Asia, Europe, and everything in between

[culturediving]

Why should I?

"Why should I go on exchange?"

Oh, the million-dollar question. This Northwestern page does a swell job of summing it up (including an impeccably worded quote from Michelle Obama), but here are my personal big five:

1. You will become a cooler human being.

I mean, you will become more open-minded. 

When a Spanish native "rudely" steps around your house with her shoes on, you might crinkle your brows in disbelief. But once you live here long enough, you will realize you were simply looking at the situation through your own culturally biased lens.

When you see that literally nothing is open during siestas and Sundays, you'll think, "What the heck is wrong with Pamplona..." But upon integrating into the local lifestyle for a while, you will realize that they simply take their rest hours very seriously here, in a different way from what you grew up knowing.

You will realize that the customs and views you have always known are NOT "more right" than those of someone else's culture. Your customs are simply different, and you will come to appreciate these differences.

(Source: Pin from Gloholiday & GeniusQuotes)

On another hand, you may have a heart-to-heart conversation with your Scottish friend one night at the hostel room. Through opening up to each other about your stories and thoughts, you will experience the power of vulnerability, and may even start to feel that you guys are really not that different in some ways.

2. You will learn to juggle like a pro.

You will simultaneously juggle travels, socials, exams, three group projects, presentations, meetings, Crazy Wednesdays, exercise, and, of course, healthy eating. All of this while reflecting and updating your blog/social media presence regularly, AND keeping in touch with your friends back home.

If you thought you could never learn to juggle, you were wrong.

3. You will exercise your decision-making skills and judgment.

Traveling and juggling so many aspects of exchange life will make you a master of weighing the costs and benefits of your decisions. For example: Will this trip yield a sufficient ROI (return on investment)? Is it worth the 300 €, the time, the missed classes/quizzes/etc? If I don't go with this plan, what are our alternatives?

While abroad, you will also encounter different types of dilemmas that put your judgment to the test. Through each of these, you will learn a little more about yourself... What do I find meaningful? What excites me? What do I value and prioritize?

4. You will become more confident.

But first, you will feel uncomfortable. You will get shocked, and a teeny bit nervous. Things will not go according to plan, but - no pasa nada - you will empower yourself to go with it and move on.

You will realize you can do all sorts of things... You can improvise when something goes wrong. You can successfully negotiate with a landlord who does not speak a word of English. You can protect yourself from thieves. You can communicate and develop meaningful friendships with fellow students from Poland, Germany, and Korea.

When you travel and experience local life in so many different places, you will see that different individuals have different definitions of beauty, success, and happiness. After meeting the fellow with the mohawk at your hostel who literally introduced himself as "peter pan," you will hear his unique perspectives on life, and realize that you don't have to be a certain way in order to be awesome. You can be who you are. And that is awesome.

5. You will learn to seize every moment.

Because when you know you only have four months to maximize this once-in-a-lifetime exchange, you are going to meet everything with a sparkling eye.

You are going to muster up the courage to talk to that Spanish stranger.

You are going to say, "YES!" when invited to hit the Camino de Santiago with some friends, even though you're still sore from strength-training yesterday.

You are going to make sure you actualize your dream travels in Europe by December 31st of this semester (because the "Don't worry, it can wait for your honeymoon" mindset won't cut it for you). 

In other words, going on exchange will help you gain valuable hard AND soft skills.

On the "hard side," it will develop your time-management, decision-making, and flexible problem-solving skills.

On the "soft side," you will come back with increased empathy, interpersonal sensitivity, and open-mindedness.

This means...

Your exchange experience will make you a better friend...a better coworker...a better citizen...a better future manager.

Still hesitating to go on exchange?

(Source: BottomLineCoaching)

DO IT.

(I'm lookin' at you, G and D.)

Most sincerely,

Un abrazo de Emily Chen

[culturediving]

The little moments

I have a tendency to remember little things.

