Glasgow, Scotland is very similar to Boston, a city I grew up with. In terms of size, geography and history, they seem to complement each other very nicely. Aside from getting used to a Scottish brogue and figuring out which coins are worth what, the adaptation into life in Glasgow has been fairly simple.

The transition to living in a city, rather than a closed, suburban campus like Bentley is something that isn’t unique to Glasgow, but rather an adaptation anyone would have to deal with when going to a new place.

For me, the weirdest thing I’ve encountered is the class structure. Rather than taking a curriculum with requirements across the disciplines, students take one, two or three areas of study.

Of those areas of study, students do not take any other classes. Someone might be studying English Literature and English Language and would never take a science course. In that case, you really know everyone within your discipline, as each course usually only has one lecture section, which separates throughout the week into smaller seminars and tutorials.

I have a loaded schedule, comparatively, with four classes this semester. Three is typical for most University of Glasgow students. This structure, however, seems to be unique for Scotland alone, not even the whole United Kingdom.

There is not much in the way of homework. Every week, I can expect to have a few articles for my film class and an assignment for my photography class, but nothing else. There is not any pre-reading, periodic essays, quizzes, homework or the dreaded online worksheets.

Here, your grade is dependent upon a final exam and a midterm essay. The essays are only one or two thousand words – not even a term paper that might be expected.

With that amount of free time, people go out a lot more. I do not know how they have the energy to! An evening starts at 10 or 11, going until the wee hours of the morning. Students usually go out several nights each week, but don’t go out on the weekends because it is more expensive.

I have still to determine whether this course structure leads to students more or less invested in their studies. People love to talk about their courses, yet I find little interaction within discussion seminars. It will be interesting to see how the campus changes around midterms and finals. Will it quiet down like Bentley? Or will the carefree attitude continue?

By Meagan Pratt

The most shocking difference I have experienced while in Singapore has been something essentially simple: The amount of people. Usually living just outside Boston, I didn’t think that the city would be much different from the busy island of Singapore.

However, I was truly shocked when I arrived to see that each day, from the bright and early hours of the morning, until pitch dark at night, people are everywhere.

It is sort of like experiencing constant rush-hour traffic. The buses are packed, the Mass Rapid Transit is packed, the malls are packed and even the streets are packed! This constant surrounding of people has made it a bit difficult in other areas, as well such as simply crossing the street.

If you wander out into Boston traffic, most people will stop for you; not here. If you wander into the street, you will get honked at, almost run over or receive angry stares. You must cross at a cross walk, when the light is green, or get a ticket. You choose.

With that being said, people here also drive “on the wrong side of the road,” which can be quite scary when on your first taxi trip from the airport to school and you keep thinking you’re headed into oncoming traffic. Singapore is also a “fine country,” meaning that there is a fine for almost anything you could possibly do wrong: Spitting on the sidewalk, littering, jaywalking, spitting your gum out, etc.

Speaking of which, I haven’t found one pack of gum for sale here in Singapore. Since it is such a large offense to spit out your gum onto sidewalks or any other public area, they simply don’t sell it.

Overall, the experience has so far been one of a kind. Learning to swerve in and out of people in roads, malls and everywhere in between while obeying all the new laws has been quite the task, especially coming from the U.S., where our rules are not as strict or as enforced.

After attending Australian Pop Culture lecture, one question posed in the lecture stuck in my mind that appropriately describes one major difference I have noticed since my arrival on the Gold Coast, Australia. A lecture slide read, “Does Australian culture tend to celebrate the ordinary, rather than the extraordinary?”

Even after spending only a few days at the university, that special essence was obvious. Not only do Australians live up to their laid-back lifestyle, but they are cordial and extremely hospitable. Anytime anyone has needed help since our arrival, most of the Australians have gone out of their way to help us any way they could.

Although it is only the first few weeks of the semester, their attitudes towards helping us out in any way seemed to be unique in comparison to attitudes in the United States. From my experiences, Americans can be very helpful, but Australians have a certain charm, as if they truly do “celebrate the ordinary.”  Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be unusual for an Australian to randomly strike a conversation either, even outside the university.

This is especially noticeable in restaurants or cafes. The service is exceptional and never disappoints. From the moment you step into a café, you feel as if you have somehow known your waiter or waitress for ages.

However, no matter how “mate-y” the experience seems to be, tipping is never expected in Australian restaurants. A tip is only given if you believe the service went above and beyond the personable and remarkable service.

In the U.S., a waiter or waitress is always expecting at least a 15 percent tip and even more for larger parties. Some restaurants even automatically add gratuity for larger parties or give suggestions on the receipt based on the total bill.

Australians believe there should always be great service and a tip is only earned if they went completely above and beyond the usual service.

Right when I stepped off the plane, it became immediately evident that I was no longer in the U.S. I thought (ignorantly) that signs, message boards, etc. in the airport of Brussels would be in English, but they were not. Belgium has two official languages, French and Dutch, and therefore English is significantly less important than in the U.S. and even other countries in Europe.

