Becoming a part of the Dortmund community… living like a local

One of my fears about studying abroad is that I will let the time pass all the while being a tourist. It is important to me to feel like I can live like a local in Dortmund, Germany. From others who have studied there, I know there is a big group of international students who tend to hang around together at the University. I am so excited to meet people from all around the world, but I want to remember that I am in Dortmund and I want to become a part of that community.

My hope is that my internship at a German Elementary school will help me to live more like a local.  I will get to be immersed in school, which is a huge part of any culture. I would love to get involved with things outside of normal school hours. Hopefully I will be able to volunteer with after school activities and be a part of any and all events the school hosts. This will help me meet families and other individuals in the community.

In the description of the month long German language course I will attend, trips around the city are included. This month before school starts will give me time to get familiar with the city, learn how to use transportation, and more. The more comfortable I am with basics like transportation, the more I will get out and explore. I think this course will really help me get familiar with my surroundings and it will be an easy way for me to make friends.

It will be important for me to stay busy. When I get homesick I tend to hide out by myself and avoid interactions with people. But interactions with people make me happier, so its will be good for me to spend most of my time with others. I only need a short period of time to myself to reenergize. If I keep things scheduled and make plans, I will avoid that feeling of wanting to hide out.

How to Live Live a Local

My past in traveling to Spain will give knowledge in living like a local-an important aspect of respecting and learning from the host culture. A couple of steps I would follow in order to become part of the host culture

1. Go where locals go: Tourist areas. They look enticing, and there is nothing inherently wrong. However, tourist areas tend to not give a very authentic view into the culture. The areas are often made simply to please tourists.

2. Eat like locals: "Go where locals go" can be especially important in finding somewhere to eat. Food and alcohol tend to be one of the funner ways in which a culture is different. For me, I loved trying all the different types of Spanish food and alcohol.

3. Local friendship: Many American students fall into a common trap with international students: they tend to form friendships with people like them, from their own country, and with people who speak their native languages. For me personally, he language aspect is rather important. I will be going to Spain to study Spanish as will as many other things. While meeting other English-speakers is inevitable, I will attempt to make local friends that will make me speak Spanish.

4. School clubs: Local friendships could express themselves in form of school clubs. These organizations will give me the option to meet and coordinate with local students.

5. Clothing: Spain has very formal and particular style. A great way to stand out in Spain is dress in shorts and flip flops like a tourist. Not many Spaniards are found of foreign tourists. A great way to fit in is dress like the Spanish dress.

How to Live and Not be a Tourist

It's easy to be a tourist. It's hard to be a local. It's especially really hard to be a local when you are living in a new country with complete strangers and a very high language barrier.

But no matter! I will not be a tourist for four and half months! How, you ask? Well, I have a plan- a plan that will help to (hopefully) ensure localness.

Step One: Making local friends. This is perhaps the most important step in keeping yourself away from tourist mood. After all, the best way to live like a local is that make friends with one. You can observe and learn from them. I also, in general, just want to make some friends while I'm there. With my program, I will be living and studying with International studies from around the world. I don't want to put myself in an International Bubble, where all I do is hang out with Internationals. This will be hard because we'll be the only ones on campus for about a month. There will be a Japanese Kansai Gaidai student that will act as a RA to help us adjust to our new surroundings, however. Hopefully we'll become friends. If not, there'll be other ways to make friends, like in clubs. Clubs are a big deal in Japan. Hopefully by joining a club, I can make some new friends!

Step Two: Eat like a local. Am I going to restaurant that's filled with mostly tourists every time I go? That's probably not a local spot. Do I eat McDonald's, hamburgers, and other American food? I probably shouldn't be doing that. Food is a big part of a culture. If I'm limiting myself to food that are catered towards Americans, I'm not living like a Hirakata City local. Instead, I'm eating like an American in Japan. So, one of the first things I'm going to do is ask what are some good places to eat. Luckily, food in Japan tends to be cheaper there than here in America (to my knowledge). By eating like a local, I get a full belly and culture immersion at the same time!

