Experiential Blog 9

The most meanigful thing I learned from this experience is that we (us and people from different countries) are very similar. I always thought that we were very different compared to everyone else but we generally all enjoy the same things and want the same things. We just live in different places. This information wouldn't have really affected a situation I experienced in the past because I haven't come across many people from Europe or other countries in the states. When I have seen people from other countries in the states I always thought that they felt that we were very different from them and that America is very unique. Granted I don't know how they think or feel about it but that's how I always thought they thought about us. This new information and this experience definitely will allow me to be more welcoming and friendly to any person I meet from a different country in the US. Though I never have been mean or rude to anybody from a different country I feel I will be able to relate more to them than I had before. I've always enjoyed interacting with others from different places because I enjoy learning about different places and talking about a common interest in soccer (usually) but now I have more to relate to them with. With the experiences I've had on this study abroad trip I've realized that there are more similarities between people across the world than there are differences and that these similarities should be made a priority over the differences we have.

Experiential Blog 8

In this study abroad program I've learned a lot about what the gothic is and how and why it is still relevant in a lot of today's movies and other entertainment. Before this class I wasn't able to pick up on things and spot them out as being gothic. I wasn't able to identify where things came from or why they were popular. The biggest example of this is Batman. Although I'm not a huge fan I still knew a little about it like that Batman lives in Gotham city. I never before realized that there is a specific reason behind the name of that city and the look of Batman himself. Now that I've learned more about gothic literature/entertainment I am much better at picking up on things like this. I feel I am able to pick up on the ideas a little better on this study abroad trip than at home because of the tours and excursions we are going on. I find it easier to learn about a topic when you have examples in front of your face rather than from a textbook or just pictures on a powerpoint. This study abroad program has given me first hand experience of the topics I'm learning about. The important new knowledge I've learned from this trip is about how our culture is pretty similar to the rest of the world in terms of interests, even though we look much different than everyone else. I've seen that the gothic thrives in not only american culture but also in many European cultures as well.

Experiential Blog 7

I have recieved almost all postive attitudes during this study abroad trip. All of the locals have been very friendly and have been very curious and interested in the United States. I've been asked questions about the politics and about certain places as well. They've all been very helpful with any kind of language barrier too. In Vienna, Prague and Paris the locals have all been very friendly. Before I came I didn't know what to expect from the locals. I was told that a lot of people hate American tourists because we seem too arrogant and stupid almost but I have not noticed any of that in my experiences. Based off my experiences I've learned that most Europeans are very friendly and accomodating to other's needs. This may be because of how many different cultures they come across so frequently. In the US we don't interact with many other cultures because of the size of our country. Here in Europe you could be in a different country/culture in 2 hours and I feel that that contributes to their friendliness and openess to other cultures and ideas.

Midterm Powerpoint Pictures

Experiential Blog 6

The main thing I noticed about London, and England in general, is that they had a few different words for things than us. Although we can understand each other completely, the terminology can be just a little confusing. The main one I can think of is the word loo. This is what some people call a toilet and I was very confused by it. I couldnt find a bathroom anywhere because they weren't labeled as toilet or bathroom, they were labeled as loos or as a WC, which stands for water closet. The latter I was able to understand because of my time in Vienna. Other than some terminolgy differences, I didn't see much of a difference in other aspects. When I was in London, it basically felt like any other big city I've been to in the states. I didn't think that people acted any differently in London than they do in Chicago or New Orleans. I expected there to be more differences but the terminology is the only thing that I could pick out.

Experiential Blog 5

My emotions for this trip could be described as ecstatic. I love being in an unfamiliar place and exploring the city and what's around me. I think the fact that the language is completely different excites me as well. It just adds to the experience for me. I feel like the rest of the group is just as happy as me when exploring the city and seeing new things. People have had their ups and downs obviously but overall the group has been able to deal with these emotions effectively and in a positive way. I also have noticed that the locals seem to be happy with us. The ones I've talked to are always excited to talk to an american and ask them questions. Many just want to practice their english with someone who knows the language, which I completely understand. This adds up to a pleasant experience for both sides involved.

Experiential Blog 4

The first thing I thought when walking through Old town Prague was that it looked like Aladdin. I think this was because of the small alley way type roads, and the very tall tan/sand colored buildings. I couldn't help but picture Aladdin riding on his magic carpet as he weaves around corners. Coming to Prague I really didn't have any expectations. I knew it was going to be very different from the United States, England and Vienna but I didn't know how. I also felt that the city was a mix of Chicago and San Francisco. I thought it felt like Chicago simply because of the river flowing through the middle of the city. I thought the environment and landscape was more like San Francisco. The landscape was beautiful with the hills and the architecture to match it. I feel this kind of landscape and view added to the culture of the city. Just like San Francisco, the people were very concerned with preserving the culture and beauty of their town. I felt that this was the reason there were a lot of hipsters there. I viewed it as basically being the San Francisco of Europe.