I would say the most shocking difference that I can think of so far would be the fact that Belgians don’t have shower curtains? I was surprised to see that my host family’s bathroom not only had no shower curtain, but no locks on the door as well. The first time I showered, water got everywhere and I felt really bad, but I’ve learned to work around it.

Not as shocking, but definitely a noteworthy difference, are the attitudes in Belgium towards alcohol and the environment. First off, Belgians are extremely casual when it comes to drinking. I knew Europeans in general felt this way, however, I did not realize how casual they actually were.

Here, it is common to drink beer at any time, of any day. It doesn’t matter if it is noon on a Monday or midnight on a Friday, people are always drinking.

There is a pretty nice bar on the campus of our school and they even sell beer in the cafeteria. I’m not even kidding when I say my tour guide was drinking a beer while giving our tour.

In addition, there are no open container laws and therefore drinking on subways, metros, or in the street is perfectly acceptable. They also seem to not really care about the age of people purchasing alcohol. Even though I am legal to drink here, I was surprised that I was not asked for an ID one time in the first two weeks I’ve been here.

As I mentioned, attitudes towards the environment are also different on a nationwide scale. Water is more expensive to use than in the U.S. and electricity is double the price during the day, as opposed to at night. The dryers for clothes are pretty bad and you usually have to put your clothes through three or four cycles before they are completely dry.

Finally, public transportation and communal rental bikes are the main methods of transportation. My host family doesn’t even own a car.

Question: “What are you going to miss most about being abroad? ”

By Hanna Ogilvy

Luckily for me, I will also study abroad next semester. Thus, when asked what I will miss the most about being abroad, I have to refine my question to: What I will miss most about Nantes? –and this is not an easy question to answer.

Yes, the food is amazing the people I have met will forever be a part of my greater family. However, there is one thing I will never forget: The metro system.

For me, I take the metro system, here called the “tran,” every day. I take line one to Commerce (the hub of the city center) and then take line two out of the center towards school. The whole process takes about 30 minutes, but usually, it is the best 30 minutes of my day.

The tran system is not like the Boston underground system. Nantes trans are above ground and are usually rather clean. I have experienced two circumstances on the tran: I am with a friend or I am by myself.

As there are hardly any American’s in Nantes, if I am with a friend or friends, I am probably in the company of someone from a different culture. I could not even place a figure on the number of times I have had conversations about life, love, religion, or beauty on a tran. It may seem like a random setting for such a conversation, but it has become a normal occurrence for me.

Then there is the other case: I am alone. This scenario is also very rewarding. Usually, this happens in the morning, when I leave my residence around 7:30 a.m. At this time, it is still dark.

However, by the time I have stepped on to line two, the sun is beaming through every tran window, and it is beautiful. This mixed with the most beautiful language in the world swirling in my ears from those around me is a perfect way to start my day. And for that reason, it will be what I miss most about Nantes – taking the tran.

Question: “What are you involved in at your institution? How has it contributed to your experience?”

By Rachel Wang

As mentioned in my previous Note from Abroad, I signed up for a language exchange with a local Barcelona student which Universitat Pompeu Fabra had put together. I have been consistently meeting up with Julia for a few weeks now and I can honestly say that I am so happy I decided to go through with it.

We have become good friends and she is constantly excited with the fact that she has a friend from the States now, while I know that I have someone I can trust and go to with questions and concerns about living in Barcelona. Other pairs have not been so lucky, so I am expecting our two-person exchange to become a group event in the near future.

Because students in Spain live at home instead of in dormitories or apartments, on-campus sports teams, clubs and organizations are hard to find and are not as popular as they are in the States. UPF’s orientation week gave international students the opportunity to go to the opening meetings of some of the organizations on campus, but in general, they are not advertised as fervently. For this reason, I have been trying to get involved in other ways.

Recently, I have e-mailed the UPF international student office to have my e-mail address forwarded, to future Bentley students whether they have decided to study abroad for one semester or for four years. I love the idea of helping prospective students by answering any questions that they may have about their classes, living situations or the culture at Bentley.

Hopefully, when I return in the spring, we will have become close enough that they feel comfortable approaching me throughout the school year. I also look forward to having the opportunity to get to know more local students to practice Spanish with and who can take me around the city.

I highly encourage students that are thinking about studying abroad to sign up for anything and everything that interests them. Not only should you do so in order to continue pursuing your interests while you are abroad, but also to make local friends, because if you were ever to encounter a problem with the university such as class schedules or transfer credits, they could help by acting as peer advisors, as well as be a friend to go out with on the weekends if you need a change of pace.

Also, UPF offers excursions and group activities for all international students if you sign up for their emailing lists. This way you can meet students from other countries that are not necessarily in your classes but are also abroad for the semester.