Step Three: Observe and asking questions. What are locals doing? Do they use the bus, train, walk, or bike? How do they act in a grocery store? Are there even grocery stores or is there an outdoor market? How do students act on campus? Do they wave to people that walk by, or do they just walk past them? Do friends stand in the middle of campus? There's a lot of observing that goes into living in a new country, especially if you want to live like a local. And sometimes, just observing something doesn't work. Instead, you have to ask. Like asking if it's normal for the public toilets to not have toilet paper. Or what button to press to flush the toilet. Is it normal to talk to the cashier at a store? Is it okay to wear this type of clothing over that? Things like that can be asked instead of observed.

These plan is still incomplete. I honestly don't know what else I need to do until I get there. I can do research now, but that only gets you so far. Hopefully, this these starting steps, I can help make it one step closer to living like a local. A key thing to remember is that I'm still Renee. I'll just be Renee in Japan, learning and growing there. My goal is to not be Japanese. I'll forever be viewed as a foreigner there, but maybe I can be less of a foreigner by trying to live like a local. That's my goal.

Vivre Comme un Local: Living Like a Local

As a Writing and Communications major, and more importantly, as a person with a passion for writing, I find that the best way to preserve my experiences is to write about it. Not only does this help me remember the details of my life, but it helps me to cope with whatever the situation may be. It is absolutely essential that I have a journal and good pen when heading off to France for an entire semester. When I get back, I expect that the journal's pages will be worn with use and stuffed full of memories from my trip abroad. Already, I have an idea of the memories I will have written down. I have daydreamed entire situations that I will experience. Why? Because I am ready to live like a local!

I have already befriended a girl from another U.S. campus that will be studying abroad in Caen at the same time as me. Because we have both discussed our intentions to visit as many places as possible while abroad, we have agreed to travel together. Already, I am prepared to experience the French culture directly. Not only do I intend to learn about it, but I also intend to integrate myself into the culture. How, you ask? 

I want to capitalize on all the things France has to offer that the U.S. lacks. For instance, the food in France is more healthy for one's body and comes at a cheaper price than healthy food in America. I do not consider myself a foodie, but this is because I am not fond of the American dishes am exposed to. Also, the ability to buy healthy food cheaper will encourage me to prepare my own healthy meals. I am ready and willing to fall in love with food, be it French of otherwise. 

Also, the French prefer a small group of one or two trustworthy friends rather than a large mass of "friends". In America, it seems common enough that one person has a large group of friends, but I have never been that person. I am ready to build friendships based on intellectual conversation and an appreciation for differences and diversity. 

I will do this by getting as involved in the campus as I can. I hope to join a few clubs and hang out in local cafes. I have a love for coffee that can not be competed with, and so, I believe this love will transcend the culture difference and allow me to try new types of coffee in the numerous cafes in France. 

Although I am not a social butterfly, my interest in the French culture and my need to obtain a working knowledge of the French language will push me to converse with the locals. Already, I have come into contact with the father of two students currently studying at Caen in France. The father, a Frenchman, lives and works in Knoxville and has offered his daughters assistance managing life on campus. I am slowly establishing relationships that will be advantageous to me when I am studying abroad. 

How Not To Be A Tourist

One of my biggest goals for studying abroad is to live like a local and to not be seen as a tourist. I know that this will take a while to do, but I am already trying my hand at it. I am preparing and learning about the style, about eating habits, and the main form of transportation.

I obviously love theatre and I hope that I will be able to join a theatre department in Switzerland. This will allow me to branch out of my comfort zone from an acting stand point, but it will also connect me to people and help me make friends. 

I chose to live in an apartment where I would have a suitemate. This will be an automatic person that I will see on a regular basis and will hopefully be able to confide in and connect to on a deep and emotional level.

I have plans to join clubs and groups on campus to help me with becoming acclimated to my new school. I also would love to find a church or a bible study group of some sort in Switzerland. This will keep me grounded in my faith, but will also provide me with a support system.  

Although there will certainly be struggles that fit with my new lifestyle, I am completely confident in myself that I will be able to handle it in a positive manner. 

Japanese School Not on Saturday

At Maryville College, every Saturday Andersen field becomes flooded with the sounds of Japanese children. They come here for Japanese school. There, they learn Japanese culture, kanji, and any thing else they need in order to assimilate back into Japan.

This is not the Japanese school I will be going to.

