My STEP Signature project was studying abroad in Rome, Italy through Arcadia University. My project entailed living overseas for four months and taking classes taught at Roma Tre University.

My study abroad experience and life in Rome was unfortunately cut short due to the unforeseen circumstances. Nobody could have predicted the global pandemic that swept the world, particularly Italy, during this time. I felt as though I was just getting started to integrate myself into the local culture and there were so many things I did not get to experience or learn yet. While I am disappointed and grieve the loss of experiences and knowledge, I am grateful for the time that I spent and feel as though I learned a great deal during my time. I hope to one day take this knowledge and my previous experience and return to Rome again in the future. 

This project and experience has definitely changed my view of the world and myself. At first, it was challenging to adapt to a new culture. The most difficult thing for me personally was the language barrier. Most people in the area I lived in did not speak English. Everyday tasks such as grocery shopping or buying a phone card were very difficult and time consuming. While this was tough, I believe this taught me how to become a more effective communicator. It also allowed me to realize that Americans, unlike other cultures, do not know other languages. Living in Italy and traveling throughout Europe, almost every person spoke two or more languages. As Americans I now think that more people should take the time to learn other cultures and languages, especially starting at a young age.

Things in Italy were very different than in the United States. Even though they are both considered westernized cultures there are still many differences. There is a much slower pace of life in Italy, which sharply contrasts the busy attitude of Americans. There are some aspects of my life in Italy that I will try to bring back home with me and incorporate into my life. The first being the idea of slowing down and focusing on relationships with others as opposed to time. I appreciate the aspect of the Italian culture where they will take the time to talk or interact with others as opposed to rushing to the next thing. This is something that I believe is important and is not done enough in the United States. I also like their ideology of meals as a time to socialize and connect with friends and family. At first, I was annoyed and felt like I was receiving bad service from a waiter when he wouldn’t bring the check. I soon realized that in the Italian culture, it is seen as rude and rushing someone out of the restaurant. Meals are seen as a time to relax with good company.

After living in Italy, I began to admire and appreciate the slowness and lack of urgency. It definitely makes life much more enjoyable when you are not constantly rushing to the next thing. I tried to incorporate this ideology and change my mindset when it came to just relaxing and journaling or spending time with friends over a long meal. I began to realize that there are things to be gained from sitting around and just doing nothing. I hope to keep this ideology with me in the United States and incorporate it into my daily life here. I think many Americans would benefit from taking things slower and enjoying life more. Throughout my time in Italy, I saw how Italians emphasized building relationships with people as opposed to time. I appreciate this aspect of their culture, and it is something that has changed me as a person. I have begun to incorporate this into my life at home, and will continue to do this in the future.

Coronavirus caused a huge disruption to this semester which did not allow me to have the experience that I had planned for and expected. At first, I was very sad and disappointed that I was only able to spend a month abroad, rather than the four months I thought I would have. I am still disappointed, but I have learned that you cannot always control your external environment. The only thing you have control over is how you react to what happens to you. I have decided instead of sulking, or being frustrated about my experience, to look back on the amazing time I had abroad. Instead of focusing on all the experiences I missed out on, I will fondly remember everything I did get to do.

My biggest takeaway from this experience is being able to adapt to whatever life throws at you. I have a very type A personality, and like to plan and control everything I do. If things did not go the way I though they would, I would become very upset. Throughout this time I have realized that do not always have control over everything. I had to learn how to adapt the new problems and situations, even if they were very different from what I expected. I think adaptability is an extremely important life skill to have, because ultimately a lot of things are out of your control. Understanding that I can’t control what happens to me but I can control how I react to things makes life much easier. I believe will serve me well in my future endeavors and career, and am very grateful for my time abroad and the changing situation.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

For my STEP Signature Project, I studied abroad in Paris, France. My program included excursions in the city and around France. I was able to study French language and culture at a French university.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

The thing about myself that changed the most was my ideas about traveling and learning about new cultures. I began to realize how many similarities there are between myself and those around me. Learning a new language and using that language with locals allowed me to see those similarities even more clearly. I truly began to connect with people more deeply this way. I really valued getting to learn how to interact with people from different cultures as well, as you begin to realize how small differences can make a huge impact on your understanding of how different people act.

