When you get to your host country, you’re inevitably going to face some cultural challenges. In my experience, it’s most often felt through the minute differences rather than the more noticeable ones. It can be incredibly hard to adjust a routine that you got used to doing without question, especially as all your surroundings change. My first piece of advice is to not let the fear of these changes deter you from making the decision to go abroad. As difficult as the adjustment may be, the period afterwards is incredibly fulfilling. Moreover, as easy as it is to focus on the small things that have changed, you will find, in your everyday life, things that remind you of home. For me, it’s the view of the mountains, random trader joe’s products in ALDI, and visiting a nearby dog park. Embrace both the comfortable and the uncomfortable, as that’s where you’ll find growth and unlock new knowledge.
The classes you take in your semester abroad play a significant role in your time there, as well as in shaping your experience. Here, you not only develop your knowledge, but you meet new people and expand your cultural competencies. If your program offers classes that reflect their cultural or socio-economic environments, take them. This is your chance to take courses you could never take at GW, and with people with completely different perspectives. Being at the heart of a Spanish autonomous community while learning about Spanish and European laws, institutions, and beliefs has been a great experience for me. Just as we love to say #OnlyatGW, carry that mentality with you wherever you go. Each program location holds experiences inside and outside the classroom you won’t find elsewhere.
Through this process, you will not only learn about new cultures and traditions, but you will hear foreign perspectives on American actions and culture. My time in exchange has shown me how diverse opinions can be on particular issues when you leave the continental U.S. This is all to say that knowledge comes in many forms, and the classes that you take can provide a space for you to absorb alternative forms, such as social and cultural understanding.
One of my favorite parts of the semester has been seeing the places I learn about and developing a sense of connection through my studies. In the literal sense, it was getting to visit the International Criminal Court and European Parliament after learning about them in class. More meaningfully, it was interacting with different aspects of Spanish life and feeling a sense of understanding due to gained knowledge and cultural competency. If I could sum up my experience with studying abroad currently, it would be one of personal growth, developed inside and outside of the classroom.
Sophie Brault
Spring 2024
GW Exchange - University of Navarra
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major