Category: Europe

Take My Word For It – Do’s + Don’t’s While Abroad

Published on by rhiannalewisLeave a comment

DO…

  • Participate in all the events and trips offered through your program and university—especially if they’re included in tuition! 🏛️
    • Most of the time, these events will be led by individuals who live in your study-abroad city or are full-time students at your university, both of whom can offer valuable perspectives on your new home! This past week I participated in a guided tour of the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, a downtown Athens tour, and a Greek Delicacies taste-testing event. I sometimes felt like a stereotypical tourist, but I saw so many beautiful ancient sites, made new friends, and got three free meals. Go to everything!
  • Prioritize your mental + physical health. 🚶‍♀️
    • I am someone who LOVES their alone time. Being with my friends and meeting new people is something I really enjoy, but I know that I have to spend time alone during the day to keep my social battery charged. The first week made me feel like I needed to be doing something new at every moment. I was getting tired and anxious quick. If you have things you do that make you feel balanced, don’t stop doing them while you’re abroad just because you have FOMO (the fear of missing out.) Be alone for a bit, sleep, read, go for a walk. You’ll be better off in the long run!
  • Ask for help when you need it. 🙋🏻‍♀️
    • Being somewhere new, where you may not speak the language or have a great understanding of the alphabet is difficult. At dinner last week a group of friends and I needed to use the bathroom but couldn’t find it due to all the signage being in Greek. The other girls I was with wanted to give up, but I asked a waitress for help. She smiled when she explained it was hidden upstairs. I doubt we would’ve found it on our own. Just because the locals might seem intimidating doesn’t mean they won’t help you when you’re confused.
  • Explore locally before jetsetting. 🚲
    • For the first few weeks of being abroad, try to get acquainted with the city and country you’re studying in before venturing to other places. As tempting as it is to spend every free minute exploring a new city, especially between European countries where travel is quick & cheap, take time to learn about your home base. I personally am spending this weekend looking for independent bookstores in Athens that I can revisit again and again. I’m excited to be familiar with this city!
  • Remember to stay grateful. 🩷
    • So many people do not have the time, money, or capacity to travel away from their homes or university for a variety of reasons. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most students, myself included. I keep pinching myself when I realize that I am in the home of Western culture, furthering my education, meeting new people, and learning about myself. I’m sure I’m not the only one. I’m learning that having stamps in my passport by choice is an unbelievable privilege and honoring that makes this whole experience brighter.

DON’T…

  1. Be scared if you get lost. 🗺️
    • As long as your phone is charged and you’re in (what feels like) a safe neighborhood, don’t panic if you get turned around! I took the wrong bus by myself yesterday and ended up 2.5 miles away from campus in a completely unfamiliar area. While I initially freaked out, I quickly realized that I could use the opportunity to explore the neighborhood I was in. It ended up being a lovely late afternoon walk, and although I was sweaty by the time I got to class, I was glad I had adventured out.
  2. Eat out every single night. 🍽️
    • Going out to try local restaurants is fun, but going to the grocery store and making meals with new ingredients is just as exciting – try local foods! Greece has wonderful fresh fruit, olive oil, cheese, and honey, and that’s all I’ve been eating for dinner. It acclimates your stomach to the cuisine and helps your budget, too!
  3. Treat school like a joke. 📝
    • If you’re like me and love being in the front row of every class and involved in every club, don’t let being abroad change that. Professors everywhere love it when students are engaged, regardless of whether you’re there for four months or four years. Being engaged in your university can be just as much of a cultural experience as traveling, so don’t let it fall by the wayside. (I promise DU didn’t push me to say this. I’m just really into school. 🤓)
  4. Let the time difference impact your relationships at home. 🕰️
    • Make an effort to call your parents, partners, and friends at home! Texting and social media are convenient, but the people who love you miss your physical presence… and when the adrenaline wears off, you’ll start to miss theirs, too. Make new friends, but don’t forget to make time for home, too.
  5. Smile at strangers. 🙊
    • This really is an American habit, and you will get weird looks if you smile at strangers on the sidewalk or in public. I never realized how much I did it until I got here and the greeting was not returned…

First Weeks of Class Recap

Published on by angelinapacosaLeave a comment

I have officially gotten through two weeks of class. I wanted to wait to wait until the end of this week to discuss my first impressions because only 3/5 of my classes started up last week. As of now, I’m attending 4 classes, since the 5th doesn’t start until the middle of the semester (something I’m not at all used to). But now that I’ve gotten into some kind of routine, I feel comfortable sharing my thoughts.

I can confidently say that I’ve experienced my first few culture shocks after starting classes last week. University College Cork (UCC) is an extremely large campus, with extremely confusing buildings, and an unbelievably large student body. There are so many students on campus at any given time of the day that it’s sometimes difficult to get to class because it’s so crowded. The classes themselves don’t start until 5 after the hour- which I didn’t realize until after my first day.

Even more surprising, however, is the lack of assignments throughout the course. Outside of class we are only given readings. This lack of assignments means that my final average for each class will be determined solely by one or two exam grades… which sounds pretty daunting before you realize that the pass/fail mark is 40% in Ireland. So, if I finish with a 60, or a 55, or even a 42, I’ll. Pass. The. Course. The benchmark for an A is 70%. It’s so incredibly different to the U.S that I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around it. And it’s made me reflect a lot on the emphasis we place on grades at every level of education back home.

So much of our identities are wrapped up in our GPAs falling .04 points, or the one failed exam out of the dozens of others we’ve already passed. At least, that’s how it usually goes for me. I never considered myself a perfectionist, but stepping away from the ruthless and competitive academic environment that the U.S has established has made me realize that maybe I do agonize too much over the little things. It’s unfortunate that so much of our future is determined by numbers and letters on an academic transcript. While I’m enjoying seeing and experiencing a more positive outlook of higher education right now, I know it is going to be an adjustment when I get back to the U.S.

So far, I am enjoying my classes. I love getting the opportunity to interact with Irish students and international students alike, as it brings a lot of different perspectives to each course. I’m looking forward to getting into a concrete routine as I continue to settle in and adjust to my schedule.

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