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

The most influential interactions I had were with my host family and other native Parisians. Getting adjusted to living with people from another culture is no joke. Even if you think that your cultures are similar or if you speak the language really well, there are still differences that exist that can make it a very valuable learning experience. Getting to talk to my host family about this was very valuable. It takes some getting used to but is definitely worth it! Speaking with people as often as I could in French helped with this as well and really improved my language skills.

Additionally, cultural experiences had the most profound impact on me. Going to museums and important landmarks and learning about their significance changed how I viewed not only my own country, and the country I was living in, but the world around me. It showed me just how interconnected we really are.

Additionally, independent travel really opened my eyes to what was out there and how, just because something is close, it doesn’t necessarily mean it can be similar. Traveling in Europe showed me that cultures and people can change so much just by traveling a few hours in one way. I really was able to see just how important it was to be open to new experiences and things because you get to see a lot in such a short amount of time.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

Having this kind of understanding is going to be very critical in my career to come. As an individual who studies international relations and hopes to work with people from around the world, cultural competency will be essential. I believe the transformational experience I got from study abroad not only gave me this, but it also allowed me to learn how to deal with highly stressful and new situations when you are not in a place that is familiar to you. Especially during the COVID-19 crisis, it was very difficult to manage things while in another country. I will definitely take these skills with me into any career I choose.

My STEP project was supposed to be a semester-long study abroad experience in Spain; my program was cut short due to the COVID outbreak, but I was still able to spend almost three months in in Seville. I took five Spanish Advanced Studies classes with native speakers, explored amazing paradises throughout Spain and Europe, and developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Spanish language and culture.

My knowledge and use of the Spanish language were entirely transformed and prospered exponentially during my time abroad. My classes, my interactions with my host family through the homestay program, and every experience I encountered within Spain with the locals allowed my Spanish to grow and develop in unimaginable ways. Not only did my understanding of the language grow, but also my appreciation and passion for the diverse cultures within Spain (and throughout Europe) were molded by my time spent abroad.  And finally, besides the obvious benefits to my Spanish knowledge, this trip also provided me the time and resources to become a better world traveler, cognizant of the skills and opportunities I was able to use to understand and form connections with every person I met.

The biggest transformation that I experienced from this study abroad trip was the growth and development on my view of the world and people of other cultures. Throughout my life, I’ve only left the country a handful of times and I haven’t had much firsthand experience interacting with and learning about people of various cultures. I think these few months have helped me develop an improved world view, more inclusive to diverse cultures and people than I ever imagined. My vision of the world and the people in it were completely changed and shaped, which has only further transformed my perspective on myself and my life.

There are several factors that contributed to my deeper acquisition of the Spanish language, my expansion of the understanding of Spanish culture, and my growth as a world traveler. Whether I was listening to a priest say Mass, having casual conversations with my host brothers, or bargaining with a shop-owner, my comprehension, pronunciation, and fluency with the Spanish language continued to develop. These everyday interactions that allowed me to practice casual and conversational Spanish, paired with the five advanced courses that I was taking abroad contributed greatly to my transformation as a Spanish student and communicator.

Each of my classes helped me to deepen my knowledge in various ways. My first class was Contemporary Spanish Society, which introduced me to issues in contemporary Spain including politics, nationalism and cultural diversity, gender issues, immigration, and the arts. History and Analysis of Spanish film allowed me to utilize another genre to appreciate and understand Spanish culture through a brief tour of the history of Spanish film from its origins through today. My Survey of Spanish American Literature class offered a panoramic vision of Hispanic American Literature from before the arrival of the Spaniards up until the present. The course, Spanish Detective Fictions, was an incredibly fun and interesting class that provided me with theoretical frameworks through which to investigate detective fictions and their literary and cultural contexts. And finally, Spain Today also provided me with a deeper understanding of Spain as a world power today and its culture through gender roles, immigration, as well as monarchy and government.

This rigorous academic component, combined with my homestay opportunity, and even just my daily interactions with Spanish society truly transformed me as a person throughout the few months I spent in Seville. Outside of my primary transformation with my Spanish development, this experience also provided me the opportunity to travel throughout Spain and Europe including extraordinary paradises like Cádiz, Lisbon, Tenerife, Madrid, Paris, and Tangier. These experiences as a world traveler have also transformed me significantly as an active and informed human being changing and interacting with the world around me.

Looking into my future as a Spanish teacher and even just as an influence in the world and on the people around me, this experience has proved exceptionally beneficial. I have been transformed in my understanding and communication of the Spanish language and culture and was able to develop valuable skills as a world explorer. My future career will help me make an impact on the lives of countless young minds and offer me the opportunity to travel and explore even more of the world around me.

