Exploring New Cultures
By Jim Nichols
Study abroad teaches many lessons, many of which are learned outside the classroom. Living in a foreign country – even for a short time – can present its share of challenges, as well as rewards. Just ask Lindsey Beiting.
An English major from Cincinnati, Ohio, the senior recently spent May term studying in Ireland. Although the focus of the class was history and literature of 20th Century Ireland, Beiting said her accommodations while traveling through the country taught her a lot.
"I learned a lot about myself while we stayed in hostels," she said. "I think I would definitely travel staying hostels again."
For Tom Behringer '93, who majored in business, Spain served as a classroom. While other students returned after three weeks abroad in April 1992, Behringer stayed through July of that year. By doing so, he got a grasp of Spanish that remains today.
"There were no Americans, nobody spoke English, so I just had to immerse myself in Spanish," he said. "I learned more Spanish in those three months than I had in high school and college."
The crash course paid off. Behringer, who now owns a credit card and check processing company, learned enough Spanish to teach the language at a community center near his Carmel, Ind., home.
Some lessons come by surprise. Lindsay Hagen, a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio, recently returned from a three-week trip to Japan. While researching the possible link between Japanese architecture and that of Frank Lloyd Wright, Hagen said she was impressed with the friendliness of Kyoto residents.
"I guess the biggest surprise was how friendly people were and how willing they were to help you," she said. "We learned if you're lost, just ask someone."
Hospitality wasn't the only unexpected treat for Hagen. "You learn how to be happy in Japan," she said. "In America, we're so caught up in what we're doing."
"It's kind of like living in 'Charlie Brown World.' Kids know how to be kids over there."
Apparently, "Charlie Brown World" smells a lot like fish and rice. Hagen said the staples dominated the Kyoto diet and their aroma filled the air. Getting used to smaller portions presented a challenge as well.
"The food was the hardest adjustment I had to make," she said. "It's like you burp and you're hungry again."
Ireland offered familiar food choices, but Beiting enjoyed a taste of the exotic on at least one occasion.
"The food was pretty similar to things here, soup was had on almost a daily basis," she said. "Dublin offered a wide variety of ethnic foods though and the weirdest thing I ate was Malaysian food in Cork."
Food service was clean in Japan – as was just about everything else Hagen encountered. From ultraviolet cup sanitizers to universal surgical masks, the Japanese make cleanliness a priority.
"They're pretty much germophobes," Hagen said.
A common trait in Japan and Ireland? Fashion. Beiting said Kyoto residents "look like fashion models from a Forever 21 catalog."
The attention to detail made her feel as if she needed to step it up a bit.
"People seemed to put in a lot more effort with their wardrobe there than in the States. Many clubs and pubs actually had dress codes," she said. "I felt fairly underdressed and gross walking around in about five layers than if I would have packed up my most fashionable winter wear."
The lessons didn't end when the three each returned home. Behringer said one of the most difficult adjustments he had to make was speaking English.
"People ask if I dreamed in Spanish. I don't think I dream at all," he said. "But I really had to work on my English when I came back. Every other word was Spanish. I was speaking some serious Spanglish."
To learn more about student and alumni adventures abroad, check out the new issue of The Hanoverian, which will arrive in mailboxes in July.
Jim Nichols is a freelance writer based in Louisville, Ky.
