Allegheny College Study Abroad Fall 2008

Image courtesy: Roselea (flickr.com)

What are some of the cultural expectations (positive and negative) about your host site that you are carrying with you?

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DUE DATE: SEPT. 20, 2008

What are some of the cultural expectations (positive and negative) about your host site that you are carrying with you?

Hey guys so I heard about this place called France and I decided to check it out!! There's cigarette smoke and CRAZY-fast trains and naked beaches so who wouldn't want to go there? (Only a commmie)

So, cultural expectations...well, I expect to encounter those things which I read about in the yourmissionshouldyouchoosetoacceptit briefing pamphlet, like turning off lights if you leave a room for more than five seconds, using water and utilities sparingly because that there Yurp don't got no cheap water, and eating dinner at a snail's pace over three hours. Important nuances of culture that will be fun to fit in to if I do them right and irritating if I mess up. Going to France, I also expect...less drug culture, more moustaches, fewer jeans, tons of smokers, and the terrible foe that is the language barrier -- a horrifying beast of the future that I cannot hope to conquer in only three months, though I expect that I shall make progress.

I'm really pretty excited. Wheeeeeeeeee!

WOW!!! So in about four days I'll be on a plane on my way to Kenya! No words I think can describe the excitement and fears rolling through my body. I've had a whole summer to let my future adventure soak in and for the first time it has in the past few weeks. I find myself clueless when it comes to preparing for this trip. I've got the shots, the passport, visa, and the one suit case of clothes, but I still feel a void in feeling completely comfortable. Maybe being uncomfortable is something I should come to accept, embrace and expect. What I expect is for my life to change. I want to be placed in situations so challenging and uncomfortable I have no option but to grow and learn. What I expect is to experience and see the beauty of Africa and the African culture. The way men and women interact, how family relationships are maintained and function, and the way society communicates are just a few of the many things I look forward to learning. Most characteristics that I've been taught to associate with Africa are negative. The continent is poor, ramped with aids, and developmentally behind the United States. So when I go, I want to see behind the stereotypes and westernized perception and embrace Kenya for all its strengths and weaknesses. In these next eight months I can only imagine what lies ahead and how much will change; but I can be nothing but grateful for an amazing opportunity! KENYA HERE I COME!!!!

What are some of the cultural expectations (positive and negative) about your host site that you are carrying with you?

Okay so! I'm leaving in about three or four hours for France! Well not quite...I'm leaving to go spend the night at Brittany Lanahan's house while my family goes off and parties in Minnesota. Ah well. Anyway, getting to this point has been quite an adventure. From "you need to go where to get your visa?!?" to "are you sure you're not going to pack this?", it's been kind of stressful. As such, I suppose I haven't given too much thought to what exactly I'll be encountering in France. I keep thinking "I've been there twice, no big deal," but then...this is totally different. I'm not a tourist anymore. I'm as close to being a citizen of France as I will probably ever get. So what do I expect? Pretty much anything. I've of course heard about the French love affair with wine, which I'm pretty sure I'm okay with (except for this whole having wine with lunch thing, since lunch is apparently the biggest meal of the day...how am I supposed to get through my afternoon classes?). I'm expecting France to be pretty Westernized...if they're not, I think I'm going to be in for a surprise. And of course, I'm expecting fantastic food.

Oh yeah, in that picture I'm in Chicago at the..erm, giant shiny bean in Millennium Park. This is relevant because I had to go to Chicago to get my visa!

What are some of the cultural expectations (positive and negative) about your host site that you are carrying with you?

I can't believe that in 15 minutes my family, Erica Belden, and I will leave my house and head to the airport. It seems like just yesterday I was thinking about how much time I had to get ready and get everything together that I need to take. How wrong was I?!?! I mean, even today we had to run to Kohl's to get me some new tennis shoes because I realized the ones I wanted to wear were very worn out...eeks! But otherwise I think I'm pretty prepared and I'm ready to take on Europe.

