RETURNED
STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES:
Culture & People, Society & Politics, Language, Other |
| ARGENTINA |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE:
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • Buenos
Aires is a 24/7 kind of city. It is not
unusual to see cafes/restaurants open and
filled with people, especially on the weekends.
OTHER: • Easy
to find internet cafes to keep in touch
with family. |
AUSTRALIA |
|
CULTURE
& PEOPLE: • Main
difference from U.S. is use of slang terms,
also pace of life is slower. • Australia
is a relaxed environment but school is taken
very seriously. • Aussies are more
liberal with their opinions toward America's
political
issues. • Do
not expect to know everything about them
because you've seen Crocodile Dundee! • Even
though surrounded by American influence (tv,
music, products) country doesn't function
like the U.S.
|
AUSTRIA |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • The
country is more relaxed and the people are
very different but it is easy to get used
to.
|
BELIZE |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • Very
culturally diverse.
LANGUAGE: • Language
is Creole-takes some getting used to.
|
BOLIVIA |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE:
SOCIETY
& POLITICS: • Because
politics infects every aspect of Bolivian
life at this moment (2006), keep up with the
news
so not to be surprised by rallies or riots
in the streets.
|
BRAZIL |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • Sexuality
is more openly expressed.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • Pornography
is advertised openly and seen everywhere.
|
CANADA: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • If
you are outgoing, you get shocked at all
the stares you may get, since people are
quiet,
but don't be afraid to talk to start a conversation.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • Talk
to locals to try to understand differences in politics
and mentalities.
|
CHILE: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • Chile
is like the US 20 years ago. • Chileans
on the street are not going to come up
to you to try to be friends, but it you
are
outgoing, you will make a lot of friends.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • Don't
speak about politics if from the states because right
now the U.S. is hated all over South America.
|
CHINA: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • In
Shijiazhuang few foreigners, but people
are friendly and helpful.
LANGUAGE: • Speak
to the students and other people around you. Most
of the people were eager to make friends and just
chat,
it will help the adjustment process tremendously.
|
COSTA
RICA |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: •
Costa Rica is family oriented, with a lot of
affection shown. Food is different so get used
to rice and beans! Try to get to know the families,
who will be shy the first day or so, but they
will warm up to you if you try to know them.
Houses are less luxurious than some may be
used to. • It
is not like NM, but it is laid back, friendly,
and beautiful. • Ticos
are very laid back and never are in a hurry
so don't plan on doing anything really fast,
such
as eating out, getting a cab, making reservations. • The
Ticos are such welcoming people and understand
that you are trying to learn the language.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • Poor
infrastructure, more garbage on streets, ratty-looking
buildings, but get used to it.
LANGUAGE: • Expect
discomfort at first from not being able to communicate
well in Spanish.
OTHER: • ...
watching some of
the telenovas, news
and
other programs is
a good way to learn. |
ECUADOR |
|
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • The
poverty can be confusing at first in Ecuador.
LANGUAGE: • ...
dealing with a foreign
language is hard but talking about it in
school, with friends, and a travel journal
can help.
|
FINLAND |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • People
may seem standoffish but they really are helpful
and kind people. Ask and they help most of the
time. • Because
Finns can be incredibly enclosed, making one's
overture can prove vital to a student's sanity-just
a cultural difference.
SOCIETY & POLITICS:
LANGUAGE:• ...
it helps that many Finns are fluent in English, and
living with other exchange students helps since you
all are in the same boat. • Take advantage
of international exchange activities. Get plugged
into
an English speaking church.
OTHER: • Winter
is a difficult time for them. • Take
advantage of international exchange activities. |
FRANCE: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • French
are direct and exquisite, so adjust to
their behavior to improve acceptance. • ...you
will probably make friends more with other
foreign students than French students. • Understand
that France goes at a slower pace. • Learn
to eat smaller portions and understand
that people don't start up conversations
in Paris.• Be
prepared for people who are blunt or rude. • French
students are not outgoing in general, so
you must make the first move. Having to
work to
make friendships was the biggest adjustment
in France.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • Do
not go to Paris with the impression it is the
city of romance. This may be true for a
few days, but
soon the reality of Paris life will overwhelm
you. • People
in France and Europe have been through more stuff in
their lives than an American could ever fathom. • Get
used to a lot of people and limited space in
Paris. • Be
prepared for strikes, demonstrations, condescending
attitudes toward Americans.
OTHER: • Surprised
how unconcerned people are about hygiene and
germs. Public restrooms did not even have soap
and were not clean |
GERMANY: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • At
first Germans seem cold, but they warm up quickly. • Germans
are more reserved than Americans, but they do
open up to you eventually.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • Expect
bureaucracy.