Kansai Gaidai University will likely be very different than Maryville. Everything from grades to attendance to behavior will operate on a Japanese mindset. After all, I will be in Japan, not America.

So let's start grades- the most important part of an American student's life.

At Kansai Gaidai, they use a 4.0 scale for quality points that are then translated into letter grades. An A+ and an A are a 4.0, while an A- is a 3.7. A B+, B, and B- are 3.3, 3.0, and 2.7 respectively. This pattern continues with C's and D's all the down to F, which is a 0.0. I hope I never see that number while I'm there. In regards to regular point assignments, I have no idea how they will do it. Now, according to World Education Services, Japan's scale is that 80-100 equals an A, 70-79 equals a B, 60-69 equals a C, and 0-59 equals a F. As a student who gets mostly A's and a few B's, this 80-100 scale works wonderfully for me. But, does this mean that the work is harder? I have no idea, but I'm sure I'll find out!

From looking at the Kansai Gaidai website, I've found no support or tutoring. There may services available, but are not advertised on their website.

I'm lucky in that Kansai Gaidai's credits equal Maryville College credits. This makes transferring credits a breeze! I will need to be enrolled in a minimum of four classes (14 credits) with up to a maximum of six course (20 credits). This, plus the minimum 12 credits needed for Maryville College, will make me a full time student.

Enough about logistics though. What will I expect culturally?

See, that's the part I'm not sure with Kansai Gaidai. While I'll be at a Japanese school, many professors there are not Japanese. And since the Asian Studies Program caters towards Western students, will this mean that the classes will behave more Western than Japanese. That, I don't know.

In general, however, Japanese classes are different than American classes in that students don't talk. Questions are saved for after class. There's also a more formal relationship with Japanese professors than here in America. The causal conversations we have with our professors are a completely foreign concepts. I have no idea with this mind set will still exist with American professors that teach at Kansai Gaidai.

While I'm there, I will be expected to take Japanese course that will have three 90-minute periods with labs and homework. Kanji and Reading courses will meet two 90-minute periods a week. The other course will also be 90-minutes two times a week that may have field trips, research assignments, and etc.

All in all, I feel prepared to study abroad. Though there may be some unknowns here and there, but I'm sure through observation and professor dynamic, I'll know what to do.

Living like a Local

Normally when you study abroad people often ask you how your going to maintain being your true self while growing on aspects that you need academically and usually my answer is that being immersed into the culture and speaking the language.However with me, things are going to be different: speaking with 100% No English whatsoever is the goal I hope to achieve during my time in Japan. Moreover, I believe that too getting involved with the locals (i.e. speaking and interacting with them) are vital to getting acclimated within the culture. Thus with the intent of not speaking any English over there and be within the Kyushu area and travel throughout that region; some parts outside of Kyushu.

In conclusion, I'll be adapting to the culture and becoming akin to a Japanese person as much as possible. Therefore, I'm really looking forward to study abroad this year and am ready prepare for another 日本語 journey!!

Living like a local (make up post)

To live like a local, I plan to try and experience as much of what Hirakata city has to offer. Be it shops, food, or everyday commutes, I want to try it all. I want to see the mythical vending machines that dispense ramen and hot drinks. I want to see just how far public transportation can take me. I want to try foods I can't even pronounce. I want to make friends with my fellow students and my teachers, and get involved in activities that interest them.

But aside for the above tourist-y behavior, I do want to try and get involved in the local community. I plan to do volunteer work, as mentioned in previous posts. I think the easiest way to get to know a community and a culture is to acquaint myself with the troubles the community faces. If you can get to know something at its most vulnerable, I think that is when you can really understand it.  I'm going to be getting involved with a volunteer club on campus, which I think is a great way to both make friends, and get to know the community.

Ray Cleavenger

Living Like a Local

I am pretty excited for my semester abroad in Spain. I am so happy to know that I've been accepted to  my first choice. I look forward to all of the relationships I will build while I am abroad.
I have never been shy, so I know that while I'm abroad, it won't be any different than it is now. I love meeting new people and making new friends. The best way for this to be accomplished is to live like a local. I want to do as the locals do as much as possible. There are so many adventures just waiting to happen. I know it's going to be an adjustment since their culture is different than the one here in the United States, but I think I'll be more than okay. I will need to avoid speaking English and really try to speak Spanish at all times, which will be a challenge, since I speak a mix of both when I'm at home or in Spanish classes here on campus. I look forward to completing a bucket list my friend who is in Spain right now has made for me, full of local restaurants to check out, hikes to go on, and road trips to big and small cities.

