Coming Home

President George Forsythe discusses the idea that "in the 21st century, the term 'global education' is redundant," as a well-rounded education should innately include strong global elements (Lynch, 2013).

For this reasons, many U.S. colleges and universities emphasize the importance of international programs for the reasons that Forsythe described such as, cultural immersion, global understanding, community building, and a physical presence in the international market (Lynch, 2013).

These factors were emphasized during my process of deciding to study abroad as well.

For this reason, when I made the decision to study abroad in Australia, I was expecting these factors to be realized, and that I would feel like a small facet in and contributor to the overall process of the globalization of education.

However, the take-away points that I have attained through my experience in Australia have proven to be much more personal and have showed me a lot about my place in the world as a student of global education.

In line with the points emphasized by U.S. colleges and universities, I have learned a lot about cultural immersion, global understanding, community building, and the physical presence in the international market. However, the most valuable point that I will take away from this experience is that there is more to an education than the end-point, and that the process is much more significant.

As I travelled through Australia and New Zealand, I encountered multiple people who I chatted with about American education. The most common view that they held about education in the U.S. is that it seems rushed, stressful and confusing. Many people cannot believe that I went into college with a career in mind and everything that I have done in college has centered on those goals. Other than service trips and family vacations, I never spent significant time abroad.

My lifestyle is extremely different from most of the individuals I have encountered here. Many people who I have met here are shocked that it is commonplace for American students to go directly from high school to college, with only a summer break in between. For example, I met a German girl who was eighteen and was spending a year traveling through Oceania until she decided whether or not she wanted to pursue University. She was also utilizing this time to experience life in order to decide what type of career she is interested in. This is very common for students from Europe and the Oceania region. But from an American perspective, "gap years"or "time off" are generally the exception rather than the rule. Americans tend to be focused on finishing college in 4 years and securing a stable career as quickly as possible. However, my encounters with these individuals have forced me to take a step back and look at my educational career in search for a deeper meaning.

This is the to-do list that I brought with me when I came to Australia of major things I needed to do while here. I think it reflects what I viewed as important to me before studying here. I will still complete these tasks, but I will also try to make more out of my educational experiences, beyond simply completing tasks. 

I feel that my Allegheny College experience has been very conductive to well-rounded learning and has allowed me to have important life experiences, but because of my experiences abroad, I am much more cautious about "locking myself in," in terms of a career or lifestyle and have become much more interested in the educational process, rather than completing my education. The educational process never ends and I now know that I want the life I lead to reflect a constant state of learning and betterment of myself.

Coming Home

Growing up in a family that didn’t travel much, I had always dreamed of visiting other countries to see how they differ from my own. My parents didn’t believe that I was actually going to go through with my plans of studying abroad in Australia (a country I had always wanted to visit because of its unique environment and people), but I managed to do so with their support. Before leaving, I created a list of things that I wished to accomplish while abroad—mainly become a more independent, outgoing, well-rounded individual. It has been an expensive but rewarding opportunity, and I would not change my mind for anything.

After being in Australia for 4 months now, I have been immersed in the culture and definitely grown as an individual. Dr. George Forsythe describes what being in a global institution does for students well by saying that it, “…opens students to new points of view, challenges their thinking about themselves and their world, and sets the stage for personal and professional growth…gain an appreciation for their own culture and equips them with the skills to succeed in a global economy” (2013). Taking part in an Indigenous course while at JCU has helped open my eyes to what goes on in the world that I did not know about until studying in a different country. I have also learned how the average Australian acts and lives through many conversations. Oftentimes, both Americans and Australians try to figure out what is similar and different about our lifestyles. These conversations started lifelong friendships between people of various cultures that can easily be continued with the use of the technology available today. One way to learn about another culture is to become active in some activities. I decided to try playing cricket (a very confusing sport, but it turns out I was decent at it due to my background in softball/tennis) and the Australians I played with were all very helpful, supportive and of course curious about American practices. The ability to ask and understand how others live is an important quality everyone I’ve met has developed, and this characteristic will benefit all of us as we strive to succeed in a more global economy. I have also noticed a difference in how I think and act along with how I have learned to appreciate my culture and its unique qualities since starting in Australia. These are all skills that a study abroad experience can give students choosing this path.

A picture of me (taken by one of my friends) playing in one of my first cricket games!