The transformation that I’ve experienced in my months abroad have changed me more than I can even explain with words. My feelings, emotions, and understanding about the world have been deepened and refined through my study abroad, and it has helped me become the strong, compassionate, informed, and authentic man that I want to be in this world. I can only hope to be able to use my experiences to impact the minds and lives of the students in my classroom in the near future.

travel instagram: @sevillahunter2020

https://www.instagram.com/sevillahunter2020/

As a former third year student at Ohio State, I was fortunate enough to spend part of my spring semester studying abroad in Rome, Italy. Even though my semester ended two months early due to the coronavirus outbreak, I was still able to experience life in a new city, learn a different culture, and meet wonderful people. Taking classes at Roma Tre University was such an authentic experience, and I learned so much during my time in this city.

Ever since high school, I knew I wanted to study abroad in Italy as the culture, food, and places fascinated me. When I was boarding my flight on January 20, 2020, my reality did not feel real. Even when I landed in Rome Fiumicino Airport, I was still shocked that I was in a completely different country than my own. Even to this day, my study abroad experience still feels like a dream, as my time there was so short but very rewarding. My main priority when I arrived in Rome was to remain completely open minded during my stay. I so deeply desired to absorb all of the different aspects of the Italian culture, and I did not want to take this time for granted. I knew that this education abroad experience was a time for self-improvement, so I made this a priority every day during my stay.

I would say the first cultural difference that I noticed was how Italians view time. The other students and I were very surprised with the very calm and relaxed atmosphere that surrounded my program. Our directors did not fret when our scheduled orientation sessions started 40 minutes late or when deadlines to submit forms were not met on time. I remember being so surprised by this and found myself wondering how the Italian people were able to live this way. Not only did I notice this during my classes, but it was evident in the public lives that people lived. Everyday around lunchtime, almost every business in Rome would close. The owners really valued their time for lunch with family and rest, which is very much the opposite in the United States. Life in Italy does not revolve around work and structured time, as it is centered around time for appreciating what they have. I learned very quickly that Italians took time to spend with others in order to build relationships. They value relationships with others more than their work, and this aspect of their culture was very apparent. Taking coffee “to go” was also looked down upon, as Italians make the time to enjoy their coffee with others in the morning. This Italian way of life was very different from the one I live at home, yet I learned to appreciate this very much. I really tried to adopt this perspective everywhere I went in Europe. I wanted to be present in every place in order to authentically experience each city I visited. After living in Rome for six weeks, I truly believed that I learned to take the time to appreciate my surroundings and to be grateful for everything that I have. My STEP signature project really allowed myself to focus on the present, which I never prioritized before living in Rome.

While living in this new city, I had many experiences and interactions with others that had me question my perspectives on time and relationships. I remember one of the first times I visited the café around the corner from my apartment. As an avid coffee lover who needs a giant cup of brewed goodness in the morning, I was shocked to learn that Italians really only need an espresso shot in the morning. Large cups of coffee did not exist in this country, and I had some adjusting to do. Every time I entered one of these little cafes, they were always crowded with people standing around sipping their tiny coffees. No one seemed to be in a rush, and everyone seemed to know each other. These coffee shops were very communal, which is very different from the ones I was used to in the United States.

Soon after arriving in Rome and settling in, I knew I needed to embrace the culture and learn from the ways of the Italians. I wanted to learn everything I could while living in Rome, and the first step to doing so was to be observant. One of the most noticeable things in this city was that most restaurants and businesses closed down for about two hours in the afternoon. Reasons for this include lunch time, nap time, or family time, and this was extremely normal in Italian culture. Some days when I wanted to buy lunch, I would have to wait until the restaurants opened their doors. Again, this is completely opposite from the normal way of life in the United States. At home, people prioritize their work and will even work during their lunch hour. Work is sometimes considered to be a number one priority for many Americans, which is not the case for Italian people. By noticing these differences in the Italian culture, I was able to appreciate these things and their underlying meanings.

