My time in Strasbourg was an experience that I will forever be grateful for. Since fall of my freshman year I had always dreamed of studying abroad and being able to explore the world while taking classes at the same time. To have the opportunity to completely immerse myself in a new culture and stay for a prolonged period of time was something I will never forget. In my host country, France, I learned a lot about how to interact with the people who lived their and their cultural values. One of the most important and quickest things I learned was to always greet anyone in a business with “Bonjour!” and to end the conversation with “Merci.” and even sometimes “Au revoir.” They are much more willing to help you if you at least learn this because it shows you are trying to understand their culture and I think that is one of the more important lessons I learned. That being to try and adapt these customs they have however small or large they seem so that you are showing you are trying to understand and respect their culture.
My time abroad has changed my perspective on how I judge other cultures. Instead of immediately thinking something is weird or not “normal” I now take a step back and think that it is just not what I am used to. That does not mean it is not right and it is also their normal just not mine. I didn’t realize how easy it is for people to get around not only the city of Strasbourg but just any city as well because of public transportation. Not to mention how easy it is to travel between countries by train. I now understand why it is not a necessity to obtain a driver’s license unlike people in the United States.
This experience has truly broadened my perspective and deepened my appreciation for cultural differences. I have learned to embrace these differences rather than judge them through the lens of what I am familiar with. As I move forward, I will carry these lessons with me, knowing that adapting to and respecting different cultures is key to meaningful interactions in both personal and professional settings.
