So let me start off by saying I am absolutely thrilled to be going overseas this summer. I’ve never been on a plane, never been out of the country, and I’ve definitely never traveled on my own before. It’s been on my bucket list to go to London for years now, so with graduation looming in the not-too-distant future, I thought I’d take the opportunity that UNCW offers, and study abroad in London during the second summer session. I am so excited to start the program, to head over to England, hear some great accents and experience some pretty awful food (or so I’ve been told), but I have to admit that I was completely unprepared for what studying abroad would actually mean. To help anyone else interested in studying in a foreign country avoid the same problems I’ve run into, I decided to include some of the more noteworthy issues you deal with when leaving America and entering the “real” world.
#1: The “Death To America” Issue
So obviously I read the news, but even if I didn’t know we had just killed the number one terrorist in the world (thank you Navy Seals) I still know many people have less than warm feelings for America (and subsequently) Americans. But I definitely didn’t expect anyone other than Muslims and those in the Middle East to hate us (sorry for stereotyping, I know not all people of Middle Eastern descent hate America). So imagine my surprise and wariness when the director of the orientation program for studying abroad informed me that it’d be best to not “act like an American.” Now you may be wondering what that means (I know I was). Apparently, we Americans have a reputation in most parts of the world for being rude, obnoxious, loud, too patriotic, and completely ignorant of the world outside our doorstep. Most countries have this preconceived notion of Americans because of what our media portrays. In fact, the director said, “Most foreigners are going to expect you to act like one of the cast members from the “Jersey Shore” reality show, so don’t.” So how exactly do we do this? UNCW’s advice for masking our nationality is as follows:
#1: The “Death To America” Issue
So obviously I read the news, but even if I didn’t know we had just killed the number one terrorist in the world (thank you Navy Seals) I still know many people have less than warm feelings for America (and subsequently) Americans. But I definitely didn’t expect anyone other than Muslims and those in the Middle East to hate us (sorry for stereotyping, I know not all people of Middle Eastern descent hate America). So imagine my surprise and wariness when the director of the orientation program for studying abroad informed me that it’d be best to not “act like an American.” Now you may be wondering what that means (I know I was). Apparently, we Americans have a reputation in most parts of the world for being rude, obnoxious, loud, too patriotic, and completely ignorant of the world outside our doorstep. Most countries have this preconceived notion of Americans because of what our media portrays. In fact, the director said, “Most foreigners are going to expect you to act like one of the cast members from the “Jersey Shore” reality show, so don’t.” So how exactly do we do this? UNCW’s advice for masking our nationality is as follows:
• Don’t wear college t-shirts, hoodies, or shorts. Apparently it’s only Americans who like to represent their university or be bums for the day by wearing sweatpants labeled “The Dub.”
• Learn the cultures and customs of whatever region you’re visiting.
• Be quiet. There’s nothing foreigners hate more than a loud American tourist asking where the nearest McDonalds is.
• Don’t drink yourself into a stupor. Drinking in many parts of the world is allowed by age 16 (or earlier) so foreigners don’t drink to get drunk. Instead, they see drinking as a social activity and one to be used in moderation.
#2: “Calling Collect”
I have an iPhone and it is permanently attached to my hand at all times (sad, I know). It’s great for making calls, checking e-mails, or downloading millions of gaming apps so you can play them in boring English classes as the teacher drones on about Shakespeare. But sadly, I will be parted from my iPhone for the length of my trip. Why? Because paying the outrageous roaming fees to dial home, or data charges to surf the internet in Europe just aren’t worth it. Instead, it was suggested by UNCW that I get a “global” phone. While a “global” phone may sound high-tech, it’s really just a trac-phone with an extremely long calling number (you have to dial based on what country you’re in and who is being charged for the call). It’s half the size of my iPhone and feels like it would break if I held it too tightly. Luckily, the internet offers other options for staying in touch with family and friends. Instead of calling collect, try skyping, e-mailing, blogging, or Facebook chatting from your laptop. It’s cheaper, easier, and much more reliable.
#3: “Hey Washington! You’re Worthless!”
America may be the most powerful nation in the world, but our dollar is pretty weak. Apparently, Mr. Washington isn’t liked too much in other parts of the globe. If you’re dealing in Euros, you’ll find that one dollar will only get you 69 cents in Euros. Pretty sad in and of itself. But, if you’re like me and you’re traveling to the UK, you’re in for even more of a shock. One dollar in the US is worth 59 cents in the UK. It might not sound like a lot, but when you calculate the cost of food, living expenses, and those shopping trips you’ll be sure to make, it adds up quickly. Another money issue comes when you use credit and debit cards. Unfortunately, any place you charge to your card in Europe or the UK will tack on a 3% conversion fee to your purchase. Again, it doesn’t seem like a lot, but if you’re adding an extra 3% to your total for every meal or item you buy overseas, it means more money out of your pocket, which is never a good thing. Instead of charging, it’s better to find a bank in your host country (the bigger the better) and take out the amount you need. Or, if you love plastic as much as I do and carrying large amounts of bills makes you uneasy, apply for a Capital One credit card. Capital one charges no international fees, so when you pay $18 for a salad at a restaurant in London, you’re really just paying $18.