So we shall arrive in France, if all goes well, around 7:30 am, their time--ergo, we can eat breakfast!!! French pastries and croissants as soon as we get off the plane? YES PLEASE!! I cannot wait to get there and meet my host family and get settled in. I know things will be different, but I've been to France before so I'm not too in the dark about French customs and food and whatnot. I'm expecting to be overwhelmed, but I also know that things will be ok and that it's going to be the trip of a lifetime.

A photo I took of a koala walking along the fence in Billabong Sanctuary in Australia.

What are some of the cultural expectations (positive and negative) about your host site that you are carrying with you?

Well, as I've been here since the middle of July, I think that I've started to find out what going to Uni in Australia is like. I'll try to go back to what I was thinking before I left, though.

What do you know about Australia? To be honest, I didn't really know what to expect except things I've seen in movies and on TV. The most ridiculous things I can think of is that everyone constantly says things such as "put that shrimp on the barbie" "a dingo ate my baby" and of course "g'day" and "crikey!" They ride kangaroos to work and school and everyone is good at sports and talk just like Crocodile Dundee.

After reading In a Sunburned Country, recommended to me by a student who studied at JCU last semester, I formed slightly more accurate opinions. Bill Bryson, the author, wrote about things such as what an amazing place Australia was, how friendly and laid back the people were, and the lingering ties to England and how they've changed over time. People really do eat Vegemite, though not everyone likes it. In Queensland, where I am living, I hear "how ya goin'", almost never "g'day". It is beautiful all the time, which is a stark contrast to the gray skies of Meadville.

Overall my expectations were very uninformed, so I tried to go into Australia with an open mind. One thing I was afraid of is that everyone would hate Americans, but I have found it is far from true. Everyone has been very kind and helpful. Basically, Australia is amazing. :)

What are some of the cultural expectations (positive and negative) about your host site that you are carrying with you?

Deciding to come to Australia for an entire semester was the easiest decision I have ever had to make, but definitely the hardest thing I have ever had to do. It has always been a dream of mine to come here, so I jumped at the chance. But the fact that it was finally actually happening did not hit me until I boarded that fourteen hour plane ride out of Los Angeles. I felt that I had so much back home and back at Allegheny that I never wanted to leave, but that this was something I needed to do.

Upon arriving here, I tried very hard to keep an open mind and have as few cultural expectations as possible. I wasn't all that concerned since I was traveling to an English-speaking country and living on-campus in a dorm surrounded by many other people, including many other study abroad students. So while I was still definitely stepping outside of my comfort zone, I didn't anticipate the transition being as difficult as it could have been. But I couldn't help but at least try to imagine what it was going to be like. From what I had heard and read, I assumed that everyone would just be very friendly, very casual and very laid back about everything. I had heard a lot about the "no worries" mentality and I was so ready to leave all the stress behind me at Allegheny. I didn't have a single negative expectation because I couldn't see anything bad about living in a place where the sun is always shining and where there is such natural beauty everywhere you turn.

I've already been here for almost two months and we're already half-way through with classes. I can't even believe how fast the time is flying. I've met some amazing people and formed many close friendships that I am determined to maintain whenI return to the U.S. All in all, Australia is everything I've ever dreamed it would be and I'm so excited to see what the last two months have in store.