The way of life in Italy is definitely simpler and more relaxed than it is in the United States. The Italian people take the time in the morning to enjoy their coffee and catch up with their neighbors in the café. Businesses and restaurants even close in the afternoon so workers are able to take care of themselves and enjoy lunch time with their families. This way of life in Rome took some getting used to, but when I embraced this way of life, I truly understood why the Italian people wanted to live like this. Time with other people should be cherished, rather than work as a means of making money. The Italian people find importance in creating relationships with others and really getting to know them. Even when I first arrived in Italy without knowing anyone else, my program advisors knew so many things about me that I was not expecting. They took the time to learn all 44 of the students, so that meaningful relationships could be built. Living in Rome and interacting with the Romans really taught me the importance of building meaningful relationships with others, rather than being so focused on myself. People in Italy take time out of there busy work days to spend time with others, and I realized that that is what I want once I enter the professional world. I hope I enter a field and work with a company who values relationships as much as the Italian do.

Living in Rome for just a short amount of time most definitely made an impact on my life. By being exposed to another way of living and different culture, I wanted to embrace the Italian way of life. Italian culture has genuine roots, as most people value relationships and time to spend with others more so than Americans. I found this to be very moving and wanted to practice these values more within my own lifestyle. Ever since living in Rome, I have been wanting to catch up more with my friends rather than being so focused on myself. I want to enjoy drinking my coffee in the morning rather than rushing off to do tasks of the day. Living in Rome really taught me to be present at all times of the day instead of living in the past or future. I truly believe that these perspectives on life will be beneficial in my future personal life and career, as forming and maintaining relationships with others is the most rewarding aspect of life. By forming these relations with others, my personal life will be richer, and my future professional life will be more pleasant. Living in Rome with Italian people really taught me that I need to enjoy my life more and be in the present, which will only serve to enrich all aspects of my life in the future.

My STEP signature project was a study abroad program in Florence, Italy where I studied at the Accademia Italiana. I spent my semester living in an apartment in the heart of Florence with students from Ohio State and other colleges across the country. I had the opportunity to travel to other cities in Italy and other countries in Europe on the weekends and expanded my perspective on the world.

I was filled with nerves before leaving for Florence, and I was not sure how I would react to such a dramatic change in my lifestyle. I have always had the urge to travel, and this was the perfect opportunity to see the world on my own and for an extended period. I was hoping to become more independent and have a better understanding of cultures other than my own. Throughout this experience, I immersed myself in the Italian culture and lifestyle, learned some of the language, and engaged with locals. I learned the differences between American culture and European culture that made me appreciate both in an entirely new way. Whether that is the time that meals are served or attempting to speak the language of the host culture, I transformed in ways that led to a new respect for both cultures. With some help from some old friends and new friends that accompanied me on the trip, we overcame obstacles as small as grocery shopping in a new city to as big as culture shock together. I now feel that I am more independent, as I found my way around a new city and made it my home.

There were many factors that contributed to the transformation that I experienced during my study abroad. It is hard to pinpoint exact events or activities, but there are a few people and moments that made my experience completely life changing.

My instructors at Accademia Italiana had such a large impact on my experience. My Italian Language professor taught us how to interact with the locals using the language and wanted to see us succeed. Because of the small class sizes, we were expected to participate every day in class, while getting full attention to make sure we understood the material. I used what I learned in class to talk to the shop and restaurant owners, who were always more than willing to talk to study abroad students. It was incredible to connect with those from another culture using their language. My Italian Style professor taught us the Italian traditions, holidays, fashions etc. and was one of the most upbeat and passionate people I have ever met. Her enthusiasm for the class, the students and Italy will always stay with me. I plan to stay in touch with these instructors, and when I return to Italy one day, I want to meet with them again.

My roommates and friends on the program were also a key factor in my experience. I made friends that go to college in other parts of the country and built stronger bonds with the friends that I went abroad with. While it takes a little while to become comfortable with new people, my roommates and I had nights cooking, singing, and dancing together that I will never forget. My roommates taught me how to deal with unfamiliarity and make it something beautiful. I now talk to my roommates from Florence every day, and we are creating new memories that never would have happened without this trip. A couple of my roommates became good friends with a few people that were from Siena and Naples. They taught us even more about Italy that went further than what our classes taught us. Forming these relationships is something I will never forget. The night that we had to abruptly leave due to COVID-19, these people were there to help us pack up the apartment. They told us that friendship is forever, and that we will one day return to Italy and everything will be okay. I have held on to these words as the conflicts that COVID-19 have caused continue to present themselves.

