Final Reflections

Skills I’ve harnessed:

Self-awareness - It was easy to tell when I was defying typical social customs by the stares people directed my way when I was talking too loud or doing something I wasn’t supposed to.

Navigation - Using physical maps to find my way around transit systems or city streets has improved my spatial awareness, my consciousness of signage, and has made me more trusting of my own cognitive map.

Housemate etiquette - I’d never had a roommate or dorm-mate before studying abroad, so living with another student in three different rooms taught me how to problem solve, respect living space, and communicate respectfully.

Team communication - Planning activities on free days, such as our trip to Salzburg, took a lot of team huddle, especially when planning and finding directions, identifying cultural differences, and overcoming any language barriers.

Asking for support - Traveling in a group made it easy to talk to and open up to fellow students about problems I was having on the trip or at home. I also got accustomed to asking locals questions when I needed help. Such as in situations where I needed navigational tips, cultural and linguistic translations, and when I was curious about social customs.

Three things that I miss:

The food. At times the food in Europe felt better-prepared than in the US and had more value with each bite.

The feeling of safety. I truly felt more safe walking the streets of London and Munich than I do walking the streets of certain American cities. Obviously it’s an overgeneralization to say that all of Europe feels safer than the U.S, but my late night strolls in London felt oddly comforting compared to late night walks in Clifton.

The nuance. I was still noticing differences in American and European behaviors up until the final day of our travels. Although it was challenging to adjust to certain social standards, it was always interesting and entertaining to observe the differences.

Experiential learning examples:

Our discussion of the Thames river in class and how it was used in an industrial context was exemplified by our boat ride and our trip to the Docklands museum. The stark contrast between images we saw in class and in the museum and the current state of the river was shocking as it was insightful.

In Harlaxton, we learned about the accessibility of resources between different types of community structures. When resources are placed within a short radius of housing, it’s much more convenient for citizens to walk or ride public transit to wherever they need to go. Living in London, there was always a store, park, or restaurant around the block. It showed me how the dynamic of a non-car based transportation environment functions on a daily basis and how the proximity of resources can affect its function.