I have to admit that I wait until the last minute to do things, so I am writing this blog entry as more of a reflection.
My preparation for Costa Rica was quite systematic. I followed the packing list to a T and took the medicines suggested by the program handbook. My favorite purchase for the trip happens to be my muck boots. SFS recommended bringing muck boots for “snake protection”. The second I read that, I began my search and found a suitable pair. I though that Costa Rica would be filled with dangerous creatures but thus far have only encountered one in a non-aggressive situation.
Sunday the 7th of September I packed my bags, 50 pounds each and said “farewell” to friends and family. Of the many purchases made for my SFS adventure, the one I regret so far is buying biodegradable products. Upon arrival at the center, we learned that firstly, Tom’s of Maine toothpaste and deodorant don’t work well. Secondly, we don’t reuse greywater at the center anymore so biodegradable products weren’t really worth the search and price.
I imagined Costa Rica to be a lot like Nicaragua but the second we drove out of the airport I found out it wasn't. The people seem to be very similar though - patient, friendly and funny. I thought they would be very similar to Nicaraguans and in that aspect they are. Many Costa Ricans say that Nicaragua is developmentally 15 years behind CR. This is evident in the roadways, technology, and economy.
The biggest cultural assumption I made and still continue to stand by is the male disposition. I was very frustrated by the required readings for study abroad because they left me with no sense of whether or not making generalizations was okay ( a few of the papers were also poorly written, all and all a waste of time I'd say). Part of the reason people assume about different cultures is because they are either taught to think that way or because often that is the way the culture is. In my spanish classes teachers explain that more often than not men from hispanic cultures are more forward and aggressive towards women sexually. That description has come out of the mouths of one teacher from Spain and another from South America. That forcefulness is certainly what I have experienced.
Last night all 27 of us in the program went out to a club and one of the boys said something along the lines of "I don't like the way they objectify you girls". So to me, for the boys to notice, makes this a pretty standard cultural tendency.
All and all I LOVE the program so far but have to get used to "Tico" time. Everyone is more laid back about schedules here and for someone like me (with an anal personality) it is challenging to deal with the program when even the faculty don't know whats going on half the time. It is always exciting though and in every moment I learn something new. The students and faculty are wonderful and interesting people so that is what keeps me going in moments of chaos.

What are some of the cultural expectations (positive and negative) about your host site that you are carrying with you?

I will land in Manchester, England in a smidge less than 2 weeks and from now until then I will continue my packing and buying and decision making on what suitcase(s) I should bring with me. I am horribly indecisive sometimes and am currently having difficulty picking my suitcase. I have a couple to choose from but nothing exactly what I was thinking, like those of which my sister brought when she studies abroad in London a year and a half ago. I expect that when I get there everything will seem rushed, as always equate cities with a quick pace. I think once I find my ride out to my uni I will become more excited and relaxed at the same time. I will however be at the biggest school I will ever attend, which isn’t exactly what I expect to be my cup of tea. (English pun  )

I expect that once I get to Lancaster University I will set up in my dorm and have some problem setting up my computer and internet or my bed or something that always happens at Allegheny – so it is pretty much bound to happen again. Once I get settled it will be strange to have a week of orientation activities with forums and informational meetings and class choosing, because that hasn’t happened since freshman year. I expect it to be just as it’s supposed to be, informative and that I will feel as though I fit in a little bit more after. I expect to enjoy the surroundings of the Uni. and the large tree that occupies the front lawn of my dormitory. I know I will be seeing a couple familiar faces, Jenna and a friend from my high school, Stephanie who happens to be studying abroad at the same school. But, I really expect to meet many English folk which I can travel with and get to know the culture through the people I am with.

It worked out quite nicely that I just met a handful of Englishmen at the YMCA camp that I worked at this summer in Connecticut. None of them attend Lancaster Uni but I think having met them and making tentative arrangements to meet up while there has lowered my feelings of anxiousness upon arrival. I know my parents aren’t fond of the idea of me travelling by myself, so I think so far it is a step in the right direction.

I expect, too, that the specifics for my Senior Comprehensive project will come together and that I can get somewhat of a start on it, so that when I return in the Spring I will not feel too overwhelmed. With that, I hope to visit many museums, galleries and see some art shows that will get my creative mind ambitions working well, to improve myself as an educated artist and a viewer of art. After all, that’s why I’ll be there. I want to capture culturally unique pictures by exploring the hidden alleys, unique towns, and search for expressivity of the people I pass. I expect to the city’s history to become known more thoroughly, as it creates this inspiring, welcoming ambiance that I believe that it holds.