Thus, I have been able to acquire many important qualities and become a more knowledgeable ‘global’ citizen because of my study abroad experience. I would love to encourage more people to seize the opportunity of living and studying in another country because it has opened my eyes to new ideas and concepts along with given me the adventure of a lifetime!

Lynch, M (2013). Diverse Conversations: The Globalization of Higher Education. Retrieved
     from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-lynch-edd/diverse-conversations-
     the_1_b_3238504.html

Lessons from Study Away

The first story I'd like to relate is when I asked my roommate Jose what he thought of me as a roommate and as a person. This came about because I was interviewing him for my Spanish Cultural Realities course about the Spanish perception of the United States and of Americans as a whole. He told me that he thought I was very nice and amiable since I was pretty cool with everything and did not cause any issues. After I'd let him borrow my metro card many times when he needed it, he also later told me that I was very charitable. What I took away from these moments is to never stop helping people in whatever small way I can because they will appreciate it. His assessment of me being charitable and kind is something I very much appreciated. From that, I am more resolved than ever to commit to just being someone who does nice things for just the sake of the helping people. Those acts of kindness are things I want to continue doing since I view them as a universal language all people can understand.

Another story I'd like to share is during the Holy Week and I believe on Saturday, the residence where I lived was not serving food on account of the holiday so I decided to go down to the supermarket/ department store Corte Ingles to get something for myself. I bought bread and cold cuts and a package of pears. When I got back, I decided to just do something nice and started making sandwiches. When people would inquire what I was doing I told them that if they wanted a sandwich they could have one. Those that had one said thank you and were grateful. From this, I still maintain that acts of kindness are universal and that you can help other people and yourself without conflict between the two.

Those two stories reflected on me during my time in Seville for both were boosts to my self-esteem and state of mind during my study abroad. Most days I did feel isolated and cut off from interacting with people. Those days however, I put myself out there and talked with people and interacted and just tried to do good things. Those are the days I'll remember when I come back to Allegheny and those are the experiences I wish to repeat.

Buildings can convey so much without words so too do can acts of kindness. Whereas buildings take time to build, an act of kindness can be done at anytime and anywhere. 

Lessons from Study Away

My friends in Morocco in front of the market (Taylor is far left and Raul is far right)

Many of my experiences throughout my time in Morocco helped me become more courageous and laid-back.

I was talking with my friend Taylor before we left Morocco and she was saying that it is was amazing to see the changes in our friend group. When we first arrived it was difficult to barter at the markets and stores. It always felt exhausting to haggle for the majority of items we wanted to buy, but by the end of the semester we were all pros. Taylor told me that I did not seem as timid to argue for the right price anymore. I learned from Taylor to always stand up for myself. This was an important lesson for me to utilize during my time abroad. I feel like from all my experiences that I have become more calm about many challenges I face.

At the end of the semester I reflected with my close friend about how each of us had felt more thankful for all the opportunities we had as American citizens. I met Raul on one of my first days at Al Akhawayn and I experienced almost all of Morocco with him. We were always thankful for everything in our lives especially in a country where the majority of the population is poor. Raul told me that he saw me grow more spiritually during my time in Morocco, and I have. I think seeing the division between society has showed me how blessed I am in life. Raul has been a big influence on this part of my life.

Lessons from Study Away

The city of Quito seen from Pichincha Mountain.

I asked my host dad in San Clemente to share a story about me, or something he would remember about me after I left. I expected him to talk about the time we climbed to the summit of Imbabura Volcano together. Instead, he surprised me with his response. He said he would remember the nights I stayed up late with him and my host sister while they taught me kichwa, their indigenous language. I asked him why he would remember those nights in particular, and he explained that it was nights like those where he felt like I was his second daughter. He was sharing an important part of his culture with me, and I was receptive and curious. He explained that my interest in their culture was a compliment to him and his community.

I concluded earlier in the semester that the best compliment you can give friends of different cultures is your curiosity. They appreciate any attempt to better understand and relate to them. I know that I made both of my host families happiest when I spent time with them and participated in family activities. This conversation with my host dad supports my conclusion. Small things like dinner conversations, helping with chores, or learning a language are how I will be remembered.

Later, I asked one of the friends from Quito the same question. She told the story of the time we spent the day shopping at the mall and then walking around Parque Carolina. I asked her why this day was especially important. She explained that this was the day she realized how similar we were. We had similar tastes in clothes, a similar sense of humor, and similar views of the world. For her, realizing we were so similar despite our different nationalities was “chevere” (cool).