Living like a Local

     I have never been the type of person to sit back and watch as the world passes me by, and I absolutely won't be doing that once I am living in my host country. Being social and friendly comes to me naturally , and I already have a set of ideas that I plan to implement in order to comfortably integrate into my host culture. I am a firm believer in living authentically which means I really DO NOT want to be seen as a tourist even though I will be a student. I feel that attempting to learn about Ireland's culture and local mannerisms will help locals respect me and not see me as a shallow traveler.
   The first places I plan to seek cultural insight are local restaurants. Food seems to always be a place where local culture and socialization meet, not to mention the opportunity to try new cuisines. Placing myself in an environment where I will be interacting with locals as well being excited to try new things will be a fun and low-stress opportunity to immerse myself in Irish culture! This idea came to me from my own experiences here. Anytime I have a friend from out of town come visit me I ALWAYS take he or she to lunch at my favorite local restaurants.
    Another place for cultural enrichment is school involvement. I am currently a member of the Student Programming Board for Maryville College. I help plan and work at events for the student body. I feel that if a similar or equivalent program existed at Ulster University. I love planning events and that is also a great way to get in touch with the student body. Being a familiar face to the students can be the start of the a good friendships as well.

Getting Involved and Living Like a Local

My goals for studying abroad are to enhance my proficiency in Spanish and to immerse myself into the culture. Therefore, living like a local is very important to me in order to attain my goals. I believe that there are several factors to living like a local. However, the main idea is to figure out about the culture there and how people living in the area live their life. Like we discussed it is important to figure out about their customs, beliefs, attitudes, traditions, foods, language, etc. In order to gain this knowledge it is necessary to interact with people or observe people in the area. Therefore, it is important to not just sit back and expect that you are going to understand the culture without putting forth any effort. I will make an effort to get out and meet people and go to local events. Additionally, for me I believe a big key will be to try and speak the language as much as possible. I know that I will make mistakes and struggle at first but this is the only way to learn. Another positive that I can use to my advantage is that I love playing soccer. Spain is known for being a great soccer country so I will try and find opportunities to play whether it is at the university or in the local community. This should help me to not only do something I love but meet local people which will allow me to better understand how locals live and immerse myself. Also, luckily for me I am good friends with a local student at the University so I will already have that connection which will help me immensely with being able to know anything I need to about the area or culture. All in all, I want to accomplish my goals of better learning the language and culture which will help me also in the future if I teach Spanish. I know that there will be difficulties and differences but I am pretty good at adapting to change.