Colonius

This entry would have been better if it were composed three weeks ago, but I'll try to think back on how I was feeling right before I left and how my feelings have changed.

I have already been to Germany three times previously, but never for longer than one week. I have witnessed the culture, but never really have lived in it. My father lived in Germany until he moved to the United States when he was 18, so naturally, I have observed some things that he does that are culturally different from the United States as well. Once in a while, I catch a glimpse of German culture by going to a German festival.They are always joyful, full of great food, and there is always an abundance of beer.

There is a stereotype that all Germans do is drink lots of beer and drive really fast on the Autobahn. From experience, I know this is not completely true but certainly has some level of truth to it. Germans definitely love their beer and take pride in it, but do not binge drink as often as American college students do. In Germany, Autobahn simply means "highway", not a highway that has no speed limit, which is the stereotype (although there are certain highways that you are able to go faster than a normal speed).

What are some of the cultural expectations (positive and negative) about your host site that you are carrying with you?

So I've been living in Germany for about three weeks now. I definitely had some preconceived expectations before I got here - some of which have turned out to be true, and some which have not. First, I kept hearing about how unfriendly the Germans are. I figured I would be snubbed and treated rudely in public. While Germans may not be as openly friendly as Americans are, they are still very friendly. If one has a question or needs help all he or she has to do is ask, and any German is most willing to help. Also, my host family is even more friendly than some American families I know. Second, I thought I would not care for German cuisine because it is typically very heavy. The more traditional German food is heavy, but i have not had too much of it. My host family cooks very international dishes. They are usually different than dishes I would have in America, but they are very good. So I have liked almost all of the food I have eaten in Germany at the present. Lastly, I figured I would be viewed as a wasteful American because Germans are typically very environmentally aware. While no one has said anything to me, I have become aware of every single thing that I use. So Germans may or may not view me as wasteful, but I have at least learned for myself how much I waste.

I have really enjoyed my stay in Germany so far. I discover new things every day and I cannot wait to see what else awaits me!

I think it is really hard to think about cultural expectations I had from Washington, DC. Being in Meadville, PA for over two years now I think I am kind of "Americanized" if not very "Americanized!" I am Americanized enough to trick other international students here at American University to make them think that I am a native speaker and turn to me to get their papers checked.

Things are very different in the City of Power! I knew it before that DC is the political center of US but didn't never thought about the massive power (in form of powerful people) that is just around you. The picture above is REAL and it is Donald Rumsfeld, former United States Secretary of Defense! Just walking down the street you can see and meet people that you have only seen on TV. The power of the city can also be measured with the professional attire this city wears. Traveling on the METRO (subway) you will always see people dressed in suits!

So what do we do to cope with this very professional city? Be one of them! Our classes are not like regular classes and we travel to visit different seminars by some big shot from somewhere. We all are dress up in suits and travel with a group of about 22 students. We look very professional! (I have never shaved that many times a week-EVER)

First few weeks we went to visit major think tanks in the city, conservative and liberal, and debated about the issues. Today we went to the capital building and set through the senate meeting. (yea the place that we see on TV only). Next week we are going to visit WORLD BANK and then IMF! So the power of the city continues...!

Honestly, prior coming to Beaufort, NC i thought that my days would consist of lying around on the beach playing with seashells and counting grains of sand. I thought that students from Duke would be pompous and standoffish. Honestly, i had mixed expectations and didn't know exactly what to expect of the Duke Marine Lab. I found shortly after my arrival that my preconceptions about both the work atmosphere and the people were non-existent. As soon as i stepped into my dorm complex i was greeted by no less than four students. After lobbing my suitcase into my room, me and a couple of doormats headed for the beach. What a way to spend my first day. Upon returning to the dorm, i was introduced to my roommate....perhaps one of the nicest people i know. As for the work atmosphere, i don't spend my days lounging on the beach, but i do spend most of them dealing hands on with the organisms that I'm studying in my textbook. The work that I'm doing in my classes is not easy but it is manageable, and i spend my free time outdoors (which i love).
Beaufort is a beautiful little town full of quaint people that are very friendly. I have experienced none of the stereotypical southern hatred, which many people think still lingers from the civil war era. Everything is copacetic and i couldn't expect anything more from this experience.