I experienced similar “realizations” pretty often during my time in Ecuador. When you learn about another culture and when you meet new people, it’s so easy to only see the differences. Despite cultural differences, I would argue that we are more similar than different.  My best moments in Ecuador were those when I spent time with my new friends doing the same things and having the same conversations that I could have had with my friends at home. It was these moments when I felt as if the word “foreign” shouldn’t apply to individuals. A culture can be foreign and new, but not an individual. As humans, even if we can’t communicate in the same language, we understand each other surprisingly well. Differences are what make us interesting, but similarities are what unite us

Lessons from Study Away

     Even though I have only spent a few months in Angers, I have made some friends that I know I will never forget. I have become so close to people here and I am extremely motivated to return to France and visit other parts of the world just to see these people. Because some my friends here were also my dedicated traveling partners, they have gotten to know me pretty well in a rather short period of time. The result of being able to travel with someone is different and closer bond.

     The person I am closest to in this country is named Sylvain. He was born in Brittany, but he is working before pursuing his masters in Angers, the city where I have been studying for the past few months. We have traveled together to his parents’ house in Brittany twice. The first time that we visited, it was just the beginning of spring, so the weather was rather cold and rainy. Since his parents live close to the sea, we took a trip down to the shore with one of his friends that he grew up with and we all relaxed by the waves. A short period after, they got up and walked into the cold ocean without hesitation. Naturally, I got up and followed them into the water, knowing I was not nearly as used to the low temperature as they were. Both of them looked back at me with surprised looks on their faces while I had a big smile on my face, and at that moment I could tell that they did not expect me to follow them. Sylvain tells me that this demonstrates an interesting aspect of my personality, which is that I am afraid of “nearly nothing” and that new experiences don’t frighten me no matter how generally difficult they are. I can agree with this statement because I know that I can enjoy almost everything without a complaint and there will usually be a smile on my face no matter the circumstances. This is partially a result of my abroad experience, which has taught me that new things to explore are nothing to be afraid of. This defines me in the way that I am a generally happy person and that I have always loved trying new things. This has only enhanced from my time in France.

My two friends from Brittany walking into the cold ocean

     Another person I am now very close to is a woman from Canada named Kelsey. Both Sylvain and Kelsey have witnessed me working on different projects, like quitting bad habits and planning my future goals. During my experience here, I woke up one day and decided to quit smoking. I ironically succeeded to do this in a country where the percentage of smokers is much higher than in the United States. My friends believe this shows my strong will to do the tasks that I set my mind to. I can agree that, due to my strong will, I have the ability to change certain aspects of my life as abruptly as overnight, and if not overnight then typically soon after I have made the decision. Both individuals have heard me talking about how I will return to France countless times. There are two programs that I plan on applying for in order teach English to French students after I have received my diploma from Allegheny. I have spent the entire semester meeting people that are involved with these programs as well as gathering useful information that I will need to make important decisions about these programs in my future. Kelsey and Sylvain explained to me that I am a very determined person and that my desire to succeed motivates me to do the best that I can in any situation. I believe this defines an aspect of my personality that is almost always present: my competitiveness. In addition, this part of my personality truly reflects my American culture in terms of being a self-made woman that works hard to have the life that I truly want. 

Lessons from Study Away

One of the great parts of being at Duke’s Marine Lab was the friendships I made there.  As the semester came to an end, my classmates and I were all shocked that we had only known each other for eleven weeks, yet we had shared so many experiences.  On our final night we reminisced about our times together.  A repeated theme in the stories my friends told involved what they saw as my energetic personality.  They spoke of my swimming in the cold Atlantic Ocean’s January waters and my running up a rig line at St John.  My friends said they appreciated the way I was continually looking to do things.

The Atlantic Ocean on a cold but sunny January day

            I have always found it interesting to hear how people see and view the things I say and do.  Living in a new area, where I was unknown to others and no longer surrounded by the comforts and routines I had come to know at Allegheny, it was almost like starting college again.  Upon arriving at Duke, I could have adopted a new exterior and sought to portray a new image. I chose not to, however, and instead stayed true to who I am. 

            When I reflect on the stories my friends recounted on the final night and look at my former blog posts to see what I was doing and thinking when I first arrived, I can see how determined I was to experience as much as I could during my exchange semester.  I believe this determination had to do with my keen desire to excel.  Whether it was attending as many guest lectures as I could or trying to visit all parts of the island where I was staying, I was constantly pushing myself to take in as much as I could.  It was certainly gratifying to hear in the stories my friends told how much they appreciated my energetic personality. 

