I was talking to my mom on Sunday and she asked me if I thought I had an easier time with the adaptation to Ecuador because of my cultural background and already having gone through culture shock at Kalamazoo. Most people are surprised, but I actually went through huge culture shock in my first year at college by moving to the Midwest. I told her that, in some ways, yes, but only to a very minimal degree. For the most part, I’m pretty much on the same level as most of the other students. Got me to thinking though, and since I’ve recently become a fan of the ease and efficiency lists provide, I made some.
Advantages I May Have for Study Abroad:
-have already been far away from my family
-acknowledge and am used to the inability to go home, just gotta stick it out till it’s pau
-mildly more used to different cultures than other people
-used to fruit being everywhere. Also used to rice 24/7
-I’m already late for everything!
-nature is a bit more laid back and more used to flexibility and such
-darker skin and hair=fit in better
-heat? what heat? oh the sun? I guess…
-understand accents in English better
-have a good Ecuadorian accent
-feel more at home in a tropical environment
-academically, have already specifically studied ecology and environmental philosophies/anthropology, etc.
Disadvantages I Have:
-I am female
-I am smaller
-don’t like wearing shoes
-don’t like/not good at dressing nicely
-not a city person, not used to the inseguridad
-don’t understand Spanish as well
-more timid than other people
-sort of a homebody
-time differences
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so I have to say it looks like the advantages that you have are on the more important side of things than the disadvantages at least in terms of things specific to ecuadorian culture. Though i know its tough, if there is anything that this list tells me its that you are more than just capable of getting through this, you are downright made for it. You got this babe!! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ross... The disadvantages are tough (like uh...just being a woman). However, your tough as well! Also, I love that one of your advantages is eating excessive amounts of rice before going abroad haha. I guess that's an advantage for me as well :p
ReplyDeleteGanbatte, Ganbatte!
Katie!
ReplyDeleteYes, obviously a lot more advantages than disadvantages. No pasa nada.
I feel you on the homebody front. My host mom would never understand if I chose to sit at home and read rather than going out on a Saturday night, but that day is coming.
And although maybe you´re not used to big cities, either, I remember you kicking some serious butt in DC.
An alum that I externed with this past summer, Amy Kleine, asked me if I had any friend in Ecuador keeping a blog, so I hope you won´t mind if I pass yours along to her. I could see her being super-helpful with culture shock (as not only did she study abroad in Ecuador, but she went to Morocco for the peace corps the year after she graduated from K)!
PS. Got sorta pumped when you coming to Spain was possibly in the cards... but I hope you have a blast traveling around Sud america, too!