So it’s about that time again, holidays are ending and you’re starting to get ready to go back to school – or to study abroad. Most study abroad spring semester trips will be leaving within a week or two, and if you’re going on one, you are probably frantically trying to figure out what to pack, how much money to bring and that sort of stuff.
Well let me tell you while all of that is extremely important, it is not nearly as important as blending in with the culture you’ll be living with for the next semester. The last thing you want to do is be classified as a crazy, American tourist and be laughed at and disrespected in tongues you don’t understand.
So how do you blend in, you ask?
First of all, no backpacks! Obviously the supposed main purpose of studying abroad is to take classes in a different country, but people in European countries know Americans use backpacks. As a backpack user myself, I feel it is okay for me to say this: Europeans are too stylish to carry around these things. They use shoulder bags – yes, even the guys. At first it may seem weird how much the men accessorize, but in Europe, style is their culture. So no backpacks.
No Uggs girls! You can buy pretty boots to wear every day, even snow or rain boots are more acceptable to compare with European style. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a new wardrobe for your feet just to go away, but I would seriously invest in weather boots and things nicer than Uggs because they scream American. Not what you’re trying to do.
You can get away with wearing dresses, jeans and sweaters, same things you’d wear here, but besides fashion there is something very important you must, must, must understand: their language! I’m not saying you need to be fluent in espanol if you’re going to Madrid for the semester, but knowing certain phrases are very important. Try to learn these before heading abroad:
“Hello,” “Goodbye”
Please,” “Thank you,” “You’re welcome”
“My name is___”
“I don’t speak much____” (explains you’re trying, but not fluent)
“How much is this?”
“Where is the bathroom?”
“I would like_____” (for ordering food purposes)
Now keep in mind these are just a few simple phrases. But they are ones that will pop up over and over, so to know how to ask and order certain things gives the native people the sense you respect their culture and are trying to live their lives. They’ll be more accepting and who knows, they may even answer you in English if they know it. Just trust me, don’t go to a country without prepping yourself on a little language.
Lastly, you want to have fun and travel and experience new things, but keep the map hidden. Nothing makes you look like a tourist besides a huge map covering your face in the streets of Rome. Don’t do it. Learn how to say “where is the_____,” and know directional cues (right, left, straight) and find places that way.
Buon voyage!