Question: “What are you involved in at your institution? How has it contributed to your experience?”

By Domenique Hogan

The Rome campus of Lorenzo d’Medici is significantly smaller than most universities. Although there are no sports teams to join or service learning opportunities, there are a number of trips that are planned by the LdM staff which promote the student’s education about Italy and Italian culture in various parts of the country.

I joined the Italian club at LdM and for a fee of only 3 Euros, I can take part in activities from cultural exchanges with Italian college students to aperitivos. This past Thursday, I participated in a tiramisu tasting at a well-known dessert café called Pompii. It was a great way to socialize while tasting one of the most well-known desserts in Italy (aside from cannolis, of course).

On Friday, I went on a trip to the Abbruzi National Park where we were able to go on a nature hike and learn how to make ravioli and cheese from scratch. We worked with local Italian women who were more than happy to teach us and answer our questions. The food was delicious and the experience was extraordinary.

On Saturday and Sunday, I attended the Tuscany trip with LdM and was able to see a completely different side of Italy as compared to the busy, chaotic city of Rome. When we arrived in Tuscany, we were greeted by locals who welcomed us into their wine cellars. We learned about the wine production process and were able to taste the wines made at that winery, along with homemade pasta, meat and cheese! We viewed the beautiful scenery of Tuscany, visited many small towns in the area, and enjoyed each other’s company.

Participating in these activities has definitely enhanced my study abroad experience. By taking part in the Italian club, I’ve gotten to spend time with my peers and make a lot of good friends. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be able to view places outside of Rome, to appreciate the natural beauty of Italy and to understand how this beauty influences the art and architecture of the country.

Question: “Are there any holidays that you have experienced or are looking forward to experiencing?”

By Cole Anderson

Here in Ireland, there are a number of holidays across the calendar year, some of which are only celebrated here and others are celebrated worldwide, but have their roots in Irish history. The two specific holidays I’d like to mention are Arthur’s Day and Halloween.

On September 22, at 17:59, Ireland celebrates the birth of one of their most prized and famous companies: Guinness. We Americans were informed of the holiday by our international advisor, and of course by all of the window advertisements, that Arthur’s day was not to be missed as a premier cultural event. We really didn’t know what to expect, but a holiday dedicated to a brewing company sounded worthwhile.

Basically, Arthur’s Day is a country-wide dedication to Guinness and its founding in 1759, and pubs all over Ireland are full of lively music and locals, sharing the celebration over a pint of Guinness. We all joined in the festivity and at 17:59, the entire country gave a toast to Arthur Guinness.

The second holiday I want to mention is Halloween. Now, many people trace its origins to Roman times, but we are told here in Ireland (and by research) that Halloween actually began as the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-an”). Halloween is actually still a day away, but already the locals are dressing up and wandering around the Dublin city center.

The other night, we went to TGI Fridays for some traditional American food, and all of the local waiters and waitresses were dressed in full costume. Here in Ireland though, the celebration is a bit different. I was told by a local that America “commercializes” the holiday, and here it’s more like a traditional festival. There are many planned events (most of which are for children), and haunted tours throughout the city and countryside (many Dubliners retreat to a more traditional scare outside of the city). Schools close on Monday, October 31 for the holiday, and locals gather for scary movies and Halloween parties.

After Arthur’s day, I will definitely see what Halloween here in Ireland is all about. We’ve been told by friends that, even though we didn’t bring costumes abroad, we should just “dress as Americans.” I will certainly take that into consideration, but for now, enjoy the holiday!

Question: “Are there any holidays that you have experienced or are looking forward to experiencing?”

By Allie Esposito

Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire Night is comparable to our Fourth of July in the United States. It does not celebrate any sort of revolution or independence, but it does have a lot of fireworks! It will be celebrated next week, on November 5. Despite its rough history, Guy Fawkes Day is now celebrated as a social, positive day usually centered around bonfires, fireworks and large social gatherings.

The movie V for Vendetta is based upon the failed plot which inspired Guy Fawkes Day. Guy Fawkes was found and arrested in 1605 for guarding a massive amount of explosives under the House of Lords, more commonly referred to as Parliament. The holiday is to celebrate the spared life of King James I. Prior to the twentieth century, the “holiday” came with intense religious undertones – people would burn displays of the Pope in the name of “papalism” – an anti-Christian term concerning those who follow the Christian religion and its teaching. Since then, the violence has been dealt with and Guy Fawkes is now thought of as more of a State Commemoration day.
All across England on this day, people will gather both privately and in large public areas usually around a massive bonfire. There will be tons of fireworks shot off at all times of the night to represent the explosion that could have been. In addition, some people may burn replica-dolls of Guy Fawkes; both as a celebration of his failure and as a reflection on previous celebrations.