Getting Involved & Living Like a Local

     Living like a local in England will require making English friends, which is one of my goals! When I got my confirmation at the University of Essex, I was told I would be living in the North Towers, a residence hall in the center of campus where I will live in a "flat" with 13-16 other students.  I think this living style will be helpful in making friends and figuring out how I'm going to immerse myself in the culture.  While I will have my own bedroom, there are community kitchens and bathrooms.  The kitchen is a great place  to make friends and share culture, in my opinion.  Hopefully, my flatmates and I will be able to talk culture and food while we make our own meals-- something quite different to what I'm used to at MC.
     Right outside the North Towers, the Student Union at U of Essex organized a Street Market, so every Thursday, I'll be able to shop from local stalls selling everything from "freshly ground coffee and delicious cakes to vintage clothing and handmade jewelry," according to their website.  It also looks like they will have fresh produce, which will be great to have since I'll be cooking my own meals. The Student Union at Essex is award-winning and very active on campus.  Apparently, there are hundreds of clubs and societies to join and there are events every night of the week. Hopefully, that means I'll never run out of things to do. And with 16 potential roommates, I'll also-- with any luck-- have people willing to attend these events with me.
     My daily life will obviously include studying for my classes and I'll also continue to work on my senior study while abroad. However, I want to use locals as guides for the best pubs and fun things to do on the weekends.  I probably won't be able to travel out of Colchester every week, so knowing the how the locals have fun and where they like to go will be a must. I've heard English taxi drivers are a treasure-trove of information. Maybe I'll splurge on a taxi at some point so I can get a local driver to tell me where the best places to visit are, from a local's perspective-- or maybe that's just in London. Either way, it's on my "Things Hannah Should Do Whilst in England" list.
     Along the lines of getting involved and having fun things to do on campus, the University of Essex has an awesome arts program that includes theatre and music, so I'm planning on visiting some exhibits, seeing some plays and attending concerts when I can!
     My classes will be another way of making friends. I'm going to be in mostly creative writing classes, so I would love to meet friends through studying something that I really enjoy and am passionate about.
     I almost forgot about one of the best ways to meet friends-- orientation! It's literally a time designated to orient myself to this new environment, and I'll be meeting other students who are having the same experience as well as student leaders who can help with my transition.  At Maryville College, orientation was one of the best ways I made friends.  Hopefully, the same will  hold true at the University of Essex.
     So, I guess my main strategy is to talk to people, try to make friends, and experience as much of the local culture as possible through eating locally-- whether that's getting food from the market on Thursdays or grabbing a bite from the local pub-- or seeing the local sites-- such as the Colchester Zoo or some of the castle ruins nearby.
-Hannah S.

Intercultural Competency: Getting Involved & Living Like a Local

During the four weeks that I will be studying abroad this summer I want to do everything I can to fully immerse myself into the culture. In order to do this I plan to live like a local. Living like a local to me means that I will take part in the everyday activities of a Finn. Not necessarily changing myself to fit in, but engage in the daily activities. It is important to me to live like a local while I study abroad because I want to get a real sense of what it is like to be a Finn. I don’t want to just feel like a tourist, but instead I want to experience every cultural difference that I can. I also want to get involved on campus. If there are any group study sessions or weekend activities on campus that I can take part in, I definitely will. After researching the university some, I’ve found that most people ride their bikes to and around campus, so maybe taking group bike rides would be an activity to engage myself with the campus and other students. I think I read somewhere that I will get to participate in a real Finnish sauna, which I am really excited about!

            While abroad I will be living in an apartment off campus. I think this will be helpful in allowing me to meet more people. I would love to find some Finnish friends that know the area well and would be willing to show me around in order to meet other locals as well. I imagine my day-to-day life feeling like I am in a movie. Riding my bike to class with my awesome new friends and exploring the beautiful country in my spare time. In reality I know I will be doing a lot of studying and homework, but I hope to get to explore as much as possible.

            From my time abroad I hope to gain some insight into how Finnish culture differs and relates to what I am used to. I have a friend now that is an international student and she keeps telling me that it is really amazing to see how cultures differ and she encourages me to really take it all in. I also hope to find some insight into myself. This will be my first time being completely independent so I am excited to see how well I do. This transition is probably going to be a little difficult for me, but I plan to do as much research as I can before I go to prepare myself. I am also getting in touch with some of my relatives now just to introduce myself and hopefully set up meetings. I am really excited about studying abroad. I really want to do all I can to take part in Finnish culture because I think it will be very interesting and educational, as well as fun to experience a new culture!

Intercultural Competency: Getting Involved & Living Like a Local

        I have never experienced terrible cultural shock while broad. Sure, everything is different, but its all exciting. I know that this is only because the most i have stayed in one county for a period of time is around 3 weeks. After a  month I may come down from the initial high and have some real concerns.
     The majority of my friends will probably be from their international house and the classes i am in. I do not think I'll meet many locals without going out of my way to be involved. I want what i have heard in European stories: to walk down a sunny street and wave to all of my friends who own cute shops like bakery and cafes. I know that I will probably not see this be a reality, but its a stereotype i have that would be awfully cute. Meeting friends and being a local here are greatly different than it will be abroad. I will be completely alone when i get there. Yikes. I want to join clubs on the campus, but as an English speaker, that may be challenging. I would like to find a organization to intern or volunteer with, that would allow me to meet people i would not have met otherwise.
     Right now i am trying to remind myself to study the city before i go out of it for travel. I imagine that classes will take up a lot of my time. Also, getting to energy to be social. I will not make many friends if all i want to do is sit at home, i have to keep saying that to myself. Talking with people on the streets, at markets and at restaurants will help me adapt to the culture and small talk. Taking the metro and knowing the faces on my commute will change my comfort level.
    I am worried that I may not be able to communicate with friends and family as easily. I already do not talk to some of my family enough and it stresses me out. Knowing that, i will be more alert at handling it. It will be good to not be in constant contact with my U.S. people, i need to balance both Italy and the US people. I am already planning what i'll do there, but i also want to be relaxed about not stressing. I will have to balance my two communities, i am excited and up to the challenge.

