Experiential Blog 9: Final blog!

After completing this study abroad program there are a few pieces of information that really stick out to me; culturally I feel like I have gained knowledge in recognizing different social conventions in other cultures and I have gained some skill in adapting to these conventions. I think this is an important skill because it increases my ability to interact with people from other cultures. If I had this skill in the past I feel like the cultural barrier that I occasionally experience in my work would be minuscule, or at least less troubling when I encounter it. This knowledge will help me in the future to reserve my judgments and frustrations, and instead I will keep patient and do my best to understand and break down a cultural barrier. Education wise, I have gained so much knowledge in the Gothic genre. I have learned how to identify and analyze the themes and different meanings in stories and I think that this makes the genre more enjoyable.

My Education of the Gothic

I have really enjoyed learning about the Gothic on this study abroad course and I have been especially interested in how it influences our modern culture. I was surprised at how much I learned throughout this course; I thought I had a fairly solid background in Gothic literature, but I am now surprised to see how much this class has built upon my original foundation. I feel like I have learned so much because I have experienced the Gothic firsthand. There is only so much that a person can gain through a book or picture, but to actually be there, seeing and feeling what may have been in that book, is an entirely different experience. For instance, when we visited the Ossuary in Kutna Hora I was overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions; wonder, disturb, and the feeling of the sublime all flooded me at once while I viewed the vast amounts of bones. I saw pictures of the Ossuary before actually visiting, and I had never felt the tidal wave of emotions until I saw it for myself. I think that that is the most important separation of learning back home and learning abroad. Here, in our travels throughout Europe I have not only read the Gothic, but I have felt the Gothic. In the past month I have gained more than I ever possibly could through a book alone. This trip has left an impression on me that will last forever; I have gained knowledge about cultures that were once totally foreign to me, I have a stronger background in not only identifying, but analyzing the Gothic in literature and in modern culture, and last but certainly not least, I have gained a new found appreciation for my own culture and homeland.

Experiential Blog 7

To my surprise I feel that I have had minimal culture shock for the majority of the trip; for the most part the people that I have encountered were fairly similar to people back home in the United States. I feel that the main difference that I have noticed is that nearly everyone is polite and courteous; at home this is not always the case. I have had several pleasant conversations with locals that seem genuinely interested in where I am from and what brings me to wherever I may be at that time, and this is always a good experience because it seems like people like to know what my life is like as well. Something that I have noticed that is a pretty big contrast to back home is the hours of businesses. Most stores close fairly early in the evening with exceptions to pubs and some restaurants; I think this is a big indicator of the lifestyle not only in London, but also Vienna. Prague seemed to me like it was an all-hours of the night kind of city; I thought it was interesting how at any given time of the day, whether it be 4 in the afternoon or 4 in the morning, there were people dressed casually walking around the streets. My experience with Prague has lead me to believe that there is a minuscule concept of time; time was less of a number and more like a color of the sky. Prague was my favorite city because there was always something to see or do, and the people there were extremely friendly. I think that the place that I had the most difficulty with adjusting to was Vienna. The quietness of Vienna did not surprise me, because we had been forewarned. Because of this quiet nature I expected the people of Vienna to be polite and friendly; instead I often felt like I was being frowned upon in a disgusted manor. In one incident a bicyclist literally spit at my feet, and I suddenly felt like the smallest most unwelcome visitor in such a large city. Vienna was beautiful, but for me it was the low of my trip. From my experiences in foreign countries I feel more strongly than ever that a reserved nature and attitude is probably the best possible way of behaving in foreign environments or situations. In addition to this, I think it is prudent to avoid making assumptions about other cultures. From my time abroad I can say that you will never truly know a culture until you experience it firsthand.

Experiential Blog 6

While we were in Vienna I noticed that people speak very softly; the railway system was at times totally silent. I tend to be a fairly quiet person as is, so this was not a big adjustment for me. However I did notice that some of my fellow students stuck out on the train. I feel like Prague was a lot like things are at home. London was also like this, except I feel like locals have many different phrases, such as "cheers". This phrase seems to be suitable for many situations, such as when you say goodbye, or excuse me, or even thank you. I feel that all cultures have their own phrases and to pick up on them fully you would have to be a local as well.

Experiential Blog 5: Emotions While Abroad

This trip has been amazing. While I immensely enjoyed traveling between Vienna, Prague and London, I was beginning to feel overwhelmed. The constant moving from place to place was beginning to take its toll on me and I was feeling stressed. When I feel stressed I have a habit of shutting down and wanting to stay inside; thankfully I had Zach there to motivate me to get up and do things. I have noticed that other people in the group seem agitated or stressed, and I feel like some people may be shutting down the same way I do. I think we're all beginning to feel a bit homesick. I noticed that everyone seemed relieved to return to Harlaxton. Even though all over the world emotions are felt differently I think they are expressed similarly when you get down to it.

Experiential Blog 4: Prague

The streets in Prague remind me somewhat of a hedge maze. The streets twist and turn like a never ending labyrinth. Prague reminded me a little bit of Cincinnati; the way that people act and enjoy the city that they live in reminds me of back home. Prague was so much more than I expected it to be. I expected a big party city; I imagined that many of the buildings would look similar. I also expected a loud, hectic city. What I found was totally different. I was surprised to find that absolutely every single building was unique and different. I was also surprised at how relaxing and peaceful I found the city to be; I found several parks throughout the city where people could be seen relaxing and enjoying the nice weather. In the evenings many people tended to relax by the water and have a drink or two, much like back in Cincinnati. After walking the streets of Prague I remembered Kafka's "The Castle" and thought about it; I understand now how K.'s character wandered around the city, never reaching the palace that he was searching for. I really loved Prague; I could definitely see myself going back someday.

Vienna Experiential Blog 3

Vienna is a tough city to describe-- the best that I can come up with is a European San Francisco. The buildings are so geometric, like building blocks; they hug each other against the street. Things seem orderly and clean, like everything is kept on a tight leash. I see and feel this order everywhere-- I've experience New York, and I feel that the order in Vienna is totally unique to this city. I also know the subway system of New York, and I can confidently say that the transportation in Vienna is worlds better. I get the impression that the people of Vienna are held up to high expectations for behavior and conduct. While I see this order, I feel that there is a darker, less controlled world lingering under the surface. Unfortunately some of my experiences with locals was not the best, such as when a bicyclist rode by and spit at our feet. For the most part the people that we encountered were nice and even directed us to a few spots that were good to eat. I think one of my favorite parts of Vienna was experiencing the farmer's market and seeing what some of the locals were buying there. I feel that Vienna was a very historically-rich area; I noticed that the locals tended to avoid any tourist area, so I feel like I don't have a clear idea of what daily life is like in Vienna. Overall I enjoyed my visit here and I enjoyed learning about the history that was everywhere in the city.