While I am not totally sure, I don’t think business close or people take school off. It is more of a night time holiday focused around celebration and partying. This holiday is awesome because it seems to capture much of England. It is an old country with traditions and rituals but they also are very straight-forward and don’t really care much about overly intimate details. This holiday is just that, rooted in the past, but honestly, simply just a night to party that their king in the 1600s got to live another day. So, if you haven’t gotten a chance to see V for Vendetta, definitely go out and get it for your next movie night.

Question: “Describe a friendship you have made with a local. How has this relationship influenced your experience?”

In Denmark, I have had the unique opportunity to spend my abroad experience living with a Danish woman, Dorthe. I did not know what to expect before I came to Denmark, nor did I speak a word of Danish. When I first met her at the airport, I could tell that she had not spoken a word of English either, so I knew we could both learn from each other from the very beginning.

One of the best parts about having a Danish landlady is being able to immerse myself in the Danish culture. It is an experience that I would not get if I was living in a dorm building. Not to mention the added benefit of a fully stocked kitchen and comfortable living room with a television!

It is also great to have someone to practice my Danish with and help prepare me for my oral exam. It is a difficult language to learn, so having someone to practice with really makes all the difference. At the same time, I am helping Dorthe improve her English, so it is a mutually beneficial relationship.

Dorthe was nice enough to show me around Copenhagen and cook me some traditional Danish food. One of the most popular food items here is called a “smørrebrød,” which is an open-faced sandwich. Smørrebrøds are usually eaten for lunch and Danes get very creative with the toppings that they put on.

Another food item that you have to try when you come to Copenhagen is the famous ‘pølser’ (sausage). There are sausage stands all around the city and it is a great thing to eat on the go.

As the weather is getting colder and hours of sunlight are slowly going down, Dorthe has exposed me to the Danish “hygge.” Translated into English, hygge literally means cozy, and it is the Danish tradition of getting together with friends, eating and enjoying each other’s company. Hygges are more popular in the colder weather because it is nice to be warm inside with friends.

A homestay is a great way to get a closer look at the culture of the country where you study abroad. There are some challenges that you might have to overcome like language barriers, but in the end you are a more cultured person to have been through the experience.

Question: “Describe a friendship you have made with a local. How has this relationship influenced your experience?”

Question: “Describe a friendship you have made with a local. How has this relationship influenced your experience?”

By Rachel Wang

I recently signed myself up for a conversational language exchange program that was offered through my university. Two hours after I received an e-mail from the program about my assigned partner Julia, she enthusiastically e-mailed me to ask if we could meet up sometime within the week. I met up with her last Monday after class, and even though we only chatted for two hours before one of us had to leave, I had such a great time and I am already looking forward to our next meeting.

Julia, like many other Barcelona students, is from a small city on the outskirts of Barcelona. Even though she continued to say that her English was not good, she spoke pretty fast and with few grammatical errors. Upon hearing her English, I was incredibly nervous to talk to her in Spanish and was almost hoping she would just go along with our English conversation.

But funny enough, a few minutes after our initial greeting, she automatically began to speak in Spanish, and that was how the rest of our conversation went – a constant but natural switch between English and Spanish.

One of the main differences between American and Spanish culture is that in Spain, the customary way to greet someone you have just met is to give them two light kisses on the cheek. The first thing I did when I got out of the Metro and saw Julia was give her a big hug, and she was visibly surprised. I didn’t mention anything about it afterwards, but when we were saying goodbye, I made a mental note to give her kisses instead of a hug. It was second nature to me to hug someone I was excited to meet, but I have realized that I need to respect the norms of this country in order to assimilate more quickly into Spanish culture.

Julia, like many Spanish students, said she loves America even though she has never been. She told me that a lot of Spaniards like the American accent more than the British one because they associate the accent with the glamour of American TV programs.

They love sitcoms like Friends and How I Met Your Mother, and dramas like House and Lost, which they watch in English with Spanish subtitles.

Before we parted ways, we agreed that within the next few weeks I would take her to a club popular with American students, and she would take me to a local Spanish bar to meet some of her friends. I am extremely excited to practice my Spanish conversational skills outside of my Spanish class with an incredibly friendly and enthusiastic person.

Question: “Describe the typical daily routine for someone from your host country. At what times does everything happen?”

By Julie Fischer

My study abroad experience is a bit more unique than other abroad programs offered at Bentley. Instead of living with and adjusting to one culture, I am traveling the world, sampling several cultures throughout the course of my voyage. There are two different types of typical days for me – one is at sea, and the other is in port.

My campus is a huge ship (similar to a small cruise ship) called the MV Explorer. It is about 590-feet long and 84-feet wide. It has eight floors and is large enough to hold 836 passengers and over 200 crew members. The ship has two dining rooms, a gym, a swimming pool, three outside decks, a piano lounge, an auditorium, a computer lab, several very small cabins (dorms), a library and nine classrooms.