LANGUAGE: • Make
German friends so you don't misunderstand them. • The
more German you learn, the easier it is to fit in
and make German friends.
|
GUATEMALA: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • People
are some of the friendliest I have every met
anywhere. • Watch what the locals do
and follow suit.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: •.It
is a poor country. Don't expect the same level of comfort.
It's cold. June is winter and you can expect nights
to drop to about 40F and days at 60 to 70F with rain.
The houses do not have heat so pack warm.• Keep
in mind it’s a third world country so they don’t
have the things we have here. • Forget the concept
of personal space. • Guatemala is real. What
you see is what you get, and it's beautiful in
its raw form. Know that and you'll be fine. Understand
that this is a poor country and some things you
see
regularly are vastly different than the U.S.
OTHER: • First
week is the hardest, but then you get used to their
hand-gestures and living patterns. |
INDIA: |
|
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • Not
similar in any way like the U.S. or even Mexico.
|
JAPAN: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • Japanese
are not "warm" people, so it takes quite
some time to make friends with them, and
even longer to feel close to someone.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • It
is a lot of people, so if you don't like people,
don't go.
LANGUAGE: • Amount
of Kanji needed to read menus and other matters can
be overwhelming. Some menus are written in
English, but also Hirigana and Katakana. Don't be
afraid to speak Japanese since they will be eager
to help you. |
| KOREA: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • While
I immediately felt at home, never felt
I belonged in Korea. A Westerner will not
feel
like a local because of the very homogeneous
society. Our favorite saying was: "Another
Korean Experience." |
MALTA: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • Maltese
can be perceived as prejudicial to foreigners.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • Be
prepared for a limited response to what you think is
important. They tend to put things on the back burner
than handling them right away. • Very slow
compared to U.S. Three hour siestas and nothing is
open 24 hours
a day
|
MEXICO: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: •
SOCIETY & POLITICS:. • Just
realize there is no 24-hour Walmart. Get your stuff
early in the day. • Be
prepared for no central cooling or heating, having
chile served every meal. • Be
open minded and don't expect Monterrey to be like other
parts of Mexico. • Be prepared for more formal
dress on Mexican campuses. • Mexican
eat at different times than in the U.S. Their biggest
meal is at lunch at about 2 p.m., not at dinner which
is a snack at about 8 p.m.
LANGUAGE: • ... try
to speak as much Spanish
as possible even if
you think you sound
silly the people respect
you for it.
OTHER: • Keyboards
on computers are
different from U.S.,
so ask locals which
keys are which.
|
NETHERLANDS: |
|
OTHER: • Stores
are smaller and close early. Your lock will rust
more than your bike. Fast food prepares food slowly.
Minority
areas have cheaper groceries. |
SPAIN: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: •
Not all Spaniards are willing to spend time to
help you out if you haven't spent the time to
learn anything about their culture. • The
Spanish women are very direct and at times
bold. • Spanish
people talk loud. • Men are extremely
assertive.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • Breakfast
is sparse--toast and juice. Lunch is at 2:30-3:00 p.m..
Dinner 10-100 p.m. They walk a lot.• Be ready
to have a flexible eating and sleeping schedule. • I
enjoyed the siestas, when everything closes down between
2:30 and 5:30. There’s nothing else to do but
sleep! • The cities are alive
at night so don’t sleep through it! • Get
used to bad service and small amounts of beverages
at restaurants. Paper work and the mail system take
a while. • Learn
to handle drinking at any time of the day – it’s
common in Spain. • Meal times are different,
dress is less casual, every one walks or takes the
bus or taxis, in the winter months take warm clothing.
LANGUAGE: • If
some one local talks to you in English, respond in
Spanish. Many Malaqueños know English, so
sometimes you have to insist on Spanish. Do
not seclude yourself by only speaking to those that
speak English. Get out there and go for it! • ...adapt
to new words and meanings in Spain compared to Mexico.
OTHER: • Be
careful what clothing you wear. Even in summer, it
is uncommon to see people in shorts, especially the
little shorts that are popular in the U.S. |
| SWEDEN |
|
| CULTURE & PEOPLE: • Very
Americanized and people were very open to exchange
students. Food is bland, and everything is expensive. |
SWITZERLAND: |
|
LANGUAGE: • The
Swiss only vaguely speak standard German. "What
on earth are these people saying?" is what I
thought often.
OTHER: • Swiss
weather is one of
the most bizarre
and takes
a couple months to
adapt. |
UK: |
|
CULTURE & PEOPLE: • The
Northern Irish are eager to show exchange
students around the country and want to share
stories
about them.
SOCIETY & POLITICS: • If
going to Queen Mary College be aware London’s
East End is highly ethnically mixed community. • Be
accepting of all cultures since in London you find
a plethora of cultures and many languages.
LANGUAGE: • Cockney
accent in London hard to understand.
OTHER: • Cashiers
think it is rude
to place credit
card on
the counter--place
it in their hand
instead. |
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