Studying abroad also allowed me to travel to places that I have learned about my whole life and visit monuments and museums that have great historical significance. I visited the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam, and after learning about the Holocaust and Anne Frank in school, I was able to obtain a deeper understanding of what she went through by walking through the house where she was in hiding. I visited the Colosseum in Rome, which has been standing since the time of the ancient Roman empire and learned the entire history while standing inside. I have studied Spanish since I was eight years old and I am currently pursuing a Spanish minor. Towards the end of my trip, I visited Madrid where they speak minimal English even to tourists (which was different from other large European cities that I had visited) and being able to use what I have learned for 13 years made me feel accomplished. I used Spanish when talking to locals and was able to have deep conversations with people that I never could have imagined. I felt like all my years taking this language was worth it, and that I would be able to use it in this setting when I return to Europe.

The city of Florence itself had a large impact on my experience. A year ago, I never could have imagined living in a place so full of beauty, history, and personality. The everyday life that I lived in Florence that consisted of drinking espresso every morning, walking through the crowded streets and crossing the Ponte Vecchio to get to class, and using the rest of my day to explore the city with my friends and try new restaurants has become a part of me that I will never forget. I will never forget the nights that my friends and I walked the steps of the Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset over the city that we called home. Florence will always be a home to me, just like my home in Chicago or my home in Columbus.

The personal development that I experienced has not only changed but added to my goals for the future. I want to be able to travel to other places around the globe. I want to experience even more cultures and I want to share these experiences with people that feel the same wanderlust. The independence that I gained from studying abroad will help when I am pursuing my career goals (which may include entering a job with minimal experience, or moving to a new city), because I will be able to better cope with unfamiliar territory and know that it is okay to go out of your comfort zone to expand your horizons.

I feel so nostalgic when I think about my time studying abroad. Because of the way it ended due to COVID-19, I have learned to try to see the positive side of negative situations. While I had to come home more than two months earlier than I originally planned, I am still so grateful for my experience. It is so important to not take anything for granted, especially the time that you have in your favorite places or with your favorite people.

My STEP Signature Project was Semester at Sea, which is a program that takes a ship to twelve countries around the globe. You travel between ports on the ship and take classes while on board. You take a full 12 credit hours the semester you are abroad.

While abroad my view of how I fit into the world changed. I came on the voyage thinking that I understood my privilege, however, I didn’t fully understand my place in the world the way that I thought that I did. I knew that coming from America and having the financial means to study abroad meant that I had privilege, but, I didn’t understand how much privilege my American identity and ability to speak English gave me. There was never a time that I felt that I was going to be unable to communicate because most people on these countries spoke at least some English. These countries had tailored their tourist areas to me and my comfort, which I wasn’t expecting, but it shows how much privilege Americans have.

The most poignant memory I have from the trip was in Vietnam. My friends and I were at an airport in Da Nang, Vietnam checking our bags for our flight. None of us spoke even a word of Vietnamese, and the man at the luggage counter spoke English but was having trouble pronouncing most of the words. As we tried to communicate he was getting more and more upset, but he wasn’t upset at us. Instead, he started to apologize profusely for not being able to speak English well. He was incredibly upset with himself, and none of us knew what to do. To relieve the tension, I made a joke about his English being way better than our Vietnamese, which made him smile. We were able to get our bags checked, and we went on our way.

To most people, that conversation probably would not have been that remarkable, but it changed the way I looked at the world. We had come to his country, didn’t speak his language, and he was the one that was upset that he was having trouble communicating with us. That didn’t seem right to me. It should be the other way around. We should have been the ones that were ashamed that we weren’t able to properly communicate because we had traveled to his culture and hadn’t learned any of his language. However, that clearly was not the case.

At first, this situation made me embarrassed for my behavior. I was embarrassed that I didn’t know any Vietnamese. I was embarrassed that I, as an American, had expected people to speak English to me. Then I reflected on that experience. What I came to was much like what I wrote above. I had more privilege than I had ever imagined just being an American that spoke English. The world in many places what catered to my ease, which was unexpected. However, it was my identity as an English-speaking American that made it that way.

This development is valuable for many reasons, but one being that it has changed the way I see myself in the world. I understand my place in the world better than I did before, and that is important. I want to work in international human rights as a career and understanding my place is important, but it also allows me to make sure that I am not overpowering voices around me unintentionally. Understanding privilege when being a part of those discussions in essential, and I think this experience helped me to better fully understand that.

I used my STEP funds to pay for a portion of my study abroad program fee– specifically the housing portion. Though I had to depart prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was able to study at Stellenbosch University in Stellenbosch, South Africa, for almost eight weeks.

