I don't reflect on my experiences abroad as often as I should because, as I am living in a foreign country, I get busy with actually living and working and not reminiscing. Even so, today I asked myself, "what have I learned while living in abroad?" In no specific order (clearly), here are the top 15 lessons that came to mind.
1) How to take a quick shower before all the hot water runs out.
2) Not all hostels are sketchy!
3) Some are very sketchy.
4) My parents seriously and literally prepared me well for life.
5) I'm a control freak, in the simplest of terms.
6) The best-dressed men can be found in London.
7) How to shower and shave in a 2ft x 2ft shower.
8) Bathtubs are a luxury I take for granted. *sighs*
9) St. Paddy's Day in Dublin is mainly a tourist attraction.
10) I actually like beer.
11) Wine is still better.
12) Daylight Savings Time is different across the world. (I feel dumb for not realizing this before.)
13) Living in a foreign country for an extended period of time is much different than spending a week or so there - not bad different, just different.
14) A passing grade in European countries is a 40%. Yes, everyone, that says 40%.
15) Being an American in a foreign country puts you on the spot, but not always in a bad way; many teachers here use American comparisons for perspective. I'm learning to look at my home country through a whole different looking glass here and that's a wonderful thing.
As I sit now, there are even more things coming to mind about this experience. Though my time here hasn't ended yet, I'm already aware of how much bigger your world becomes when you travel and especially when you live abroad. Ah yes, reflection is a good thing. Now I'm off to make plans for Barcelona!
- Ali
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