I still remember the conversation I had with a friend 8 years ago about his favorite cartoon character; the joy that spilled out of an elderly guest when I helped him find a gift for his granddaughter; the moment my friend and I first "clicked" while chatting and munching on burnt lentil burgers.

The other night, some friends and I had a mid-exchange reunion  to look through our memories together. While giggling at all the photos and videos, I realized that the little moments are what I'm going to miss the most about my 2014 exchange.

From my travels, I will remember...

That time S and I looked up at the sky right as the sun was setting, and it suddenly hit S:  ”Sh*t. We’re in GREECE!!”

That time in Barcelona when YJ and I tried to "strut the runway" but doubled over in laughter

That time we raged over Spanish customer service together

That time we met a woman at Salt & Pepper Restaurant in Santorini who genuinely ran her business with joy and love

Sleeping at the airport to catch an early flight the next day (one time, the Bilbao airport was so brightly lit , S and I burst into laughter when we woke up as we saw that we had both put on our shades)

Doing funky yoga poses with S and J after scaling an active volcano in Santorini

Spotting interesting sights and debating about what they mean

From Pamplona, I will miss...

The night we made Y cry happy tears

Seeing snazzy foreign signs everywhere

Talking to strangers in Spanish (and then asking them to please speak a little slower)

The wrinkly smile of the sweet old lady I always bump into in my building

My German roommate's confused look every time he sees me eating pasta with chopsticks or cooking my lettuce (versus eating it raw)

Walking into the panaderia (bakery) on Iturrama, taking in a deep breath of the heavenly aroma, and skipping home with a warm baguette under my arm

Chatting with fellow exchange students until 4 AM after our weekly gathering at E's flat (yup, every week, we find an excuse to have a party)

Constantly finding a giant watermelon in the fridge due to our daily "watermelon roomie bondings"

I will also remember the little things in between:

The baguette that saved me when I was starving on my first day in Pamplona (though I had already wolfed down 80% of the baguette by the time I thought of taking this affectionate portrait)

The sunlight pouring through the stained glass at La Sagrada Familia that danced off the walls and over our feet

The kids squealing and chasing after bubbles at Plaza de Espana

The sign in Greece that made everyone smile

The symbolic "David & Nick" lock I spotted on one of my trips

But most of all...

I will miss the curious people I met, their stories, and the warm friendships I developed throughout this chapter of my life.

(Source)

Honestly, this chapter has gone by way too quickly.

Pamplona, can you stop fast-forwarding through the pages?

Cariñosamente,

Emily Chen

[culturediving]

Living in a country without rules: try to be TOUGH

Imagine this:

1. As a poor exchange student, you were supposed to receive your bank card two week ago but you hadn’t. You went to the bank and asked, and the staff said,”I have totally no idea.”

2. As a poor exchange student, you wanted to change the currency you brought into EUROs. You went to the the bank, they did give you. But it’s a 500 dollar bill and they refused to give you smaller ones.

3. As a poor exchange student, You called the bank and try to solve some problem. But the 10 EUROs you just recharged into the prepaid card was used up in 5 minutes during the call because the bank DIDN’T tell you that is a international telephone number.

4. As a poor exchange student, you have to make ends meet and spend as less as possible. You parents transferred some money to the local bank account you opened here, but sadly you found that they charged you a significant amount of service fee. You asked them, only to hear them said they dint know, they didn’t do it.

All of the things happen with the bank is bad enough. However, what if you landlord is even more unreasonable…? Imagine to live with a dictator. She Keep putting her nose on every single stuff about your living. She always be mad with you if you stay up late, using her electricity. She may also be offended by you if you turn the lights on at day time because she thinks the outside is really sunny and bright enough. You cannot cook at any time you want because she wants to keep the kitchen smells good. She enters your own room without your permission and move your belongs.

The worst thing of all: she tries to charge you more for electricity even though your rent includes it already.

Sounds crazy right? It just happen to me. And it is even more exhausting trying to fight with a greedy landlord in influent spanish…

Exchanging abroad is never a bed of rose. Try to be tough.

