Corsica – the culture is neither entirely French or Italian
February 5, 2014
Post written by Josephine Adams. Whether we realise it or not, we all expect to have to conform to the culture of the places that we are used to, and are innately aware of when and how to greet people, thank them and know how to act. Somehow, the cultural make-up of countries is unique, …
French football matches are actually much better
February 4, 2014
It has been strange since I’ve started working here, and I do miss all the friends I made at the business school, however working has allowed me to hang out with ‘THE REAL BORDELAIS’ instead of students, who are (let’s face it) all from Paris and its suburbs. It is a little like how everyone …
Illustrating some cultural difference through some funny exemplary stories
Coming from Switzerland, where the culture is highly influenced by both Austria and Germany, Vienna did not present any obvious cultural challenges. “Obvious” cultural challenges must be emphasised, because as it is the case in every new country and city, I was soon confronted to those more subtle cultural differences… And what better way to …
Adapting to traditional Spanish meal times
Soon after I arrived in Granada, Spain I slowly found myself being struck with some of the differences between my life back home in England to this new Spanish lifestyle I was about to experience. Before I came here I knew about the more obvious differences such as with the meal times and that the …
Why is everyone asleep when I want to go shopping?!
Post written by Georgia Brookes. It is February 2014 and I am one week away from leaving Cádiz in Southern Spain forever; the setting of the first half of my Year Abroad. Although at first I found the Andalucían accent next to impossible to understand, and the people rather rude and candid, as time progressed …
Adjusting to France’s overwhelming conviction that theirs in the best country in the world
Post written by Georgie Suttie. I am now well into my 2nd term in Metz, and really enjoying myself. I will really miss France when I leave; the amazing baguettes, the cheese, the cheap wine, and the relaxed way of life here. I have settled into a daily routine, and this city now feels very …
I was trying to be funny, but they just thought I was rude
I’m living less than 300 miles from my home in England; Nottingham is almost as far from my home as Paris so I wasn’t expecting to find many, if any, cultural challenges. However as the months here have passed I’ve really realised that there is a fairly big difference between English culture and French culture, …
French admin…my biggest challenge
There have been a fair few cultural challenges to face up to so far on my Year Abroad in Paris, but they’re all part of the experience in the end, so I’m not going to complain. The language barrier is first and foremost in my mind. Having to speak French on tap is quite draining …
The four phases of cultural shock
Post written by Jack Revell. I spent a considerable amount of my childhood outside the UK and as such realised at an early age that the absence of readily-available Cadbury’s chocolate and Marmite in the shops doesn’t really constitute a ‘cultural challenge’. But that’s not to say that there haven’t been any such challenges. According …
The biggest cultural challenge – time!
Post written by Hannah Sheehan. Since living in Spain for five months a number of cultural challenges and issues have come to my attention. Spain and England are too very different countries and possess two very different cultures. To date it has been difficult at times to adjust to the Spanish way of life and …
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