My voyage actually has a lot less people than most voyages for Semester at Sea. We have 450 students, 31 staff members, 36 professors and faculty, 54 family members of the faculty and staff (including 24 young children) and 61 Life Long Learners (older people who wanted to be on this trip to learn, just like us students) and of course the 200+ crew members of the ship.

I really don’t know what day it is anymore because while traveling between ports, we have A days and B days. I take four different classes, two on each day. It doesn’t matter what day of the week it is, if A day falls on a Saturday, it’s just a normal class schedule for us. Days we are in port are considered our weekends. Weekends back home are a time to catch up on work and sleep, but here they are even more hectic and busy than weekdays, so the whole semester is pretty exhausting – I’ll just sleep when I get back home.

For me, a typical class day on the ship is similar to how I would spend it back at Bentley. It starts with an early morning workout, followed by a combination of meals, club meetings, classes, homework and work (I have a work-study job). I also spend some time lounging on the deck, gazing at the water and trying to spot sea creatures (which I usually fail at doing).

Meals are the best times to socialize with friends, professors and life-long learners – you can learn so much from casual conversations with these people. One of the life-long learners gives me an hour-long Mandarin tutoring session every A day, and one of my classmates teaches me guitar every B day. Since everyone is stuck on the ship together, it’s a great opportunity to learn from each other.

After dinnertime, there are usually different student activities, such as trivia night, dances, pub nights, etc. There are also several educational seminars offered each night on a variety of topics, lead by professors, staff, life-long learners and even students.

Throughout my voyage, I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit several different countries. While in port, we are free to do what we want within the country. Some of the students travel independently, and there are also several trips offered by Semester at Sea, some which are overnights and others which are just small day trips.

I particularly like the service visits and projects offered because I am able to give something back to the world and it’s a great way to get a sense of the culture that you couldn’t get as just a tourist. I also like hikes and extreme sports, although it technically isn’t allowed. Shark cage diving, abseiling and bungee jumping are a few of my favorite things I’ve done so far. While in port, everyone is easily exhausted by the end of the day, but it’s well worth it.

Describe the typical daily routine for someone from your host country. At what times does everything happen? What is extremely different, and what is exactly the same from your experiences in the U.S.?

By Allie Esposito

The people of England operate pretty much the same as we do. According to them, this is no phenomenon but rather a result of our adapting almost every one of their cultural standards. One University of Manchester student said that “the United Kingdom is the great-grandfather of the United States.” We are the teenagers running around without our footing while they bask in acquired tradition. Debatable? Definitely.

Classes for the day start anytime from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and tend to taper midafternoon with some later classes around 6 p.m. or so (18:00 as the schedule would read here). This seems to be the same schedule for adults, as I’ve often seen the population of business suits double around 5 p.m. or so. Football (American soccer) games start at all different times during the day, but you can guarantee that a dire hard fan, which is the average male, will find himself settled in a pub for the match.

“Pre-Drinks” generally start around 9 p.m. or so, as going out for the night seems to be a main attraction up in Manchester. Clubs offer discounts before 11 p.m., but not too many bother rushing for the specials. Pending on your brand of English, your night will end anywhere from 3 to 6 a.m.

Manchester is known for its ability to stay strong until the wee hours of the morning, whereas other parts of the country have less to boast about. Nonetheless, the English pride themselves on their ability to conquer the ales; second, likely, only to the Irish. Perhaps this strength is due largely in part to their hearty dinner appetite preceding the drinking; most English pubs are known to serve up a hearty portion of fish & chips along with mushy peas – definitely a great way to prep for a night of trying to keep up with the English.

Question: “Describe the typical daily routine for someone from your host country. At what times does everything happen?”

By Patrick Maguire

Overall, the everyday habits of the Irish are not so very different from our own in the States. The economic boom of the past 20 years has given the country a lot of the same institutions and products we enjoy and it has taught them to move at our high speed. The Irish shop in supermarkets, eat at Subway and McDonald’s and buy computers at the Apple Store, very much synchronized with a typical American day.

Generally, the Irish rise early and eat breakfast at home – there aren’t many bagel shops or pancake houses around, even in the heart of Dublin. Almost every store is open by 10 a.m., though some have lengthy lunch breaks around 1 p.m. Between 4 and 6 p.m. most schools and offices let out, filling the city streets with people in either business suits or Catholic school uniforms.

One of the biggest differences is in shopping. Even in Dublin’s city center, shops open later and close earlier than they do at home. On the weekends, particularly Sundays, when one would find stores and malls packed to the gills at home, the streets here are relatively quiet. Instead, Thursday is the big shopping day. Most stores and restaurants are open much later than usual, and navigating the throngs of people on Grafton Street is a lot like finding your way through a crowded party in Falcone.

Night life in Dublin is pretty similar to that in Boston, fueled by the combined 34,000 students from UCD and Trinity College. Since most students go home to the countryside on the weekends, the big nights are Monday and Wednesday. In fact, many bars and clubs will prohibit students under 21 on the weekend, so working adults dominate the scene. A typical night will start at the pub around 10 p.m. and head to the club around 11:30 or 12 p.m., ending at either 2 or 3 a.m.