Lessons From Study Away

It was interesting interviewing my friends about specific stories from our time together.  It was a strange moment of judgement (positive, of course) that made me apprehensive.  However, it was very useful to gain others' insight into how I appear in a new environment.

My first interviewer was my friend Laura.  The story she described was of me attending the major Duke versus UNC (University of North Carolina) basketball game.  She had known that I really did not like sports and usually would not join watching them on television (there were games everyday and schoolwork absorbed most of my time)-- it was just one of those things I had strong opinions about.  So she was surprised by my willingness to attend this big rival game that people assured would be a once in a lifetime experience.  Furthermore, she was surprised and proud of my engagement with the game: cheering, commenting, getting anxious when they went into overtime.  Although in the end we talked and I explained that I probably wouldn't want to attend another, she respected me going into the experience with an open mind despite my previously developed opinions.  I agree with Laura in that although it is not always easy to get out of your comfort zone and do things you don't particularly enjoy, it is important to gain perspective-- which is a common theme throughout this entire study abroad experience.  Although I did not go to a foreign county, I temporarily engaged the 'culture' of Duke University and truly tried to understand their feelings about the sport and why it was so important to them.  It can be easy to write people off when you disagree about their opinions, but it is so much more valuable to try to understand their perspective.

I also interviewed Ginny, who was my independent study partner in my three week long course.  We had not spent very much time together prior to the independent study class, but we had decided to become partners due to a common interest in birds: our a study topic.  We worked with seagulls and trying to determine their food preferences and techniques of obtaining food.  Ginny and I were both relatively quiet and kept to ourselves for the most part during social events.  Although we were both nice and friendly, we appreciate our alone time and are not the most socially outgoing people.  So in her story she described being nervous about working together because she did not think I would be very talkative or fun to work with as we were spending a lot of time with one another during this project.  However, she said to her great surprise I was actually very engaging, outgoing, and conversational once I warmed up after an about an hour of working together.  She said I was nothing like how I had originally appeared to her.  More specifically, she remembers me cracking up about this one laughing gull behavior in which when they communicate they throw their heads back and make a silly laughing noise.  I would always find this so funny and couldn't stop laughing and she said it just really showed how light-hearted and enjoyable I can be. I think her story really emphasizes how when we meet new people in new environments we cannot overly trust our first impressions.   People, especially of other cultures and backgrounds, can act very different in various contexts.  Like me, I appeared shy and withdrawn because the shock of a new environment filled with people I do not know makes me nervous.  However, that does not reflect my true personality.  It is important to give people the opportunity to act like themselves; if someone seems mean, they could just be having a bad day.  Give everyone the chance and attempt to make people comfortable enough to act themselves.

Laughing gull
(I unfortunately could not find a picture of them cocking their heads back)

Why Am I Here?

After reading through the article, I believe there is indeed something to be said about the discrepancy between the "rhetoric of international education" and what students experience while abroad. As far as a teachable moment which led me to that conclusion about the so-termed "productive discomfort", I'd have to say it involved my trip to Cordoba on April 11th. After a bit of a scheduling mishap whereby I missed the bus my program had arranged for our group, I had to, by myself, buy myself a train ticket there and was able to do that fairly quickly. The real fun began when I got to Cordoba.

When I got there, I charted out where I needed to be in order to rendezvous with my group. It turned out I could still meet them at the Mezquita or Mosque and I set out to do just that. After being told that it was just a simple walk straight across town, I set out. Without thinking to, or being too timid, to ask people for concrete directions, I found myself accidentally taking a wrong turn and ended up at the train station again from whence I set out again. After a long walk, it began to rain then pour and all the while I walked to the old quarter of the city. Once I reached this quarter, I found myself fed up with the rain and bought myself a red umbrella. For reasons I cannot fathom, I went to the main ticket station of the Mosque to buy a regular ticket only to learn I did not have enough euros on hand because I spent them on the umbrella. In a bizarre episode which lasted a good twenty minutes, I tried to peddle my umbrella to strangers sometimes using English or Spanish. Eventually I met up with my group who was able to get me a ticket to the Mosque anyway but I still felt I had learned something through the ordeal because people searching for things more important to them often are forced to go home without them. For my adventure, I got a few photos of the beautiful mosque and a new, red umbrella.