(Finally I get rid of her… With a bit sacrifice)

Nai-Jen, Lin

[culturediving]

Top 5 Exchange Student Problems

It ain't all rainbows and unicorns. Allow me to guide you through a countdown of 5 problems we exchange students have come to embrace:

#5. Dilemmas, dilemmas... All day e'ryday.

Should I skip a week of class for a chance to visit Greece, even though: a) I will miss a quiz and a birthday party,  b) it'll make my teacher displeased, c) I am already behind on homework and midterms are coming up, d) it'll cost more $$ than trips to nearer destinations, and e) the friends I was going with dropped out? *Proceeds to create a cost-benefit matrix*

This postcard or that postcard?

Hostel A or Hostel B? Hostel B's booking.com reviews look much more promising AND it provides free wifi, but Hostel A is 3€ cheaper per night, which means 12€ cheaper over the span of our stay. BUT: Hostel A is in a less convenient location...but oh wait, it offers free towels and breakfast! *Proceeds to calculate opportunity costs in Excel*

Should I go with my friends to watch a bullfight?

#4. Trying to save money while trying to see the world

(Source: Study Abroad Memes Facebook page)

Get up at 4 AM so I can take the cheapest morning train to go to the cheapest airport to take the cheapest flight? No problema...My 13 alarms have got my back.

"How do I take the leap and go to GREECE, my dream destination, when it costs an arm and 3/4 a leg?!" My dear, start by taking the 6-hour night bus to the cheapest transferring city and spending the night in the airport despite the cold. This way, you can take the cheapest early-morning flight while saving money on hostels.

Reminder: leave that suitcase at home, 'cause that's going to cost you another 30€. Carry-on backpacks will become your wisest friends.

(Source: Study Abroad Memes Facebook page)

#3. Realizing that you should have chosen Hostel A...

When you took a shower at a hostel and emerged dirtier than before:

Lord only knows who has showered in that nasty hostel shower before you. Enjoy finding bugs and other people’s hair on the walls and in the drain.

(Source: "#StudyAbroadProblems" from Elite Daily)

Oops. Is this really a safe neighborhood to be walking through?

(Source: The Time I Studied Abroad Tumblr blog)

#2. Getting tongue-tied in 3 different languages.

English, Chinese, Spanish, and what's that?...Spanglish, Chinglish, Spa-nese?! Your tongue is bound to get confused at some point. 

(Source: Pin from lookhuman.com)

(Source: Exchange Students Memes Facebook page)

I guess it doesn't help that you're learning Korean phrases from your Korean roommate, having lunch with your Polish friends, and learning Spanish songs while speaking Mandarin with your Cantonese pals. Don't be too hard on yourself when you subconsciously start speaking Spanish to a confused waiter in Greece.

But above all...

#1. Missing your loved ones back home

When everyone posts pictures of their Thanksgiving feasts:

(Source: The Time I Studied Abroad Tumblr blog)

Every darn Thanksgiving, Moon Festival, birthday, and Christmas.

A candid shot from a cozy Thanksgiving with my friends last year.

On a random day, you'll walk through a gorgeous path on campus and think, "Z would LOVE walking here."

You'll spot a yogurt brand of the same name as your friend, and recall the cozy Chinese New Year's Eve that you guys had homemade hotpot together.

You'll see the red candles at La Sagrada Familia and wish you could hug your mom.

You'll stare into the gorgeous sunset in Santorini and reminisce the time in Vancouver when you and your friends ran down to English Bay to splash around until sunset. 

But sometimes, the sentimental feelings will creep up for no particular reason even when you're just washing your broccoli or strolling through an alley.

Indeed, it's not all rainbows and unicorns.

I've gotta say though...You will find some breathtaking rainbows while abroad.

Best,

Emily Chen

[culturediving]

Week 7: Talk, feel, experience

Hola! It is the 7th week already! Can’t believe it, right?