Intercultural Competency: Getting Involved & Living Like a Local- Hannah Chretien

To me, living like a local means to not only participate in, but also to fully engage in daily local life. Living like a local does not mean to necessarily become a local, but to engage in the same practices in the same way as locals do. In Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, I hope to try to become as fully immersed into the typical student life as possible. There are multiple clubs and volunteer opportunities available to me, one of which is a club dedicated to tutoring English. I think I will try to start by joining that club, as it should be easier for me to communicate initially if I am around others who understand even basic English. By being part of the club, I should be able to make friends with the other members, and hopefully be able to branch out from there. I imagine my day-to-day life being spent in class, studying, and in club activities. On the weekends, I hope to have local friends that can show me around the city and help me to integrate into the culture while I am there. 

Living like a local

• How do you want to get involved on campus and/or in the community?

I want to do things like volunteer at ESL centers, and become involved in a dance group or daycare program, if possible. I also want to tutor other students in English

• What does “living like a local” mean to you, and why is it important while you study abroad?

Living like a local means do the best I can to stay away from the comfortable, “American” things that I am used to. I want to do things like eating local food, engaging in local activites and adapting to local customs (social register, daily cycle, etc.)

• In what ways do you plan on fully immersing yourself into the various aspects of your host culture (to live like a local), both on campus and in the community?

On campus: I want to take cultural classes (calligraphy, traditional music) language classes and go on excursions like a normal college student would. (E.g. beach trips, coffee shops)

Off campus: I want to go to various concerts, and go to the preserved villages, and of course, go see Jeju Island!

• What are some of the specific opportunities that you can find through your host institution? In your host community?

There are volunteering programs, and church related groups along with peer mentor programs.    

• How are you going to make local friends?

I would like to think it will be simpler for me than some others. I have meet students that have come here, and they have friends that they have said they would like me to meet.

• What do you imagine your day to day life looking like? 

1^st: Waking up and getting breakfast

2^nd Playing around with my floor mates, asking lots of “foreigner questions.”

3^rd Attending classes/eating lunch

4^th Going on hikes, going to plays, and trying out sports

5^th trying new foods

• What do you hope to gain most from your approach to getting involved and living like a local? How do you think this will both further your understanding of your host culture and impact your experience?

. I am incredibly passionate about education and psycholinguistics, so I have many plans while abroad.

Viviendo La Vida Local en La Argentina

To make a life for myself in Argentina, I plan on involving myself in extracurricular activities on campus. One of these I am really excited to experience is tango lessons. I don't know what all that entails; whether or not I will need a partner or special shoes. But it sounds amazing because I want so badly to learn a dance the country is famous for. I hope that through that I will form friends because my dancing is pretty bad. If anyone wants to be friends with me after they see how badly I tango, then I definitely need to be their friend.

I'm also interested in the horse-back riding lessons. I have actually been a little terrified of riding horses, so I think it would be a challenge for me. Before I go to those lessons, I plan on finding a friend to accompany me. If not, I will go alone and make a friend!

La Universidad Blas Pascal has a club for international students like MC does and I hope to make friends from all around the world through the people I meet in that club.

An aspect of life in Argentina that I am so excited about is living with a family and having them to spend time with. I am a very family oriented person, so I love that I will be placed with a host family. I plan on spending a significant amount of time with the family and getting to know them as well as I can. I know I will learn a lot from my host family. 

