Benefits of Online Discussion Forum

The online discussion forums throughout the semester were very interesting. Not only did it give me an opportunity to reflect on some of my own experiences but I was able to relate to others studying abroad in various places. I was also able to gain some insight on what it would be like to be studying in a different country. When I decided to study abroad I considered many different places and it was interesting to see what possible experiences I could have had if I had chosen a different place to study abroad. Although some of the experiences discussed seemed different, some seemed very similar. In one discussion we talked about some difficulties and I found i had encountered similar situations to some other students.  I responded to the discussion:

I think living in a foreign culture has definitely helped me to understand my abilities better. Like someone mentioned earlier, everyday life tasks in Rome can easily turn into an all day adventure. Simple things at first were often a great task. Things like laundry without dryers, going to the open air market or a special shop instead of a one stop shopping super center like Wal-mart and even getting to school or going to dinner with friends was often a huge ordeal at first. It was difficult for me to understand the transportation and timing of things as well as manage my time correctly.  Learning to navigate a public transportation system as extensive as Rome’s has shown that I underestimated my abilities. I observe in an International School here in Rome and have to take 3 different buses (or a the tram and then 2 buses) which at first was a daunting and almost seemingly impossible task. I thought I would never be able to figure it out but have come a long way since then and basically have the bus and tram routes down to science.

Other situations, such as registering for classes, signing up for housing, communicating with advisers, and applying for summer positions have also showed me that things are not as easy as I thought they would be when I am abroad. I thought that with the technology of e-mail all of these tasks which is usually fairly easy when in the states would have been similar while being abroad because most of them are centered around e-mail. I have recently been proven wrong as I have found it very difficult to stay on top of these types of tasks because it often involves extensive e-mailing. Also, many summer positions, both intern and volunteer, expect me as an applicant to be available by phone but once again I must rely on e-mail. Once again, I thought I would not have the organizational skills and patience for that matter, to keep all of these matters in line but I surprised myself. I have kept up with dates and deadlines for things such as a job for next semester when I thought I would not be able to because I am so far away

Both of these situations have showed me that with enough concentration and will power I can often exceed my beliefs in myself and I think that is one of the most valuable lessons I have learned while studying abroad.

Many students related to the second part of my statement. It was often difficult adjust to how difficult  some tasks were because had I been in the United States they would have been simple and routine. the online discussions helped me realize I was not the only one who felt this way, which was very comforting.