  Just to recap a little bit. In the past 7 weeks, Emily, Bebee and I have been sharing our views on living in a different country. We shared our happy moments with friends, angry experience with the local bank and observations about food culture and languages etc.

  It has been an awesome experience to tell our stories. It is in the middle of my exchange life but I already miss everything here.

 Miss the sun going through the leaves and the shadows on the grass

  Miss the road I walk everyday to school

Miss the cutest toasts my friends made for the picnic

Miss the way I look up to sky when I am walking in the old town

  We soon develop ways to get adjusted to the new environment and share tips on dealing with culture shock. Internet resources are abundant, like Cultural Diversity Examples: Avoid Stereotypes while communicating and Intercultural Communication Adventure with Little Pilot. They give useful advice for communication.

  So we have been telling you that, ‘yeah, you are on exchange. You are in a different country. Just keep you mind wide open. Learn a new language. Blablabla…’

  But did I forget to tell you one thing? One foremost important thing?

It's the willingness to talk to people, literally, TALK, not. whatsapp, not. Facebook. messengers.

In Pamplona,or in other parts of Spain, personal interaction is everywhere.

We all know that internet or digital communication is sort of ‘replacing’ the traditional way of communication: talk to people face to face.

The first time I went for juexintxos, I aimed at the cheap and delicious food. But then I soon realised it is the value of going for juevintxos lies in that we can meet our friends, have a few beers and chat with them.

People are there to speak, to talk, to communicate. You seldom (or even never) see people going there, having juevintxos with their eyes staring at the cell phones all the time.

I can guarantee, if you come to Hong Kong, you will definitely see a scene like this:

(Photo credit: http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20140307/00405_001.html) 

We seldom talk face to face. We talk to the phones. We chat with the phones.But in Pamplona, I found the touching moments that I haven't come across for a long time in Hong Kong, which is a hustle and bustle city. 

In Hong Kong, this is how most of the children spend their weekends.

(Photo credit: http://www.nepg.com.hk/detail.aspx?nid=97551)

In Pamplona, it is what we can see how children spend their weekends:  fathers playing football with children on the grass. 

And sometimes there are the heart-melting moments when you walk in the park and see a handsome and loving father playing with his little baby.

  To me, the nicest thing of going on exchange is not just about learning different cultures. 

It's about learning about LIFE.

It's about learning to adjust your pace.

It's about learning to appreciate little things in your life that you have always overlooked or ignored owing to your hectic schedule.

Even if the exchange is over, its influence on our values shall be seen and reflected in our souls, by we do and how we think. 

And of course we shouldn’t just stop there. 

Learning is never ending. So is experiencing life.

 Yuen Man Ki

[culturediving]

Week 6: Be awesome today. Seize the moment.

(Photo credit: http://kerbyrosanes.deviantart.com/art/DOODLE-ART-Never-Quit-Drawing-350431953)

If you ask me what the best thing of culture diving in 2014, I would say, the best thing is NOW.

We are still breathing, still being able to see the first beam of sunlight, still being able to good morning to our beloved family and friends. Isn't that good enough?

And the best thing about culture diving is, it is not restricted by time.

As long as you are ready, you can dive into the sea of cultures.

(Photo credit: Elena Kalis)

But of course, when you go diving, you need to have a few things to help you dive better and keep you surviving.

1. Keep your mind wide open

(Photo credit: http://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/showthread.php/showthread.php?t=852443)

Keeping your mind open is just like carrying your spare air under the sea. Without it, you can't survive.

2. Learn the language 

(Photo credit: http://www.divinghk.com/CorpDefault.aspx?corpname=divinghk)

As I mentioned in my earlier blog Learn Different Cultures on Social Media, language is the door to a new culture. It helps you look at things clearly. 

3. Build the bonding

  (Photo credit: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/sun-protection-scuba-diving-suit-Swimming-full-bodysuit-Swimsuit-Swimwear-Dive-Surfing-Wetsuit-high-quality-submersible/1017019362.html)

Bonding in a foreign country is like the diving suit, It can keep you warm when you are in a totally different place. 