Pub culture shows the biggest difference between our two cultures’ everyday habits. The pub is still the center of Irish culture, and there is much more mixing of different types of people than you’d see in an American bar. For example, on any given night at O’Neill’s, which is my favorite neighborhood pub, we American college students could be mixing with a group of businessmen after a day at work, other Irish students or even an elderly couple out after dinner. Pubs are where the Irish come together to mix, where time slows down and the real charm of the island’s people comes through.

An essential part of the French culture is the culinary art. Most of the produce is purchased at local boutiques or designated meat, cheese and bakery shops. Only the very large purchases are made in a supermarket.

There are plazas scattered throughout the cities containing all of the most important produce distributed among these specialized shops.

Many newly arrived tourists mistakenly make all of their purchases at some major chain instead of carefully selecting the products from designated shops. These shops carry significantly fresher, better prepared and more specialized cuisine and produce.

“Tell us something about your host city or country that only a local would know. How did you come to observe this? What’s one thing you wish you knew upon arrival?”

By Justin Lawlor

Only Dubliners, or perhaps only Europeans, look completely at ease in a sidewalk café.

Café culture is embraced throughout Europe. The sidewalk café is a place to converse and to connect. An hour at the café is a time to sit, reflect and observe. And for some reason, the Europeans look so right doing just that. It’s as though they were made for that exact moment, as though they would rather be no place else, doing nothing else. Absolute peace of mind.

I’ve had the pleasure of sitting at a number of cafés in the past month, as I do enjoy a heady caffeine buzz from time to time. But something never feels quite right.

I question my posture – legs crossed and slouched, or upright and proper? How do I look in the eyes of those passing by? What’s a “respected” order – single shot or double shot? And does skim milk defeat the purpose of a cappuccino? Plus, I don’t smoke and worry what my friends would say if I wore a tweed cap, so neither of those things is working for me.

I think too much and I try too hard to look the part. As the locals know, if you have to try or pay it any mind, you’re missing the point.

“Tell us something about your host city or country that only a local would know. How did you come to observe this? What’s one thing you wish you knew upon arrival?”

By: Cole Anderson

Upon arriving here in Dublin, there were a few things I noticed immediately, and some that took time living in the area to come to discover. Rather than describe one major piece of information only the locals here know, I’ll explain a few little things that would have helped to understand prior to my arrival.

The first is the language, or “local lingo,” if you will. There are certain phrases that the Irish use regularly that leave us Americans a bit confused in the beginning.

For instance, “What’s the craic?” is a common question here. Craic (pronounced “crack”) is of course something entirely different in America, but this simple question is interpreted as, “What’s going on?”

Another communication difference is the way the Irish end a quick conversation. Where in America we say, “Take it easy” or, “Take care,” the locals here say, “We should get together some time.”

Now, this is slightly misleading in that they don’t necessarily intend on meeting up “soon,” or ever for that matter. It’s a nicer and easier way to close a conversation among the locals. Being more laid back in Dublin (and Ireland in general), the locals tend to avoid any possible confrontation in everyday conversations.

Something about the city itself, which I hadn’t originally anticipated, is the hours of operation at the local stores. During the first week, unlike in America where grocery stores are open until nine or ten in the evening, stores here close closer to six. Right after the markets close, the pubs seem to start opening up, and when they close their doors, it’s the clubs that end the night.

It’s a much different social atmosphere in Ireland, echoed by the way all of the previously mentioned businesses operate in a sequence-like progression.

One last noteworthy point is the drinking here in Ireland. Of course, there are the stereotypes, and the locals here do drink quite a bit. However, it tends to be for different reasons than Americans back home are used to.

There is a much more casual atmosphere at local pubs, and people drink in social settings where excessive drinking is not as common. After a couple weeks, though, it’s quite easy to get used to all of these smaller cultural differences, and soon enough you start to become a local yourself!

“What new perspectives about the United States have you gained during your semester abroad? What aspects have been extremely different? What has been similar to the U.S. that you expected to be different? Are there any specific things you wish the U.S. would adopt?”

By Andrey Tsatsulin

After living approximately two weeks in France, I have begun to notice both the subtle and vast differences between the two countries. France, as any other country, has both its advantages and disadvantages when comparing it to the U.S. Its food, architecture and mannerisms are vastly different.

It is much more of a traditional country with established traditions and customs, and European-styled, gorgeous buildings. Offering escargot, frog legs and wine at the local cafeteria and being the culinary capital of the world definitely presides over the U.S.

However, its bureaucratic mannerisms are all but convenient. Every aspect of a dorm, for instance, is considered independent. Likewise, if your Internet does not work properly, it is up to you to contact the service provider to fix the problem, whereas in the U.S. the entire dorm and its every function are facilitated by one administration. This aspect is one of the disadvantages of living in France.