As a result of my time in Stellenbosch, my priorities shifted. I no longer get so caught up in the small things but can more clearly recognize the big picture with less distractions. Speaking so much with others outside of my home university bubble exposed me to more things I now care about, and in the grand scheme of things, I have learned I am also able to empathize more. I have also learned to trust myself more and take everything a little less seriously. At the beginning of my program orientation, my program coordinator told us to take everything in the moment. She told us to not be afraid of trying new experiences and to listen and learn from one another. Looking back, I appreciate the spontaneous trips into town and the Sunday evening movie nights even more than I did when they were happening.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn in such a different environment with different groups of students. One of my favorite aspects of my experience included the small conversations I held with my classmates. I have learned to draw more connections between our commonalities but also our differences. Some of my most vivid memories in Stellenbosch were centered around discussions with my fellow classmates. Having so many representative viewpoints of students from different countries and diasporas gave each discussion and conversation an inherently enriching aspect, and I really enjoyed hearing the perspectives of people my age who just happened to originally hail from a city a few thousand miles from where I call home. I remember having a discussion on police brutality and how it manifested in where we were from. I had never thought about this before, but one of my colleagues talked about how taboo the concept is in Norway. Our group was then able to talk about the reasons behind this and why police brutality is so prevalent in the United States and then police brutality within the South African context.

Navigating so many new relationships in such a short time period– an even shorter one than I initially thought– only emphasized the value of using the time I’m given wisely. The community formed with some of my fellow program participants and other students I met was crafted out of the time we spent together and sealed by the time that we didn’t get to have.

There are a few moments I think back on and would have liked to see them end differently, but these have only showed me that I would rather look back and have tried something and not enjoyed it than not have tried something and missed out entirely.

These changes I experienced are valuable because they has taught me more about how to work with myself and others. They have also helped show me what I truly find important and worth putting effort into while teaching me the value of time and following through in my words and actions. Though my time in Stellenbosch ultimately did not match the original timeline, I still garnered some experiences and memories in the time I was there I will use to move forward.

[the view from one of my flat’s windows]

My STEP signature project was categorized as an education abroad program through Fisher’s Global Exchange. I spent the semester in Dublin, Ireland taking classes at Trinity College Dublin. The academic part of my project comprised of me going to class every day whether it was lecture or tutorial (recitation) until the curriculum was moved online due to COVID-19.

I learned that I am actually a much more adaptable and resilient person. Traveling around and living by myself while balancing school, social, and leisure traveling proved to be a difficult task. It was a hard decision each weekend to decide if I should go to an optional lecture or fly out early and spend more time in a foreign country. Also budgeting for housing and travel and spending proved to be a difficult task and I had to learn to adapt and change my plans and my budgetary restrictions.

A second thing I learned about my world view is that kids my age in a similar situation around the world tend to act and indulge in similar activities as me. Whether I was in Ireland, Amsterdam, France, or Germany all the young people around college age go out and have the same interests as me. The biggest difference was college for them was commuting and going to classes during the day, like high school, they were shocked to find out that we stayed overnight away from school. They were also shocked to learn how much everyone pays for college in the United States.

The first time I learned about my newfound resiliency and adaptability was on my first weekend trip to southern France. The town we went to was a touristy place but more so touristy place for European travelers not really American travelers. Everywhere we went there were no English translations to most restaurant items or street signs or anything really. Worse than that almost no one spoke any English. We were translating everything in order to talk to everyone and read and order food which proved to be very hard. I had never left the country before and had rarely, if ever, met someone who didn’t speak any English. Learning how to communicate through google translate and having to adapt to a new language proved to be quite difficult.

One thing that helped show me how different the youths of Europe are to the youths of America was my relationship with a fellow student at Trinity. We had three classes together and spent a lot of time talking about our various upbringings and college experiences. This friend was from Dublin and took the train to Trinity’s campus everyday then after all the classes were over he returned home. That was the Monday-Friday schedule for him and for most students. College for them was more like high school for us. Living on campus was such a foreign concept to them. On top of that, from talking we exchanged information about extracurricular activities we participated in and I explained him how Greek Life works at Ohio State and at most American Universities. The idea of rushing and joining a fraternity or sorority was such a foreign concept to him and the way he described how alien it sounded, kind of pointed out to me how weird it actually seemed from an outside perspective.