Upon deciding to come to Germany this fall, I think, having been here numerous times previous, I had more cultural expectations than someone who had never before been outside of America before. I figured I knew most of what there was to know about German culture.

There was, of course, as there always is, more to learn though. Things you can only learn by living in a German home, and longer than that week I spent living with the Becker family in high school.

Why don't they refrigerate their milk? Where are the paper towels? Where is the junk food?

(On another note, as a bit of a germaphobe, I was really caught off-guard by a lot of things like "Why is there no soap at this school?" but I don't think that's so much of a cultural difference as it is a legitimate health concern...Germany is definitely a nation in which you NEED Purel!)

The people are rather cold emotionally, no-one on the Strassenbahn ever smiles, this is true, and yes, the stereotype of bluntness is also true, particularly with my host, but I have also met my fair share of unbelieveably friendly, nice people here. Like my fellow boarder Martina, for example.

So, I'd say, at first glance, I have encountered a mixed bag. Some of my cultural expectations have been reaffirmed, some challenged, and expectations I've never even thought of before have been thrown in for good measure.

Expectations. An expectation can be a good or bad thing, because it can either define someone in a good or bad way. Honestly, at this point, I forget most of my initial expectations because they have been either been true or false. However, I will do my best to compensate and describe what I thought upon first arriving.

Germans. I have heard various stories from my various German teachers throughout the years. One of these is that Germans drink only mineral water. While this is very true, they also have another unhealthy obsession - Fanta. Basically, Germans love carbonated beverages - with or without sugar. They also love beer - something I was expecting that turned out to be very true.

Another expectation is that Germans are less hygienic than Americans. This is not true. At least, I have certainly not noticed any smelly people on the street trains. I was also led to believe that Germans were very indifferent to sitting with random people at restaurants. For example, if there were to be an open chair at your table, they would sit beside you even if they didn't know you. I have found this not to be the case, but it could just be because I am so blatantly American that no German wants to associate with me.

Overall, Germans are a nice people who are usually friendly to Americans - something which I wasn't sure to expect or not. I would say that most of my expectations have been met positively, and that Germans aren't really all that different from Americans.

A beautifully wonderful picture of the sunset on the plane ride to Germany...

Preparing for my journey was synonymous with preparing my stomach for four months of meat, cheese, and bread. In the German classes I've taken, we've learned that the typical diet of a German consists of these three categories. Now, I like a turkey and american cheese on wheat as much as the next person, but I don't think that's what the Germans have in mind. I've heard so much about the different types of Wurst from regions all around the country, and with every picture of these brownish-purplish meat products, my stomach turns. Germany also has hundreds of types of bread, so that's good, but I don't want to be eating bread all the time either. Cheese? I can take it or leave it. Smelly cheese? Definitely leave it. I've also heard that they don't have peanut butter in Germany. How can a modern country exist without this delicious substance? I'm bringing my own tub of Smart Balance Peanut Butter. Make that two tubs.

While peanut butter is arguably the most important thing in my suitcase, I've also packed several pounds of clothes, shoes, and books. I've heard that the weather in Germany is milder than at the 'Gheny, so I've packed more summery and transitional fall clothing. I'm planning on layering. I've also heard that it barely snows in Köln, which is a welcome change from Meadville.

