Hello Friends!
Happy International Education Week! Since the theme for the week is “You Are Welcome Here,” I want to talk about my first week upon arriving in Costa Rica.
Within the first 24 hours of arriving in my host country, I expected to have a lot of culture shock. To my surprise, I honestly did not have as much culture shock as I expected. I think that it was because of my traveling background. My family went to Guatemala every year to visit family and when I arrived in Costa Rica, it felt like I was in Guatemala. Obviously, there are differences in the cultures between Guatemala and Cost Rica, but at first glance, many Central American countries look similar in appearance.
After getting picked up from the airport and making it to the hotel, I was placed in a room with a roommate. Little did I know that the roommate that they typically place you with on the first day will be your roommate for the entire study abroad session. My roommate was very sweet, and we got along well. We talked about the flight over and tried to get to know each other. This girl that I was placed with in the first 24 hours ended up being one of my best friends on the trip.
When we arrived at our host family's house, that is typically when people can either be very awkward or get the most culture shock. Cultural differences when you greet someone can be the biggest shock someone can go through within the first 24 hours. In Latin American countries, typically greeting someone for the first time will include a hug with a kiss on the check. For Americans, the first time greeting someone is a handshake. This can be very awakening for people who are not used to this type of physical touch from strangers. To me, this action makes me feel that I am welcomed and more at home. Physical touch is important during the first week to get to know the people you are surrounded by and to let them feel welcomed.
My host mother only spoke Spanish which is also another form of culture shock to Americans. I had been taking Spanish classes for many years before I studied abroad and felt confident in my Spanish before I left. But when my host mother started talking to me in Spanish, I realized that all the Spanish I knew was not as much as I thought I knew. This can be scary at first, but my host mother was kind and understanding that my Spanish was not perfect and that I was in her host country to learn. This was one of the most comforting acts that my host mother did for me to make me feel welcomed.
The first 24 hours of a study abroad experience can be scary, but there are so many people that you meet along the way that are determined to make you feel like you are welcomed!
The first 24 hours of a study abroad experience can be scary, but there are so many people that you meet along the way that are determined to make you feel like you are welcomed!
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International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. The theme of the University of Arkansas' International Education Week celebration is "You Are Welcome Here." Students are encouraged to share their international education stories on social media using #IEWelcomeUARK. You can learn more about IEW at https://iew.state.gov/
And, check out the IEW events happening on campus at iew.uark.edu
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
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Miriam, a Senior International Studies major with marketing and Spanish minors, studied abroad with Academic Programs International in Costa Rica and Spain. Come meet Miriam and the other peer advisors at a Hogs Abroad 101 information meeting! These hour-long sessions are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Center for World Languages, Literatures and Cultures (JBHT 207).
And, check out the IEW events happening on campus at iew.uark.edu
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
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Miriam, a Senior International Studies major with marketing and Spanish minors, studied abroad with Academic Programs International in Costa Rica and Spain. Come meet Miriam and the other peer advisors at a Hogs Abroad 101 information meeting! These hour-long sessions are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Center for World Languages, Literatures and Cultures (JBHT 207).
