Academic Differences: Maryville College vs University of Wroclaw, Poland

At the University of Wroclaw, you have quite a difference in classes than you do at Maryville College. While a lot of the classes blend together from each institution, at UoW (University of Wroclaw), you get a lot more 6 credit courses than just your normal American 3 credits. From looking at the classes one would take at MC compared to UoW, a year may look like 30 credits while UoW equals out to nearly 50. A lot of what you do is independent work, where your major grades come from Final tests or quizzes. Meeting fewer times a week is also a large difference, since classes at UoW are not similar to the MWF or TTR class schedule that many people are used to. Once a week is enough, and you get more credits for it!

From the looks of it, MC is not nearly half the size of UoW, where the student population is well into the thousands. Lecture halls are larger, as well as residence halls and student facilities. The college must accommodate more people, so there are more opportunities for students to engage with other students, as well as take advantage of the city that is more young people than not.

The grading scale is also a bit skewed compared to the American grading scale. In Poland, the grading scale is a number between 1 and 5.

Example:

Grade	Scale	Description
5+	5.5	Celujący (Excellent)
5	5 - 5.49	Bardzo Dobry (Very Good)
4+	4.5 - 4.99	Dobry Plus (Fairly Good)
4	4 - 4.49	Dobry (Good)
3+	3.5 - 3.99	Dostateczny Plus (Satisfactory Plus)
3	3 - 3.49	Dostateczny (Satisfactory)
2	1 - 2.99	Niedostateczny (Unsatisfactory)

It focuses more on satisfactory than the American scale, where points can be taken off here and there to create a "B" or "C" grade. 

Tutoring is available at UoW, just like at Maryville College. There is also help at the institution that is advertised on the website, where students can get help for any issue; Whether this be scholarly issues, mental issues, or personal issues, UoW states that they will help any student that needs it. 

There is a broad difference between UoW and MC, whether that be with size, grading scale, or classes offered. It is also shocking to see the difference between where the institutions are places: UoW in the middle of a booming city, and MC near the edge of the mountains. 

An American Abroad

New Culture or First Long-term Experience Abroad

Using the Self Audit, Culture Strategies Survey and Cultural-Context Inventory as your guide, what are some of the strengths (or strategies) that you personally bring to the table when it comes to learning about and adapting to a new culture? What challenges are you going to face, and are there strategies that you think will work well for you to learn more in depth about the cultural traits of your host country?  What aspects of your identity or of “being an American (or your own culture if not American)” will you bring and educate others about?

I am one step closer to being a student abroad, and I am absolutely terrified. 

This past week, I've watched multiple videos all about Wroclaw, Poland. I've watched the market square set up for an average day, and I've listened to locals talk about Wroclaw University. 

And I'm still absolutely terrified.

After taking the multiple surveys given to us, I've come to realize that I have no reason to be this scared. I'm a completely open person, always engaging in conversations and activities. I love meeting new people and introducing them into my life. 

Oh, right. The fact that I'm totally anxiety ridden and have a hard time putting my first foot forward. That will get me.

Being an American, we are seen as over talkative and very political. I am neither of these things, and I haven't decided if that is a good or bad thing. I want it to be good, so I can break the "American Dream" idea to anyone that meets me. I've come to the conclusion that I will fit in better in Poland than I do in America.

I'm reading into the Polish history and culture, and I feel content. I have this idea that I'm going to seamlessly slip into this culture and live in it easier than I do in America. Of course, I can't expect that to happen right off the bat. I'm going to have to convert myself to fit in - and I'm excited for that challenge. The prospect of meeting friends from a different country and getting along with them - that makes it all worthwhile. 

Of course, I have to talk about eating. I've watched Anthony Bourdain and he is my own personal hero. I will be thinking of him as I bite into sausage and try every type of food that is put on a plate before me. (No, I'm not just going to Poland for the food, even if that's what it sounds like. Nope.)

All in all, I think it will go pretty smoothly. I'm the type of person that will make friends with anyone willing, so I'm excited to see who wants to meet a non-traditional American in Poland and possibly adopt me. 

Żegnajcie przyjaciele

Studying Abroad: My Expectations

The excitement I have for studying abroad is almost overshadowed by the pure curiosity and wonder that I have for my future endeavors. There's a feeling in my gut that everything unexpected will happen, and it only creates an oxymoron of happy anxiety for what I will endure. 

I want to submerge in the culture that will be provided to me. As minuscule as it may seem, I have a goal to eat every food that is a common experience wherever I go. No meat, no mix, and no feast will be able to stop my hunger for traditions and culture. 

I have an idea of who I want to be while away; I want to create an image of myself that will only belong in a foreign land. Someone who goes out of her way to say "yes" to every experience, and come back with a plethora of stories to tell anyone willing to listen. That is a part of me I have never been able to show in my local home, seeing as I have already done what is to be done and experienced what I am capable of experiencing. The prospect of experiencing new routines and adventures is something that lays within the forefront of my mind. 

One thing that I am conveniently excited about is the prospect of learning everything I can learn while attending my abroad institution. While I love Maryville College, I have no doubt that I will approve of my final year of college being strictly abroad. I cannot begin to imagine the knowledge of society and communications that I will bring from a different environment that will further benefit my scholarly imagination.

One of the few fears I have for this "pilgrimage" is that I will accept and love my abroad home so much that I will despise my departure. (As cheesy as that sounds, it rings true). I want this experience to open up multiple doors for my career and interests, and possibly welcome me as a permanent resident if I do find connections worthy of my staying or coming back.

While all of my emotions run wild, I still have the privilege to learn about my home away from home. When I am informed of where I am staying, I will go into great depths to study the ins-and-outs of wherever I am meant to be. This means I will learn the culture that will surround me, the basics of political views and morals, and the history of the land where my feet temporarily reside. The understanding of the world you will be in is just as crucial as truly being there. 

The biggest advantage of studying abroad is what I will bring back with me; Not only what I learned while attending classes, but what I learned from interactions, relationships, and adventures. I want a stable idea of where I want to be in life, and if I have to travel to another country to answer that question, I will gladly take that path.