One of my best friends recently came back from spending 10 months abroad in Argentina, and naturally, like any other like-minded college student drowning in midterms would do, I impulsively booked a ticket for a nine-hour bus ride to reunite with her. As we were catching up, I asked her some questions about her experience, mainly to live vicariously through her, but also to take the opportunity to talk about going abroad and encouraging other students to do so as well. And it all went something like this:
Q: What prompted you to go?
"As a Spanish language learner, the way you learn a language in a natural environment is very different than learning in the classroom. I also wanted to go because while I was in Paraguay in high school for a volunteer project, my host raved about Argentina, and since then I have wanted to go and see the city myself. Having the opportunity to gain real teaching experience in a bilingual setting perfectly lined up with what I want to do in the future."
Q: What was the best part?
"I think the best part was being immersed in the daily life of another world. There were some cultural differences that the Argentines thought to be normal, such as being OK with waiting in line for 40 minutes to buy a snack, having an asado (traditional barbecue) with family every weekend, using voice messages via Whatsapp, or eating dinner at 10 p.m.. These experiences showed me that I was not living back at home anymore, but that was a part of the excitement."
Q: What was the hardest part?
"The ignorance people exhibited and the ignorance of living in a country without much diversity. As an Asian-American, it was partially because I found myself getting offended, and I don't think I realized how politically correct and diverse American culture actually is. When someone said something intolerant, I found that it would be something that would never happen back home. But it was understandable in a way because Argentines don't have the same opportunities to travel and experience different cultures as we do."
Q: Any advice for people want to go do something like that but are scared of travel?
"If you are traveling to truly experience a different culture, then avoid speaking your native language and make friends with foreigners. Get the full experience by getting to know families, workplaces, or peers from that country because that's the best way to learn about their lives. Taking steps to immerse yourself in the culture, such as using their language, eating their food, etc. makes for a more complete experience. The more homesick you get, the tendency is to reach for what's comfortable. Don't do it. Don't let yourself stay in that position and just do it." (sound familiar?)