4. Be curious

(Photo credit: http://www.scubadivingfanclub.com/Diving_Fins.html)

Put on diving fins so that you can dive deeper and swim like a fish. We are not little mermaids. We have feet. So, in order to dive better in the sea of cultures, we need the curiosity to be our motivation and drive.

Time doesn't wait for anyone.

Don't wait until 2015, 2016, 2017...

Why not be a little mermaid now and come dive into the sea of culture with us? ;)

(Photo credit: http://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/news/sony-picks-up-dark-version-of-little-mermaid-.jpg)

Yuen Man Ki

[culturediving]

A simple way into different culture: CouchSurfing!

(Photo credit: http://www.thecrazyhistoryofhistory.com/2012/04/what-is-couchsurfing-by-way.html)

CouchSurfing has become a booming trend these years. But what is CouchSurfing? As its name reveals, the website Couchsurfing.org provides a platform for members to find a couch to “surf”, to stay in local people’s house while traveling. And if interested, you can also offer your own couch for other members to surf, or simply join the surfer gathering events in the city you live. It’s such an awesome idea, not only because it’s totally free, enabling members to travel within budget, but also it’s a good way to meet locals, visit new place they recommend. Who will be better than a local hippie to show you the night-life, or tip you off to the best local music? For people who with adventurous blood, why not? “It’s just like a blind date where the person brings his toothbrush.”

(Photo credit: http://www.thecrazyhistoryofhistory.com/2012/04/what-is-couchsurfing-by-way.html)

But keep in mind that DO NOT use CouchSurfing just as an way to save money. Try to be socialable as much as you can. Most of the members of CouchSurfing are open-minded and willing to embrace exotic culture, so don’t be too shy and just dive into local life as deep as you can!

Upon joining CouchSurfing.org, you are asked to create an online profile. You need to enter your current locations, the place you plan to go travel, personal missions, philosophies, the kind of music, books and movies you like, and the skills you can exchange with others, the craziest things you have ever done, etc. So members can check each other’s profile to see whether this person is preferable for a stay or a hangout.

However, the most important thing is always safety, so no matter you are traveling alone or not, you’d better check the recent comments left by previous surfers to see the hosts are reliable or not before you crash on their couch.

As the official mission of CouchSurfing goes, “Our goal is nothing less than changing the world.” I think it is really a good way to explore your world! I am gonna surfing to a couch in Amsterdam with my friends next week, and our host is a very hospitable gentleman. Although we haven't meet each other, but we have started to share the music we like! :^) Let me tell you about my new discoveries after my very first try of CS afterwards! Although sleeping in a stranger's house seems crazy, but every stranger is a future friend, so...why not?

If you are interested after reading my words, you can also check this interesting article “You are welcome.” or CouchSurfing what To see more about CouchSurfing! :-D

X.O.X.O.

Nai-Jen, Lin

[culturediving]

Week 5: Learn different cultures on social media

Language gives you something which you can connect to other people

  This is a quote from a Prodigy hyper-polyglot Tim Doner. In the video Teen Speaks Over 20 Languages, he demonstrated that language can really bridge people from different places together. I was amazed by his talent in languages and appreciated him very much for the effort he has put in learning languages.

  Knowing a language thoroughly is a big challenge. Even Cantonese is my mother tongue; I still feel there is room for improvement, not to mention my second, third and fourth language.

  Being able to speak English has already helped a lot when you are in a foreign country. But during my stay in Spain, I realise that even if you speak the same language, say English, you still have to encounter the problems of having different accents. The more common difference is American English and British English.

  I remember when I first did the grocery shopping with my American roommate; she said she wanted to buy some jelly for her bread with the peanut butter.

   The image that bumped into my mind was:

(Photo source: http://jwtalk.net/forums/uploads/monthly_07_2013/post-1015-0-27272900-1374801930.jpg )

So I was like: What? Jelly with peanut butter? Isn’t jelly a dessert?