Another event led me to believe how similar European and American youths are were when I saw a group of Irish students from a class of mine at a bar. The students all showed up and were dressed the same and acting same and at the bar were dancing to the same music. Their interests were to have fun on the weekends and weekdays in Ireland. It was just funny to see them dancing and enjoying the same music as us and then when chatting we learned they are interested in the same popular culture.

These changes that I underwent when abroad helped show me how much more I am capable of when it comes to learning new things and changing my plans. I am a huge fan of rigidity and firm scheduling and having a concrete plan and being abroad showed me it was okay to step away from that and loosen up. This loosening up helped me entertain new experiences and step out of my comfort zone which will have farther reaching implications down the line in my life. Another thing my project taught me was that people around the world are much more similar than we would imagine. Having this knowledge helped me loosen up with local people when traveling to various countries as well as being in Europe. This helped develop friendships, bonds, and broaden my network to several countries outside the United States. It is incredible that I have people to reach out to when I travel to Ireland, Germany, Latvia, Amsterdam, Prague and several others. My STEP project enabled me to travel and learn about the world while also giving me an array of tools that will be monumental to professional and personal development.

These pictures are from the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland and The Carcassonne Fortress in Southern France.

My STEP Signature Project consisted of an education abroad program in Dijon, France. I stayed in an international residence hall and took French language classes at the Université de Bourgogne.

One of the main ways in which my perspective changed due to my education abroad program was my view of and behavior towards those whose first language is not English. Despite the fact that I’ve always thought of myself as a kind and open person, I never completely understood the vulnerability that occurs when speaking a language that is not native to you. When speaking another language, it’s hard to feel like your true personality and ideas are coming across. I now have an even deeper compassion when speaking to someone whose native language is not my own.

I was fortunate to experience an abundance of kindness while traveling abroad. Especially during the stressful period of quickly returning home due to the pandemic, I realized how beneficial it can be to simply ask for help, even from a stranger. I undoubtedly remain aware that you should be extremely cautious when traveling, especially when alone, but I would quite possibly still be lost in another country had I not asked others for directions or any other sort of help. Whatsmore, because I had to use another language when approaching others, I am now less afraid to speak to others in both my language as well as a foreign one.

One of the most exciting and rewarding experiences throughout my education abroad was the wide, diverse range of people I was fortunate to meet. My studies were within an international program at a French university, so there were roughly 8 different nationalities in my classes alone. Outside of classes, I got to befriend even more people who were from other parts of the globe. Due to our ranging proficiencies in French, we would speak in a mix of French, English, and sometimes other languages as well. It was a true gift to experience such a genuine collaboration to express ourselves and get to know one another.

On another note, at the very beginning of my time abroad, my phone was stolen in Paris. Not only was this stressful in and of itself, but it also required that I buy a used phone in a foreign country, speaking a foreign language. Being in a strange place can make a situation like this feel that much more frightening and violating, but I felt a deep appreciation for both my personal safety and the kindness of others that remains the same regardless of culture or language.

Lastly, my interactions with locals really shaped my new perspective on speaking a foreign language in a foreign place. In American culture, the French in particular are notorious for being condescending and rude. This stereotype comes from the tendency of tourists to approach locals and immediately start speaking English. Even beginning a conversation with “Bonjour” makes a huge difference. Not even attempting to speak someone else’s native language while visiting their country implies that you would rather make the other person more uncomfortable than yourself. Of course, before I studied abroad, I knew this to a certain extent, and it was that much less terrifying because I was already at a somewhat advanced level of French, but it was a significant realization nonetheless because I was able to experience this firsthand.

The most valuable personal discovery I gained from my education abroad experience was my capability of traveling alone. I very much wish to explore the world as much as I can in the future, and I have proven to myself that I can do so. I am more willing to forgive myself for any mistakes I might make while traveling because life is so incredibly unpredictable, especially while on the move. Even though approaching strangers and asking them for help is still intimidating, I now see the value in cautiously doing so.

In addition, after all of the French language courses I took while abroad, I want to maintain and improve my French proficiency after I graduate. After experiencing the effect that learning another language has on my mind and perspective, I would also strongly consider learning other languages as well. I want to be able to offer my vulnerability by speaking someone else’s native language in order to communicate and connect with even more people. I also greatly appreciate the infinite ways in which thinking and speaking in other languages opens my world views. It makes returning to my home, native language, and general familiarity all the more special, as I can understand more deeply both their flaws and beauty.