Ops

During my time at East Carolina University, I have had the opportunity to study abroad in three countries. These experiences taught me communication skills and how to look at culture in ways I’ve never thought of before.

I had first considered studying abroad when I found a program in the English department that was going to Ireland. I had always heard about how scenic Ireland was and was so excited that I had the opportunity to go.

I paid my first half of the tuition for the program and a few weeks later I got a phone call saying the program had been canceled. I was told I could be reimbursed, go to Japan if I knew Japanese or go to Poland and the Czech Republic.

I had always wanted to go to Japan but I didn’t speak Japanese and I still wanted to study abroad, so going to Poland and the Czech Republic seemed like the best option. I knew nothing about Poland or the Czech Republic but I was down for the adventure.

After three months of researching Poland and the Czech Republic via travel blogs and travel bloggers aesthetic instagrams I departed for Krosno, Poland. The small village of Krosno has a special place in my heart. One of the Polish students told me meat and potatoes were what was usually eaten in every email and that wasn’t a lie. I ended up eating only waffles and salad my entire time in Poland because I couldn’t adjust to the food.

In this small Catholic village where everything closed before 9 p.m. I met students from Turkey and Spain who I still keep in contact with. One of the students I met while studying in Krosno actually came to ECU and we were able to hangout when she came to America.

Due to the language barrier I learned how important it is to not use slang words and how to communicate with non-native speakers of English. I also learned that I was in a country where English isn't the native language and I shouldn’t expect the people from this country to speak my language. So while I was there I picked up a bit of Polish. I forgot most of it but I still remember the Polish word for “excuse me,” which is “przepraszam.”

Once I departed Poland I made my trip to Prague by train. I felt very artsy but it was just my first time on a train and my first time in Europe. Prague is breathtaking. There are not enough words to describe my love for Prague. It is the most beautiful city I have ever been too, mind you I’ve traveled the world.

This past summer I had the opportunity to go to Shanghai, China. I was in for the culture shock of a lifetime and the best experience of my life.

I was able to experience traditional Chinese markets, learn “xiǎo” Chinese and meet some amazing people. The main difficulty I had in China was “The Great Firewall of China” which prevented from contacting home.

Although I couldn’t contact home, I was able to connect with people and make friends that made China feel like home for the month I was there.

I’d need to do more OpEds to explain all of my experiences in China within this word count. Studying abroad changed who I am as a person, my world view and my desire to pursue learning other languages.

I have found myself in countries I never imagined I would have the opportunity to go to. When I first came to ECU, I didn’t like the school or Greenville. Studying abroad gave me a greater appreciation for the world around me. I would recommend studying abroad to anyone considering it because my college experience wouldn’t have been the same without it.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.