But then she explained to me that she was actually talking about this:

  (Photo source: http://eofdreams.com/data_images/dreams/jam/jam-02.jpg)

I usually call it JAM but not JELLY. After that I searched about it on the internet and found a quite interesting video BRITISH V.S. AMERICAN ACCENTS!  on Youtube. (Youtube is a great place for looking for learning a new language!) You can also find the differences between American English and British English on the British Council.

Undoubtedly, language is one of the biggest barriers when you live in a different country. There is no universal language in the world. Well, music maybe. But you can’t sing or play the guitar to ask the staff in supermarket where the sausages are. In practical terms, you still need WORDS.

  Sometimes I think drawing may help. For example, if I don’t know how to put that word, like sausages, in another language, I can at least draw them.

  So this is what I think I can draw.

(Photo source: http://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/grilled-sausage-on-fork-vector-1198896)

  But it turns out I drew something like this…

      Of course…I’m not professional hahaha

Let me show you something professional.

  (Source: Rachel Ryle on Youtube)

   It is from the illustrator and animator Rachel Ryle. She will show you around in her colourful and interesting drawings the different cultures in different countries!  

I really love her work because it brings you a little smile on your face and shows you the essence of a country's special. 

If you like her too, follow her on Instagram or Facebook. :)

Yuen Man Ki

[culturediving]

My mid-exchange-life crisis

What am I doing with my life here? How have I been maximizing my exchange? It suddenly hit me that mid-October has arrived, which means I have almost reached the midpoint of my short 4 months here.

Before I know it, I will be squirming on a plane back to Vancouver wondering where the past 4 months went. "Emily, what do you want to accomplish before your precious time here comes to an end?!" I asked myself.

Seeking ideas, I researched veteran exchange students' reflections and found Her Campus' 6 Ways to Get the Most Out of Studying Abroad. (Her Campus is a prominent source of college-related literature written by students/college journalists). Upon reading Paylor's advice to "travel with a mission," I decided to create a To Accomplish Before 12/31/2014 list for my exchange.

First, some big-picture reminders for myself:

Do cool things. Spontaneously deciding to go on a 7.5 hour hike on the Camino de Santiago was a swell start. I won't forget how much my friends and I laughed when we tried to eat our sandwiches in the monstrous wind, how our jaws dropped when we saw a full-bridged rainbow at the top, or how we climbed onto a spiky haystack and accidentally got dried cow dung on our backpacks.

Seize every day! The magic of exchange is that it is a time-bound, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When you know you only have 4 months to explore this foreign land, you naturally are on your toes every day striving for as much as you can, rather than laying around saying, "Maybe tomorrow..."

Now for 4 specific things I want to do:

1. Travel solo for the first time. Shush, self-doubts. It is time to try exploring a curious foreign place without the comforting presence of someone else to depend on.

Sure, I will get lost in an alley, encounter unexpected situations,...maybe break out in nervous sweat for a moment or two. But I will learn to find solutions on my own, see the beauty in the graffiti-filled alley, embrace a reflective moment, and come back with new confidence and new stories to share.

On another hand, traveling solo will also encourage me to get to know other travelers at my hostel more. I can't wait to see what kinds of interesting people I meet!

(Image sourced from genreality.net)

2. Be a street artist for a day. Because por qué no?

This idea actually was born when my friend joked, "HAHA we might as well make a band and sing at the Plaza de Castillo." We all burst into laughter at this crazy thought...Then a second later, our eyes widened and we looked at each other in unified enlightenment. "Omg, that would actually be so cool!!"

Really, when else will we have this chance to sing in a street for a Spanish audience just for the heck of the experience? We can free our minds from worrying about what people may think of us, and simply concentrate on having fun together. Who knows...we might even get a coin or two thrown at us when we have our little gig. :-)

3. Dance in a flashmob in Spain.

Ohoho. I signed up for my school's grupo de baile (dance club)! This is a juicy opportunity to try hip hop/jazz/funky dance just for fun with friendly local Spanish students. We will perform in a flashmob at the end of the term, during which I'm sure we will put a smile on many pedestrians' faces. :)

When was the last time you learned a hobby just for fun, without feeling pressure to be good at it or to "make something of it"? There is nothing wrong with dancing for fun like nobody's watchin'. Hobbies are important.

