My time abroad in Strasbourg, France has changed how I view not only myself but the life around me as well. Throughout my 4 months living abroad, I have learned how open-mindedness can allow you to learn about other people and the cultures you’re surrounded by. In France, I was able to take a class focused on international business negotiation, where I experienced real-life scenarios of negotiation in business, with individuals from other countries. Overall, I was not expecting this class experience to be different than what I have at Mays, however, I realized that there was much more to learn from the differences I was experiencing. Being taught by French professors meant learning about their unique insights from working in the business world of a different country.
My time abroad has changed my perspective on learning to live independently and be adaptable. Being far away from all my family and friends taught me the power of doing things alone. Small activities like getting lunch could have been more lonely, but I took it as a chance to observe my surroundings in the country that I was in. Being adaptable was a trait I learned to develop during my time abroad, as this was a semester full of changes. While I was in France, I got to experience some of the biggest strikes that had happened in several years. With these disruptions came cancellations, delays, and unexpected obstacles. I was able to overcome these obstacles by taking things one at a time, and moving one day at a time, by slowing down.
My initial impression of going abroad was that I would get to travel some and navigate around a new city, and that would be all. However, the growth I experienced displays to me that I absorbed every part of the country I was living in, and the experiences I was going through. Because of this study abroad experience, I have come out a stronger person.
