Linguistic, cultural immersion
April 1, 2014
Madrid is a very busy place, every one’s going somewhere. Everyone has direction, aims, a certain focus. It reminds me of London in many ways. That being said, a warmer, sunnier London. I now feel like a madrileño, much more than I felt like a lisboeta in Lisbon. I am connecting with people all the …
Get stuck in as much as you can
I think I was one of many who was initially worried that my Year Abroad could be quite lonely. The truth of the matter is that it can be, but it’s up to you to be proactive and get involved in as many things as possible. This not only allows you to practise language skills, …
Getting used to the Spanish rhythm of life
February 18, 2014
Extremadura was a region about which I knew very little. This was one of the main reasons I chose to come here. Being taught Spanish language and experiencing the country first-hand are obviously very different, but until arriving here I did not realise just how much. Firstly, there is the rhythm of life, especially in …
Customer service…the greatest cultural challenge
February 12, 2014
There have certainly been some interesting cultural shocks I’ve experienced in my 5 months to date in Toulouse. The most striking is probably the complete divergence in mentality between the UK and France when it comes to customer service. This apparently does not exist in France. In all honesty you get the feeling when walking …
I see challenges as opportunities
February 8, 2014
When we travel we often compare everything to our native traditions or the traditions where we live. During my first semester I cannot say I have experienced any cultural challenges as I was communicating with French people and learning for their culture. I have started experiencing cultural challenges when I started working at zChocolat. As …
Kissing culture, personal space and bad driving
February 7, 2014
Post written by Jasmine Philpott. Living in France has been less ‘challenging’ than I anticipated, firstly because it is almost the same as England, and secondly, in most areas where the two differ, France is better. I suppose there have been a few awkward moments where I am reminded that French people are not the …
The French work to live and do not live to work
February 6, 2014
For me, one of the most intriguing issues surrounding the French culture lies in their mannerisms. They are known as the ‘kissing culture’ and I would be lying if I said I haven’t found the way they greet people difficult at times. For example, on several occasions I have found it too intimate when meeting …
The challenge to find friends in La Palma
A challenge I encountered during my time abroad is the demographics of the island I am living on. The town has a population of 18,000, it is also the capital of the island. Santa Cruz is a nice place to live, don’t get me wrong but there is not a lot on offer when it …
Coffee, nicotine and family…thats all a Lisboan needs
So after a brilliant (well needed) break in the UK, I am back in Lisbon for my last stint before I go to Madrid. I’m trying to take in as much Portuguese as I can before I switch to madrileno Castellano, which is seeing me almost disorientated. I really am enjoying the simple things though, …
From the sublime to the ridiculous…
February 5, 2014
Tomorrow I fly to Havana, Cuba for 5 months. After just recently finishing my six-month internship at an audit firm in Stuttgart, Germany, I can say with certainty that the study placement at La Universidad de la Habana will bring a fair share of unique cultural challenges. The term ‘from the sublime to the ridiculous’ …
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