Due to this incident, I feel like I gained a taste of the sense of desperation one feels when one has limited options. I was soaking wet and afraid, I'd miss my group and get stuck in Codoba that I wanted nothing more than to sell back my umbrella and get a little cash back. Especially after this, I always looked at those on the streets, looking for handouts, with a more sad look because they have most likely learned more hardship than I ever will with my background as an American student. I gave what I could because every little bit helps but poverty does not go away so easily. With Cordoba in the back of my mind, I endeavored to learn to be fully prepared for things I have planned (which I took with me on my trip to Madrid but that's a story for another time) and to try to understand where others are coming from in the actions they take. In summation, I learned to take one day at a time here in Spain as something I should use to better understand myself which I feel I have done in some ways and in many ways, I'll always be uncomfortable with for I want myself to never feel entitled because so much has gone into providing the the things I have in life and I want to acknowledge all who helped me along the way.

I'd like to think the walk in the rain was worth it for this. 

    

Lessons from Study Away: Julia Weeks

Jovanna and I at the top of St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest

It was really hard to choose which stories from my interviews to include in this post, but I think the ones recounted below do the best at characterizing me and how my personality has changed over the course of this semester.

My roommate, Jovanna, told a lot of stories about our time travelling over Spring Break together. We had a really tight schedule and were running around all of eastern Europe trying to see all the sites and still make it to each of our connecting trains and air planes. The story she dwelled on most was the time we had to navigate the Budapest public bus system at night on our way home from the thermal baths. We barely had anything on us, only one back pack between us that was filled with snacks, towels, and minimal amounts of money. We were told by a group of people at the baths that the last bus was leaving in five minutes and the stop was about a three minute walk down the block and around the corner. We started running. Right as we turned the corner, we saw the bus pulling away from the bus stop. Thats when Jovanna started freaking out saying, "we are stranded on the outskirts of the city for the night!" and hypothesising about all of the horrible things that were going to happen to us out at night. Instead of indulging in her freak out, I grabbed her arm and walked her to the closest main street. We didn't really know where we were in relation to our hostel and once we made it to a busier road, this became more apparent. Cue another Jovanna hyperventilation moment. I started walking quickly down the road in the direction I knew most likely to be toward our hostel. The first cab I saw, which happened to be after ten minutes of walking, I flagged down and asked to give us a ride to our hostel. He laughed at me and point further down the sidewalk in the direction we were walking and said, "Turn right at that stoplight and you will be there. No need for a cab." I had somehow remembered the location of our hostel and got us there with little help.

Jovanna says she likes this story because she think it exemplifies the "Israeli mindset" in me. Typically, they are very practical people. This means, when something goes wrong the usual response is something like, "Oh well. S**t happens," and they begin to think about their next options. There is little worrying about the future or fretting about the past. While I haven't really been aware of this until Jovanna pointed it out, I do think I have relaxed a bit while being abroad in Israel. Things that used to stress me out now fly through my thoughts effortlessly because I cannot control the outcome one way or the other.

My friend Adam recounted another story. He talked about how he has noticed that I am constantly outside, even in the 100 degree, dry weather of the desert. He said that especially, he noticed that I take my class breaks under the tree outside of our classrooms while everyone else crowds inside around the water cooler. "Weeks, I think this defines you as being free, or wanting to be as free as possible in all instances." Again, I didn't really realize this fact about myself until he brought it up, but he isn't wrong. I would much rather prefer to be outside whenever possible. I also think that this has been heightened in me by being in the desert. The landscape and climate is so different from what I am used to back home that I feel the need and the desire to soak it all in while I can. It will be over soon, sadly.

The main lesson that I gained from this blog post is that this experience has changed me in more ways than I can realize on my own. It is good to gain perspective from my peers to evaluate my character.

Lessons from study away

While studying away at the Duke University Marine Laboratory, I made so many memories that I will cherish forever. But asking others what they remember about me, whether it's their first impression of me or an embarrassing moment I had in class, provides a different perspective on my experiences that is just as valuable. This should be interesting...

