the rhythm of the city came at a time of great stress, as many life-changing events tend to do. After a trip to Bakken (the oldest amusement park in the world) and the neighboring Deer Park (a large deer reservation connected to it), I ended up to returning to Copenhagen alone. I had a commitment to meet up with some friends from UD, but the rest of my party was spending the day in Bakken to experience the attractions. With a single-digit phone battery and a broken ticket machine, I traveled from the town of Klampenborg back to Copenhagen, and then navigated through Copenhagen to the harbor district. By the time my meeting was finished, my phone was dead and I was forced to return to Køge with my limited knowledge of the city’s public transportation system. I did, however, manage to find my way back to the central station, from which I typically return to Køge without the use of my phone.

Let it be known that I am not condoning the use of public transportation alone, especially without reliable access to technological resources. Only in extreme situations have I ever traveled alone, and typically I was still able to stay in touch with friends close by. Nonetheless, this forced familiarization with Copenhagen’s bustling public transport, my confidence in navigating it, and the success I eventually found all helped me transition into a local resident. Combined with my boating expedition, I am truly starting to view Copenhagen, and Denmark as a whole, as a second home.

Submitted by Nicole Caracciolo on the 2019 fall semester study abroad program in Barcelona, Spain…

I have completed my first few days in Barcelona. I don’t necessarily have culture shock, however, I have noticed several differences between the lifestyles in Spain and the United States. Obviously, the eating times are much different as well as some of the food itself. They also are much less rushed with things than we are, which is something I hope to carry on with me once I return to the States. We took a guided tour of the ancient ruins in Tarragona which was incredible. Knowing that the ruins we saw throughout the city were built so long ago is so intriguing to me. I find it fascinating that the people of this era were able to construct such intricate and durable buildings. I have never seen an ancient ruin in person before, so this experience was very eye-opening to me.

Submitted by Lia Naselli on the 2019 fall semester program in Prague, Czech Republic…

This past week has been quite the adventure, from figuring out the tram/metro system, to grocery shopping, to starting classes at Anglo-American University. Also, my roommates are nothing short of wonderful and we’ve all become great friends. The first few days here were both exciting and challenging. Jet-lag definitely got the best of us at times, but that didn’t stop us from heading out into the city to explore. On the first day of orientation, we got our first taste of some traditional Czech food, which was delicious! On Saturday, we explored the beautiful Old Town Square, which is fortunately only about a 15-minute walk from our apartment in Prague 1. Later that evening, we took a stroll down the Charles Bridge and rented a paddle boat on the Vltava River at sunset. It was truly stunning and the perfect way to close out the weekend.

The days following our adventurous weekend brought a bit of culture shock and stress. Running errands or asking for directions can be a bit of a challenge, especially when you never know whether the next Czech person you encounter can speak English. Then, there’s the “resting Czech face,” which may take some getting used to for us bubbly American students. But overall, this has been such an enriching experience and I am looking forward to the next few months!

 

Submitted by Zachary Shulman on the 2019 fall semester DIS program in Copenhagen, Denmark…

I had the pleasure of stumbling across a few journal entries I made during my first study abroad two years ago in Rome, Italy. For the most part, they chronicled the hectic and rapid stream of events that took place in my first two weeks (mostly because that is only about how long I managed to keep a steady journaling habit). The last entry, however, was written 16 days into the program, counting the first day as the day my flight left from Philadelphia. As coincidence would have it, this blog post is for the 16^th day of my program here in Copenhagen, so I think this is a unique opportunity to reflect on some of the similarities and differences between the first two weeks of each study experience. Hopefully, these reflections can be used to help other students in the future manage their second semester abroad.

One of the most important parallels that I should highlight is that in the case of both experiences, the two-week point is where you will begin to fall into a routine. No matter where you are staying, who you are living with, how you commute to school, etc., your days will begin to follow a format. This is a natural reaction to the introduction of a new and unfamiliar place; you may find yourself subconsciously falling into a more regimented schedule simply to navigate the barrage of emotions that are part and parcel to studies abroad. For myself, I have already designed a weekly schedule for eating and studying (sleeping may forever be a toss-up).

A natural byproduct of organizing a routine, however, is that the new people and places of your routine will start to become familiar. While this is no doubt a positive thing, you may now be more prone to homesickness than at any point throughout the semester. Your classmates, neighborhood, food options, and living situation are no longer as interesting as they were when you arrived, but they aren’t quite yet in your comfort zone. At this point, you may begin longing for a break from this short period of limbo. This is natural, and there are two remedies I have discovered that will help you overcome them.