The biggest thing that has come to mind every time I've thought about making friends in Argentina has been doing what the locals do. I want to find out what the students do specifically in that area of Córdoba. I want to see where they get coffee, where they study and do homework, where they buy books, if they go anywhere to go hiking or running, and I want to go to those places. I plan to just ask the students what places they frequent and to ask them to go with me... Maybe after I make a friend through the tango lessons. 

I hope that I can establish a loosely stable routine, if that makes sense. I want time set aside for studying and homework everyday but also allow time for socializing with the friends I make. I imagine I'll wake up a few mornings a week to go for a run (if I find a running buddy), and maybe do some homework before class if I have the time. I'm a morning person - that is my most productive time of day. I think I will do a lot of homework and studying in the mornings. In the afternoons, if I have time, I'll probably take a nap because I can't live without naps. In the evenings, I will try to do something different every night whether or not it is staying out late with friends or spending the evening drinking coffee and studying with friends. I want to be as flexible as possible because I feel that if I don't, I'll miss out on something awesome. The biggest thing I don't plan on doing is spending all my free time lying in bed watching Netflix. 

Local Living in Germany

Living in Germany will be big adjustment from my current life in the US. While this won't be my first time in a completely new place, it will be the first time being there for so long. That means I'm going to have to learn to live the way the Germans do. Germany is similar in many ways to the US, but there are still differences. It is so important to me to live like a local, so that I can completely immerse myself in the culture and lifestyle. 

At TU Dortmund, they have a language course that I will be taking at the beginning of the semester. Since I will not be in as many regular classes, and I will be student teaching, I hope that the month I am in the language course will allow me to make friends. In addition to the language course, the university also has sports similar to intramurals. I plan to participate in those in an effort to stay healthy and meet more people. 

Since my experience will not be the traditional study abroad experience, my day to day life will consist of going to school and taking a few classes at night. I am excited at the chance to learn about the school systems and how these students learn and behave in class. In order to be more immersed, I plan to continue to practice German so that the language barrier will not be as bad. 

I hope that while abroad I will learn more about culture that will help me to live like a local.

Local Living - Bangkok

For me, what I want most in to be as involved in my community as mush as I can, and that's what living a local life means. I know that my university will offer many opportunities to get involved, volunteer wise and also just with fun activities. I've also talked a bit with some non-profit organizations in the city already about volunteering for them once I arrive.

Being introverted, I'm a bit daunted by the idea of having to make new friends once I arrive at my host school, but then I remember I had a similar feeling before I arrived to Maryville and everything  worked out fine for me. I am not exactly sure how I will make local friends since the program I am doing is specifically for International students, but hopefully the school will have a program similar to our peer mentor program. If not, I'm sure friendships will develop naturally, too.

Day to day I imagine myself spending a lot of time exploring the city, trying new foods, and trying to be open to as many new experiences as I can. Another MC student who went to Thammasat under the same program as me said that the program of study allows for a lot of free time, which I plan to spend volunteering/networking in the international non-profit world, visiting various religious sites and communities, and travelling within and outside of Thailand,

Blog #4: Living Like a Local in the UK

One of the reasons I listed University of Chester as a school on my ISEP application was because of the diverse student life and the many opportunities that came with it.  I am very excited to get involved with the campus and community and hope to make lasting bonds while I'm there. I aim to meet people by joining some of the clubs and/or participating in campus events.

Living like a local is something that is very important to me when I go abroad because I love seeing different cultures and how they live everyday life. While living at my host institution, I plan to see the surrounding city of Chester and get to know it well enough so that I'd feel at home when I come back to visit.  This would include getting to know local bars, attractions, shops, and even just streets and navigation.  I hope that the new friends I make would show me all their favorite places in town, which would help immerse me in the city.  I imagine my day to day life will be relatively similar to how it is here, just in a different setting -- but I could be sorely mistaking about that!  There will be a an adjustment from living in a small school in a small town to living in a city, but I am excited about that!  The city of Chester is a medieval walled city in England, so I think the history and culture will be fascinating to me.
I think living like a local will help me understand the country better, and probably get a better appreciation for it.  I will make an effort not to be consumed by what is going on home, but rather to focus on where I am.  I tend to get distracted fairly easily, so this may be something that I need to work on.  Overall I am excited to experience a new place and will hopefully be able to call it a home away from home!