The expectations I have about German food and weather are easier to describe than my expectations of the people. I've heard so many conflicting traits to describe Germans. I've heard that they are more racist than Americans, and religiously bigoted too, especially against the increasing Muslim population from Turkey and other countries. On the other hand, I've heard that they are also more liberally-minded. Their extensive social benefits, which are paid for by taxes, make America's social benefits pale in comparison. For example, Germany allows either parent to stay home with young children for three years with a guaranteed job waiting for them. In America, staying home with children is either a full-time job reserved for one parent, or is a couple of weeks of maternity or paternity leave, and then a return to one's job. Another example of the social benefits in Germany is the university system, practically free to students, paid for through taxes. College in America is so unbelievably expensive, that many would-be students cannot afford to go. The system of taxing in Germany provides a more equal distribution of wealth, and ultimately benefits the entire society. Sounds pretty good to me.

Those are most of the expectations I have about my host-country. I'm really excited to spend three and a half months there! I'll post again soon!

Coming to Mexico, I had many expectations of the culture that I was going to be a part of for the next 5 months of my life. For the most part, the expectations that I had, have proven to be true but there has been some surprises. First off, I knew coming to Mexico that there would be some great parties, clubs, and celebrations but what I didn’t know is how much they like to have a good time. In Mexico the weekend starts on Thursday, even if you have classes or work the next day. On September 15, Mexico celebrated its independence day, and it was more like our celebrations for New Years. I was in Puerto Vallarta and it was difficult at times to walk through the streets of downtown because it seemed like everyone in Mexico was there. Secondly, I was expecting some very delicious food. I was so excited when my host mother here told me that she loved cooking because I knew I would experience more than the tacos, enchiladas, and burritos that I had in America. I enjoy all that she cooks, the vegetables (pumpkin is commonly eaten), the different meats, and of course all the different salsas. One food that I did not like, and I have never heard of before I came to here are called, chicharrones, and they are basically pig skin and pig intestines in different types of salsa. This was one meal that I did not eat. My last expectation was the manner in which the men treated the girls here, especially foreign girls. When I visited Cuernavaca, Mexico earlier on the EL Trip with Allegheny College, when I would walk down the street I would have obscene words screamed at me and the girls I was walking with by guys passing in cars. I am glad to find out that not all of Mexico is like this. Here in Querétaro, especially the guys I have met at my school, Tec de Monterrey, are very nice and are just like any normal friends. My first few months here have been amazing, and i´m so happy I made the choice to study here, not only just to improve my Spanish skills but also to have a different view on the world.

When signed up to do my study abroad semester in
Washington, DC, I had no idea that I would have so much explaining to
do. Friends, relatives, interested adults, my uninterested peers,
people in the checkout line at the Giant Eagle—everyone felt the need
to tell me that "technically, I mean, going to Washington DC isn't
studying abroad." And, at least from a semantics point of view, they
do have a point. I tended to agree, too; I mean, naturally DC would
be slightly different from Meadville, but would it be that different
from my hometown, Pittsburgh? A city is a city, right? While my two
best friends prepared themselves for a journey around the world, I
readied my normal college checklist with a hint of melancholy. Oh, to
be so naïve once again. Washington DC is a completely unique place
with a culture unlike anything I have ever experienced. There have
been times where I have walked down the street and heard 3 different
languages being spoken. I have tried food since being here I could
have sworn didn't exist a month ago. Through the Washington semester,
I have met students from all over the world and tried to decipher what
my German room mate is mumbling in her sleep. For the first time in
my life, I am the only person that I know who originates from the
great city of Pittsburgh. After spending a month in the nation's
capital, I can confidently say that Washington DC has completely blown
away my cultural expectations by proving that it might have been a
good idea to actually have some to begin with.