First, amidst the settling of the chaos of the first two weeks, I have found it to be very helpful to appreciate the new, slower pace. Classes have begun and your schedule is falling into place. Use this time to take a deep breath, organize yourself, and be patient that this slump will soon pass. Second, don’t give up on ways to keep experiencing new things. You have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live as a student in this location. Take a different route to classes. Grab a friend or two and go explore the other side of the city that you might not see very often.

At the risk of sounding redundant, I’ll conclude with this. After about two weeks, the new sites become familiar and you start to feel less like an exploring tourist and more like a native. This is the time for you to start searching for ways to keep experiencing new things. You can’t preserve the novelty of your environment indefinitely, but you can always find new ways to preserve it.

Submitted by Emily Gray on the 2019 fall semester program in Prague, Czech Republic…

My first week in Prague has been incredible. Every time I leave my apartment I am struck by the beauty of this city. However, amongst a sea of picturesque buildings, the New Stage of the National Theater stands out. Its modern style seems out of place in a city where buildings are hundreds of years old. My tour guide explained that it was created during the Communist regime in Prague, and pointed out the gorgeously ornate Old National Theater directly next to it. I thought it was interesting, and almost heartbreaking, that a place I walk past every morning symbolizes a bleak and terrifying part of Czech history. It also reminds me that the Velvet Revolution occurred only 30 years ago, meaning many Czechs can still recall life under the Communists. This fact presents itself in several aspects of Czech culture. For example, small talk is rare in shops and markets because, under communism, talking to strangers could expose oneself to spies. Foreigners also notice that Czechs tend to look unhappy, calling their frowns the “Czech smile.” My orientation leader explained that several older citizens of Prague were exposed to terrible things in their lives, and therefore have less reason to smile. She also noted that young people in Prague often smile and engage in small talk, indicating the correlation between this behavior and Prague’s Communist past. I am interested to learn more about the modern history of this beautiful city, and to use my new knowledge to account for cultural differences.

Submitted by Victoria Vinson on the 2019 fall semester program in Prague, Czech Republic…

My name is Victoria Vinson and I am a junior at the University of Delaware. I am currently studying abroad in Prague, the Czech Republic, and I could not be having a better time! The first few days in the city were hectic, with getting settled in and figuring out the lay of the city. After my roommates and I got all the mundane things out of the way, such as getting our student metro cards or buying toilet paper, we started to explore the city. We are located in Prague 1, very close to the St. Charles Bridge and our school, Anglo American University. We took to the Vlatva River and rented out a paddle boat as we watched the sunset fall over the city. We tried some traditional Czech food, and as a vegetarian I found that the options in Prague are amazing! Czech people look stand-offish at first, but they are very friendly once you get to know them. I am very excited for the weeks to come and can’t wait to get to know the city better this coming semester.

Submitted by Haleigh Kidd on the 2019 fall semester program in Paris, France…

I have to first say how lucky I am to have had previous travel experience before this I entered this program. Week 1 has been hectic and tiring with all that had to be done to move into my apartment and orientation and all that jazz, but at least I was prepared for the jet- lag! After a week, I am still tired (though it’s getting better by the day) and I am still figuring out the nooks and crannies of my Parisian apartment because they are quite different then those back home. For one, I have no dryer, so all clothes must be hang dried and ironed – I often have to set aside at least an hour out of my laundry days just to do the ironing. I also don’t have an oven in my apartment, and some foods are impossible to find here in France or they go in and out of season – unlike in America where just about any grocery store would have anything you need. But don’t mistake this for complaining, it’s actually really helped me to get to know my roommate (who, by the way, has been the sweetest and so easy to live with). The Paris metro system is also, in my opinion, the best public transport system in the world and my apartment is located in one of the nicest neighborhoods in Paris – my point being, although I have had to make some adjustments, there’s still a lot to be excited about and I’m learning to adapt in new ways every day. Paris is truly a very colorful city and through shopping for the apartment, visiting local outdoor markets, and navigating the trains and  buses both in and out of the city, my roommate and I are getting lots of French practice every day and we have high hopes of improving by the end of the semester. There have been many pleasant surprises as well – I have been able to find vegetarian, dairy-free, and even vegan options (which was very exciting as someone with dietary restrictions) and most museums across the city are completely free on the first Sunday of the month. My roommate and I visited the Musée d’Orsay just earlier today, which is home to one of the world’s largest collection of impressionist pieces, so those are the pictures I will share with you today (seriously, I almost teared up walking through the halls filled with Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Manet – there’s really too many to list!)