Culture shock is a real thing.
I left an open spot to write a little message that comes “live” from me as I gallivant across Europe for my two-month study abroad program…so here I am!
I am currently halfway through my program. Midterm break is underway, and I just got back to an airbnb after a long day of swimming, and for some, surfing, at the beach.
I maybe expected culture shock to be more dramatic. It’s not an enormous light bulb over the head. But it is in the little things – walking into a grocery store to realize that all the products are in Portuguese and you have no clue what it means. French, I had a little experience. Chicken is poulet, water is eau, etc. But Portuguese? It’s similar to Spanish, but different enough to be confusing.
I am not great with other languages. I struggle to remember and speak in the correct language. This language barrier is probably the biggest culture shock for me.
The second is definitely the different cultural norms. In France, people…don’t smile. We smile at people when we make random eye contact on the street. The French do not. We look like crazy tourists smiling at people.
Another is volume. France is not loud. But a bunch of North American 18-22 year olds? We are indeed loud. Too loud.
Overall, the experiences I’ve had have really given me a lot of perspective. I’ve begun to realize how many cultures and languages and people there are on this planet.
I don’t really have an overall conclusion for what is happening in my life, so I’ll just say, thanks for letting me take two months off! I’m having a once-in-a-lifetime experience right now and I’m so grateful to be here.
See y’all in November!
-Kaetrianne Ramer