There are plenty of other differences between American and other countries which is why it’s so exciting to travel. Even though the readjusting can be a pain (I’m annoyed already and I haven’t even left yet) the exciting thing about visiting foreign lands is that they are completely foreign. You never exactly know how things will be or how you will react to them. Planning to study abroad has been stressful and has definitely tested my patience, but I know it will be worth it in the end. Cheers!
There are plenty of other differences between American and other countries which is why it’s so exciting to travel. Even though the readjusting can be a pain (I’m annoyed already and I haven’t even left yet) the exciting thing about visiting foreign lands is that they are completely foreign. You never exactly know how things will be or how you will react to them. Planning to study abroad has been stressful and has definitely tested my patience, but I know it will be worth it in the end. Cheers!
I'm excited for you, I've traveled to a few places in Europe, but never to the UK, which has been a wish of mine. As for acting like an "American" I'd say you can dress however you want as long as you treat people like human beings and not like aliens. Yeah there will be a culture barrier and many times a language barrier, but you don't need to speak the same language to know when someone is being appreciative or being condescending. There's so much history and beauty in that city it would be hard to let any ignorant person with a blind prejudice annoy you. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHey! I studied abroad in England last fall at Hertfordshire. It’s 20 minutes north of London but I spent pretty much every weekend in the city. Don’t let the study abroad coordinators scare you! It is SO not as bad as they make it seem. The scariest part was my $80 a week grocery bills. I will say that it is always good to be cautious but I spent so much time by myself around London that I know you’ll be ok if you’re not being ridiculous. Nobody has guns there and you can always find somebody willing to help you. I have a bit of a Southern accent that was magnified of course when I was around British accents but they all really liked it and found it charming in most cases. Even in cases of countries that we have gone to war with, the people know it’s not personally your fault especially in the younger generation. I hung out with people from all over the world and Middle East and they were absolutely lovely. I will say that you do have to dress up more than in America. Most of the people I went to school with had full hair and makeup and wore heels every day. As for the food… it’s pretty delicious. In London I would definitely recommend La Tasca (Spanish Food- has several locations but I always went to the one off Oxford Street- the paella is unreal and it’s great for big groups because you can get a ton of appetizers and a jug of sangria), Soho Pizzeria (right at the end of Carnaby Street and next to Regent Street- super reasonably priced and delicious), Le Pain (in Covent Garden- get the mixed berry tart. My mouth is watering just thinking about it) and my FAVORITE crepe stand is right across from Big Ben (it has a green sign that says “pancakes” and the best one to get is Nutella or Cadberry chocolate with banana and whipped cream). I also ate McDonalds all the time. It’s more of a drunk thing than an American thing in the British culture. They’re always jammed packed with all different ethnicities. It’s also good to have a piece of home sometimes. Definitely check out Camden, Portobello and Borough markets because that is where I feel like you get to really see the culture. If you need any basic items go to Primark because it is our equivalent to Target and it’s dirt cheap (go early in the day because it is pretty much wall to wall people all the time). I have a Blackberry and I just unlocked it and bought a new SIM card for really cheap while I was over there. I know some of my friends with the iPhone did the same. My bank only charged a $1.50 fee when I took money from the ATM, so I would just take out what I needed for the week and only pay the fee once. It was better than having to deal with a foreign bank. You might want to see if your bank does the same! Sorry I just rambled on and on! I know that you’re going to have such an incredible time because it is an amazing city and I’m jealous that you’re just starting out on your trip and mine is already done. Good luck with everything and let me know if you have any questions about anything!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like so much fun! I've heard that Europeans don't really care for Americans that much at all and it seems to me that you have to approach this very delicately. It kind of sucks that we have these stereotypes put on us but you have to think of the types of stereotypes that we put on people visiting the United States from another country. What is it like for a 16 year old who has the ability to drink in their home country but not here? What must it be like to be surrounded by people who solely want to stuff their mouths with food and gossip? And what the heck do we see in reality shows like Jersey Shore? It's nice to have these tips for those of us who will be traveling oversees this summer (unfortunately that is not I). Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteJessica, what you've heard is pretty much true. Although, if you go to tourist places they're used to foreigners and pretty much just want your money. On the reg, though, it's usually best to dress and act like the locals (which in London won't be that hard since most people there have a pretty good fashion sense--in my opinion). Crazy drunkenness is definitely something you should avoid. Not only does it make you look like you can't handle your alcohol and control yourself, it's also dangerous because it will be more obvious that you're a foreigner and alone in a foreign country where you're not used to the people or able to judge people or situations as well...which can give some bad people some pretty sick ideas. As for Jersey Shore, though, some people have those expectations, but when I studied abroad I met a lot of people who thought I'd be extremely conservative based on the high drinking age and the sensitivity to the subject of sex and nudity in America. It pretty much depends on where they got their information, but most people won't really judge or be too offended...unless you walk around talking like Harry Potter characters (they don't appreciate that too much!lol).
ReplyDelete#2, global phones are handy especially for keeping in touch with people in London and sending some texts to the US, but it's really easy to survive on internet cafe's and such for skype and facebook.
Finally, for as much hassle as it is, overall it's pretty similar to visiting any new place, or even just going to college in the first place. I hope you have tons of fun and try like anything new you can! :)
ps. if you run into any archaeologists from UCL tell them Jenny says hi!hahaha