4. Host mingling events to bring different friends together.

There's something uniquely satisfying about uniting different people and seeing new friends connect during a gathering. Last month, a group of friends and I had a blast organizing a creative birthday party for my roomie. After experiencing how our group bonded in a mutual mission to make my roomie feel like the star that she is, I cannot wait to host more gatherings such as:

International Curry Night (yup, so the whole house can smell like curry and so I can show off my vegetarian lentil fabulousness).

The Carrot Battles (or Broccoli Battles, or Potato War if that puts more of a twinkle in your eye). This is where all honorary participants come together in the name of the carrot and innovate different dishes featuring...well, carrots. Of course, we must vote on "Most Drool-worthy," "Ugliest Dish," and "Most Likely To Be Rejected By A Rabbit." This also happens to be a genius way to use up that huge bag of carrots that I didn't know what to do with. 

Mid-exchange Reunion. It's official- I have created the Facebook event for this coming Thursday:

Remember that time we made Y cry happy tears on her birthday? Or that excited look on L's face when she tried Korean hot sauce for the first time, then nearly breathed fire because it was too spicy?

Amigos, we have reached the midpoint of our exchange life here (where did the time go?!). We have made many memories together, and this is the time to have a reunion evening to look over our photos together, laugh at our terrible selfies and video logs, and remind ourselves to create many more moments in our last 2 months together. Bring yo photos and vids (in a computer or USB), yoselves, and a dish to share. ;)  Here's to a lovely evening of laughing, reminiscing, and reflecting together! ♥

What social event ideas do you have? What are some of YOUR to-accomplish items?

Stay spunky, folks. Best,

Emily Chen

[culturediving]

Week 4: Be a brave girl

I believe there must be a sense of being adventurous and an impulsiveness to travel around the world in everyone’s blood.

  Okay, honestly, what draws me to Spain? What draws me to the world of unknown?

  A few years back then, I watched a travel programme on TV in Hong Kong called ‘Life on Horizon-Different People, Same World’.

(Photo source: http://i.imgur.com/WQOfD.jpg)

I'm sorry that the program is in Chinese and  there are no English subtitles yet. But I can be your translator and tell you more a bit about the program. In this program, Priscilla went to 20 countries within 60 days. Unlike other travel programs, she didn't go to the most luxurious hotels and the best dining restaurants. Instead, she contacted strangers via facebook to look for accommodation and hosting. (Just like what the Couching Surfing does.)  

 Traveling is not just about sight-seeing, having the best food in town, shopping and clubbing etc. The host of the program, Priscilla Wong, has started to travel around the world in her 20s. Her programme demonstrates that there are a lot of FUN, CRAZY and MEANINGFUL things to do when you travel. For example,

  Volunteer to build a house for local people

(Photo Source: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/05/11/EN1105110023.htm)

Help giving out free portable water to the needy

Go to a local wedding ceremony

Wash your greasy hair with just a small bag of water during the 7-day train trip on Trans Siberia

Go to a circus group in Moscow and try to learn

Write calligraphy for your foreign friend

(Photo Source: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3q6A71paRmk/hqdefault.jpg)

Teach the local people the Chinese martial arts TaiChi  

Try to sell coffee in the market in return for a free coffee and one Turkish Lira

   Not until that time my impulsiveness to get to know the world has been triggered, and since then I have always wanted to go around and meet new people.

I want to be as brave as Priscilla. I want to see the world. 

   We often want to break the dull and boring routine and change our ordinary life, but we are afraid of changes. We lack the courage. 