However, ever since my arrival I have been travelling all over Europe. France is located in the absolute center of Europe, and being only two hours away from Belgium certainly provides a very unique travelling opportunity.
Every single city in France is also vastly different and unique, from Niece to Paris, from Lyon to Rouen. This is also a very interesting part of France’s culture, for every city specializes in its own culinary specialty and allows one to experience a vastly different culture within the small country.

The work ethic also differs; it appears to be more relaxed and less stressful when compared to the U.S., allowing one to have a two-hour lunch break and owners to close all shops on Monday for an extra-long weekend.
There is also a copious amount of cafes in France situated around the city, allowing one to enjoy an espresso at almost any time of the day, or to gather with friends for a couple hours after school to work on homework. The cafes are obviously an important aspect of France’s culture, and something I wish the U.S. would adopt, for it is very refreshing to sit outside with a hot espresso on a nice day, working on homework with a group of friends.
France and the U.S. greatly differ – it is impossible to distinguish which country I prefer. However, while living here I will certainly gain a new perspective and develop a better understanding of European culture, as well as that of the U.S., in a new light, for “the true voyage of discovery is not seeking new landscapes, but having new eyes.”

Question: “What new perspectives about the United States have you gained during your semester abroad? What aspects have been extremely different? What has been similar to the U.S. that you expected to be different?”

To be completely honest, my knowledge of what to expect when I came to Australia was a little more than the average fifth grader…and that’s being generous. The best way to describe what I thought I would be stepping into is a zoo with a bunch of kangaroos, crocodiles, spiders and koala bears scattered all over the place.

Obviously, as most educated people know, this is not the case.

When we first arrived in Australia, it was difficult to believe that we were so far from home. Besides the fact that Australians drive on the left side of the road, it felt as though we could have landed in Miami.

Our first true taste of Australia didn’t come until about 40 minutes into our shuttle ride to Bond University when our fast and furious driver smashed the shuttle straight into a flying bird. Naturally, we all had a moment of shock, and when we asked the bus driver if we had hit a bird he laughed and said, “Well, it was a bird.”

Despite our lack of understanding as to how this driver could be so unfazed by the incident, we soon discovered the reasoning for ourselves.

Australia is similar to the U.S. in many ways. Australians speak English, live in houses that resemble those in the southern U.S. and eat a diet similar to most Americans.

Australia’s differences, however, are not to be taken lightly. The sun is stronger in Australia than it is in any other place on the earth, which is why Australians are required to get yearly skin cancer screenings, and just about every animal here can and will attack you.

Enter magpies. At a preliminary glance, a magpie is a beautiful black-and-white bird with gold-brown eyes, but get on a bicycle or walk near its nesting ground and this beautiful bird will wage war.

Like the typical uninformed Americans we were at the time, we chose to bike straight through a magpie nesting ground, which in our defense was a sidewalk, but none the less we got attacked. One person in our group was bleeding after this dramatic little encounter, and not one of us can casually walk past birds anymore without preparing to sprint in the opposite direction.

Despite the interactive wildlife, Australia is truly a paradise. Our short time here so far has been a true learning experience filled with numerous embarrassing stories we continue to learn from.

“What new perspectives about the United States have you gained during your semester abroad? What aspects have been extremely different? What has been similar to the U.S. that you expected to be different? Are there any specific things you wish the U.S. would adopt?”

By Rachel Wang

One thing that I have had to adjust myself to is the pace of life in Barcelona because it is certainly much slower here compared to the U.S. Before arriving, I assumed that assimilating to this slower pace would be easy, but this idea applies not only to leisure, but also to the business world.

E-mails may take a few days or so to be responded to, issues are rarely considered to be urgent and starting your day on a weekend may sometimes seem impossible. As a working person, I would love the long lunch break every day from around 2 – 4 p.m., but tourists and exchange students find it impossible to run errands during this time. Spanish people will sit in cafes and restaurants with friends for hours upon hours chatting, which is a testament to how much they value personal relationships – a trait I would love to see Americans display more of.

Unfortunately, studying in one of the biggest tourist cities in Europe puts some strain on the locals in the area because, understandably, tourists crowd an already crowded city. This is something I have learned I need to become accustomed to and respect while I am a foreigner in this country.

However, in the end, I don’t think I will ever get used to how beautiful and refreshing the Barcelona city streets are, with the way they are able to build extremely modern buildings right next to century-old ones.
Locals start to warm up to you once they sense that you are trying your hardest to communicate with them in their native tongue. They are unafraid to compliment you the minute they meet you if they think you are a kind or attractive person.

Young and old couples alike embrace whenever their hearts desire, and public display of affection constantly surrounds you at the park or on the beach.

