I believe that the purpose of study away is to grow as a person. In my case, I was put in the vast city of Paris away from familiarity and with a different language. Being in a situation like this, it taught me much about myself as a person, and discover a new way of thinking which was not possible in the United States. Study away, for me, is all about gaining a different perspective on the world, and on life.
Brockington and Wiedenhoeft mention cross cultural awareness in their text, citing it as "awareness of the diversity of ideas and practices to be found in human societies around the world, of how such ideas and practices compare, and including some limited recognition of how the ideas and ways of one's own society may be viewed from other vantage points." I believe that cross cultural awareness is something a lot of Americans lack, and it is much to our detriment. Back in the United States, we seem so far off from the problems the rest of the world faces, and much of the time we only read about them in the news. I feel many Americans go day to day without thinking about the bigger picture, and before studying abroad, I can say I was one of them. However, as an American abroad, many of those problems are present here in France, and they are something I see every day.
When explaining my study abroad experience to friends and family, I will say that it was an extremely positive experience in which I learned a new way of thinking, and met many interesting people who all impacted the way I see the world. When explaining it to employers and graduate programs, I can say that I was on my own in an unfamiliar place, however I thrived with the opportunities I was given here, and definitely made the most of my experience.
I am extremely thankful to have had the opportunity to study abroad, as it's something many college students think about but fewer pursue. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Paris, and with about a month remaining, I'll have to make the most of my time left here.
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