One of my friends, Kelsey, brought up so many stories that she remembers about me. Playing games, building puzzles, looking for seashells, kayaking, and many more. But she said in particular, she'll never forget when I wanted to go to class with her to learn how to deploy the hydrophones in the water that they were using for research on bottlenose dolphins and how they communicate. I went to their professor's office and asked if I could go out with them on the boat the next day to see how the hydrophones work, even though I didn't have class the next day. She proceeded to describe me as "adventurous, active, excited, always wanting to learn new things, willing to try anything."

Another one of my friends, Katie, also mentioned numerous stories that she'll never forget. One of which was traumatizing for me...she said she'll never forget me screaming at the top of my lungs when a tarantula, unexpectedly, crawled up my leg when we were sitting by the campfire late one night while in St. John for our tropical marine ecology class. But on a more sincere note, she continued by saying "I think what is special about you is that you never give up– whether in St. John or playing games, you are super determined."

 After the Duke men's basketball team won the national championship

I've had never before asked a friend to tell me a story about myself. So this being the very first time, it was really nice to hear the things that left a lasting impression on them. Just asking friends simple questions like this really allows you to learn a lot about yourself that you never would have known otherwise.

Lessons from Study Away

I interviewed two new friends of mine who both live in the same university residence hall with me. They are both international students who both from Malaysia and studied at James Cook University, Singapore.

From left to right,
me, Kai and Cindy

The first story is from Cindy, who studies Environmental Science here, at James Cook University (JCU) at first year student. As an international student, she initially struggled with English very much. Therefore, she claimed that my story on how I overcame the language barrier at the beginning, when we were getting to know each other, inspired her. Indeed, I remember when she asked me how I could speak English that well, I replied, "no, my English is worse than yours, and I used to struggle so much to understand the Americans. And I was so young at that time to really know what to do. So don't you worry about your English; be patient with yourself...and one day you won't recognize your struggle anymore." The most suitable reading which I could use to reinforce this lesson is from "Stumbling Blocks in Intercultural Communication." Barna (1994) states that language difference is a "danger" that "surprises no one" (p.340). She also believes that due to cultural differences, the language gap becomes larger. Indeed, I used to feel very lost at not being able to explain myself and my culture so that someone could understand the deeper meaning of my statements. Then, I started to change my identity and my communication styles a lot to fit my situation as a foreigner who lives abroad. Perhaps that is why Cindy saw those values and complimented me as "brave", "straight forward," as well as someone who knows how to protect herself.

To have an international friendship, understanding cultural difference is important
but understanding how to keep group harmony is even more essential.

The fact that I decided to change my identity connects to the second story, from Kai. He studies Marine Biology at first year student. Unlike Cindy, Kai spent most of his life in Singapore, and could speak English really well. However, we do have a big group of friends with a wide range of cultural diversity here at JCU. So each of us has a little bit of fear that cultural barriers could interrupt the group harmony. However, most of the time, we all could manage that ourselves. So Kai's story refers to multiple times when our friend group was about to have arguments due to different opinions. He felt appreciated that although I might "have different opinions from the group, I usually let it pass so that the team can be in good terms." Thanks to Kai's reflection about me, I found myself understanding well what Hybels, Saundra & Weaver II (2011) discuss: "Some groups create their own co-cultures to isolate themselves from others...to live and work in isolation and resolve to protect their heritage by maintaining all vestiges of their culture and not assimilating" (p.60). I was aware that with the large diversity in our group, where class members were from Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, America, China, Ski Lanka, India and Australia, we had to make a choice between isolating ourselves or keeping the harmony by giving others a little of one's own space. For me, the latter choice is the best way to have international friends, without being assimilated, because I could still have my own point of view and still choose to be understanding and become an easy friend. Indeed, my life experience allows me to find it easier to forget myself a bit for the sake of the whole group, that's why I was able to keep what Kai called "team spirit."

In short, cultural identity can be changed according to your lifetime experiences. My long-term study abroad journey has shaped my cultural identity so that I feel less inclined to stick to a national identity and am more likely instead to see myself as an international person. From a definite Asian or a definite Vietnamese identity, I now sometimes find myself being Vietnamese, at other times feeling very American, or I can adapt to whatever the cultural context may be. That's the way in which  I find myself fitting "everywhere" much easier. And that is my lesson from Study Away.

References:
Barna, L.M. “Stumbling Blocks in Intercultural Communication.” In Larry A. Samovar and R.E. Porter, Intercultural Communication: A Reader, 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 337-346.

Hybels, Saundra, and Richard Weaver II. “Intercultural Communication.” Communicating Effectively. 10th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2011. 62-97.