If you are looking to study abroad in a city that is equally as passionate about their history and heritage as they are about loved ones, Barcelona is not a city to overlook.
I have only been here for three weeks, but in this short amount of time I have already fallen in love with this diverse city.

“What new perspectives about the United States have you gained during your semester abroad? What aspects have been extremely different? What has been similar to the U.S. that you expected to be different? Are there any specific things you wish the U.S. would adopt?”

By Allie Esposito

Surprisingly, for being such similar countries, America is quite different from England and the rest of Europe. We could learn a lot from Europeans’ efficient practices, and while they may also benefit from learning from us, I’m not entirely sure they’re interested.

So far, being over in England and in Germany with a handful of other Bentley students, I’ve noticed the shared desire to not act “American.” It’s not that they don’t like us, but it seems as though many Europeans have a preconceived notion that Americans are loud and tend to disregard their culture. They really seem to appreciate when we try to adapt to their way of living, like using “danke” instead of “thank you” in Germany, for example.
Europeans have a great transit system – if you know how to pack light – even in the most desolate of areas. A lot of the cheap airlines trick you into thinking that their random airports are near places like London, when in reality they are 60 minutes into the countryside.

Luckily, there are tons of busses and trains that can take you anywhere, and nearly every destination makes a loop every hour. Also, England makes great use of the double-decker busses, which can pack twice the people in half the space.

The other big ticket item that the U.S. is missing is futbol! No one over here even seems to care about American football, but all will rush to go see Manchester United play anytime and anyplace. For some reason, there is a huge gap in our sports interest, and it would be in our best interest to promote more fan participation in the sport. It seems as though every other country in the world is obsessed with futbol (soccer) except for America.
There is still a lot to adjust and get used to over in England. The main difference seems to be that the two countries do not agree on using many of the same systems. Everything from cell phones to television to currency work differently.

It would be so much simpler if everything worked the same way! I can’t even say how jealous I am whenever I hear the universal iPhone text go off!

By Julie Fischer

So far this semester, I’ve spent time in both Morocco and Ghana. I’d have to say the biggest difference
between those two countries and the U.S. is the way you have to shop. You really start to appreciate
price tags and sale signs when you go to countries where you most often have to bargain to get a fair
price.

At the beginning of this voyage, I believed that in the eyes of international merchants, we Americans
are suckers; we are stupid enough to believe that a “handmade” canvas painting (the SAME handmade
painting three different guys down the street are selling) is worth 200 U.S. dollars. I took pride in the fact
that I don’t fall for that stuff. I have it in me to stand outside of a cab and argue about a few cents, just to
get the same price as the other citizens in those countries.

However, after some discussion with some of the faculty and fellow students, I began to understand the
real reasons for why prices are higher for us. As Americans, we are perceived to be wealthy and spoiled.
So, to a shopkeeper trying to make ends meet, it only seems fair that we should pay higher prices than
the locals would pay. They don’t realize that some of us don’t have a lot of money, especially us “poor”
college students (because all of our money is going to tuition and books, of course).

Reflecting on my past travel experiences, I developed a plan to get a fair price that could make everyone
happy: Get to know the merchant. Most of the time they want to know your story; they want to know
where you are from and what you are doing there.

That in itself is another big difference between shopping abroad and in America. When you shop in the
States, the checkout clerks at your local Shaw’s or Target don’t really put that much effort into getting to
know you. They either don’t care or they need to hurry up and serve others.

When you shop abroad as a traveler, most people genuinely wants to know who you are and what you’re
about. Embrace that, reciprocate the gesture and take the time to learn about another culture in the
eye of a merchant. After you become “best friends,” you then tell him or her that you are a poor college
student struggling to get by. That’s when you gain a mutual understanding and an agreeable price!

Question: “What has been the most shocking difference or change you’ve experienced abroad compared to the U.S.?”

Question: “What has been the most shocking difference or change you’ve experienced abroad compared to the U.S.?”

By Tim Doherty

Luckily, Ireland isn’t too much of a culture shock. It feels as though I’m in an American city, so there aren’t too many shocking differences for me. I would say that the hardest thing to get used to is thinking in terms of the euro vs. the dollar. We will be walking down a street and see something for 5 euros and think that it is fairly priced, but in reality it’s about $7.25, and that really adds up quickly.

It is also weird to think of myself as the international student. Having been born in America and having gone to an American school, it isn’t a huge transition from high school to college in terms of daily life.

In Ireland, being the international student is a weird feeling. Everyone can tell we are Americans here and it sometimes can get uncomfortable. Luckily, the Irish are great people.

Classes are also a lot different. Going from a class size of 25 people to a class of 100 really changes the classroom dynamic.
Also, European students don’t raise their hands when they are answering a question. All of the American students will raise their hands when they have something to say, and the Europeans find this unusual.

I was hoping to also be able to find my favorite drink Rubi Delight over here, but apparently Ireland isn’t Americanized enough to have such a great beverage. Most of what we find is Coke and 7Up.