Although I assumed DC wouldn't be THAT different, my
perception of the professional world when I signed up for the program
were somewhat skewed; that is to say, I got most of my ideas about
interning from prime time TV and the Monica Lewinski scandal.
Additionally, I had no real experience in a professional setting. I
had spent the last 5 years either watching kids play marco polo in by
bathing suit as a lifeguard or embarking on an arts and crafts project
while wearing a concert t-shirt as a Student Activites office
assistant. I knew coming into the program that I would have to
acquire an internship at an actual, real life workplace. Before
leaving, I went shopping with my poor, infinitely patient mother
hunting for the ever-elusive answer to those two horrible
words--'business casual'. Ultimately I ended up accepting an
internship at XM Satellite Radio's election channel, POTUS (this
stands, naturally, for President, People and Politics Of The United
States). On my first day, I was greeted with a larger than life
picture of Bruce Springsteen on the wall, next to a gigantic Mick
Jagger circa Let It Bleed. As my t-shirt clad guide led us through
the unbelievably cool building, her converse sneakers squeaking on the
floor, I was sure of two things. First, I had landed an internship at
the Promised Land. Second, I was probably a little over dressed,
seeing as I was the only person in sight with anything even remotely
resembling a heel on their shoe. I was shocked to find that no one
watned me to take calls, get them coffee, or file anything. The fact
that I would be doing actual work was (and remains) an exciting and
horrifying prospect.

DC continues to surprise me in tiny ways. Whether
it's homeless people kindly giving me tips on avoiding getting mugged
on the Metro or trying to explain to my hall mates that no, getting a
manicure is not a regular occurrence at Allegheny College, I've found
myself pleasantly surprised in a small way every single day.

I have been in Spain for just over two weeks now - long enough to know which of my expectations and assumptions were right, and which were way off base. The people who live in Sevilla often drop certain letters (s) or parts of words, and I thought that I would be at a total loss for at least my first week. In reality, the people here are not too difficult to understand, and being immersed in it helps you get used to it really quickly. Also, a lot of people here speak at least a little bit of English, so if all else fails a little bit of spanglish works.

I have never been to Spain before, or to Europe at all, but I was told that of all places to go in Spain, Sevilla is the place to go that really looks the way you imagine Spain to be. Needless to say, I was expecting the city to be beautiful, and I haven't been let down. I walk across a river every morning and afternoon on my way to and from school, and it still just seems so picturesque. I had thought that the people here dressed very nicely everyday, and I was worried about having the right clothes to help me fit it. While its true that the people here are generally more stylish than we are at home, people do wear jeans, and some (though not many) do wear flip-flops. I try to fit in as much as possible, but it seems as the the Spaniards can tell who is American with relative ease.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect about siesta - though I was expecting to enjoy it. What pretty much happens is that the whole city (aside from the bars and cafes) closes down for around five hours. While I enjoy the break, it is frustrating to be so limited in the middle of the afternoon. Another expectation I had was about energy conservation and similar things. During the day they don't really use lights in the house, and along the streets are places to put your garbage and recycling. Also, they have washing machines, but everyone hangs up their clothes to dry, so thank God it hardly ever rains here. I think that overall I wasn't sure what to expect, because I've never been here and I knew that no matter what I heard it wouldn't compare to what I'd experience, but I have to say that whatever I did expect, it was far surpassed by the reality.

When students begin to think about a study abroad program the first thing that comes to mind is Location! Location! Location! Who could blame them, imagining yourself in an exotic land, tasting new foods, and experiencing a new culture is an ideal study abroad program. Although I did not choose an exotic location I do in the end get to experience a new culture away from the familiarity of Meadville. Although Washington D.C is the complete opposite of Meadville, I did not have any major worries about coming to D.C. However, I was hesitant about taking the metro all over the city. I had never before taken public transportation and I was completely unfamiliar with Washington D.C. I am happy to report that after about a week of taking the metro, I now know how to navigate my way around the city in ease.

One of the best things about Washington D.C is that there are a lot of different things to see and explore. Since I have arrived I have gone to numerous museums and have visited many of the historic sites that Washington has to offer. There are so many different areas to explore that many times I feel that I do not have enough time to see all that the city has to offer. After I received my internship, I have also had an insiders view on how Washington operates. Since I have been here, I have been able to hear top political leaders, diplomats and consultants.