It's the same when you're thinking of going on an exchange. When you're on an exchange,

no one cooks for you and you have to cook ALL BY YOURSELF

no one cleans the room for you and you have to do all the housework ALL BY YOURSELF

No one takes your dirty clothes to laundry and you have to do it YOURSELF. 

no one will buy the tissue papers, detergent, your favourite ice-cream, essential milk and cereals for you and you have to go to the supermarket, pick all things up and carry them home ALL BY YOURSELF.

A lot of things change in your lives. They can be good. They can be bad. Someone may wonder, why do you  go on exchange and give up your original stable and comfortable life?

I would say, come on, WHY NOT?

As the lyrics go,

We are young So let's set the world on fire We can burn brighter than the sun

(This video belongs to Fueled by Ramen.)

Let us all be the dream chasers. Be brave.

Yuen Man Ki

[culturediving]

You're just a customer.

Hopping on the next flight to Spain? Leave your customer service expectations at home. Let's also get you a reality check from The Truth About Customer Service In Spain before you find yourself getting trolled for the first time.

(Note: This blog post will be based off of subjective personal observations which may not necessarily be representative of the general trend in Spain.)

I hate to break it to you, but as the article implies, it's likely that in many cases: You will not feel like a valued customer.

Nope. Even if Banco Santander claims, "Queremos ser tu banco" ("We want to be your bank") all over their posters, don't believe this fairytale. Their employees evidently don't believe it either. 

What happened?

I checked my mailbox continuously for 3 weeks expecting my debit card to arrive. When it still didn't arrive the day before my departure for a trip that required cash, I grew concerned and went to the bank to ask. As I stood in front of the bank representative, he leaned back in his chair and chuckled. "The man before you asked the same thing. All the debit cards in the recent lot just seem to have been delayed."

In my mind: Okay...so why didn't anyone bother to notify customers of this delay to prevent customers from growing worried? And why are they not even apologizing for the inconvenience caused by this delay?

However, I softened the thoughts in my head and simply asked,

"Alright, so when can I expect the card to arrive?"

"I don't know." he shrugged casually.

For a few seconds, I looked at him and he looked at me.

"...You don't know? You have absolutely no idea?"

"No idea at all." he assured me.

My thoughts: So you're not going to offer any solution? Do you care about how I will be able to conveniently survive the next mysterious "x" number of days/weeks/months(?) with no cash, no card, nor even an estimate of when I will get my card?

Trying not to be offended by his apathetic attitude, I took a deep breath and said, "Okay. I will just exchange these US dollars to Euros then."

The next thing I knew, he laid a single 500-euro bill and two 100-euro bills in front of me. Where in the world can one even use a 500-euro bill?

"May I have smaller bills please?" I asked politely.

He gave me a firm look and stated, "ONLY for this ONE 100-euro bill."

I kindly asked for the 500-bill to at least be split into hundreds. "Nope. I don't have any change," he outright refused.

My thoughts: Um. Aren't you the bank? If even you, my own bank representative, are not willing to give me change for this 500-bill, who else will? How will I be able to use this bill?

Even if we put aside the question of the bill size, I wondered how a bank could treat their customer like this, especially after already making an error with debit card delivery? Not only did they cause inconvenience and discomfort to their customer through the error, they were not even responsible enough to offer any notice, solution, or apology. And now my bank representative didn't even care to provide me with a bill smaller than 500 to help me with my daily cash needs?

This is but one example of many that I have encountered so far. Although my observational "data" inevitably is affected by other variables, my customer service experiences in Spain have definitely surprised me more than once. I may be too accustomed to the service I usually experience in Vancouver and Taiwan, where the customer is treated as a valued person, and customer complaints are taken more seriously/resolved more often than not. In fact, when I worked in customer service in Vancouver, I was trained to do whatever I could to make my customers feel valued, to resolve their concerns with utmost care, and even to make my customers' day.

Culture-specific fun facts about Taiwan:

You would not find a service representative leaning back in his chair while letting his customer stand. It would be highly disrespectful as one who is sitting down gives off the message that he is "superior" to a person standing.

Also, there is a status difference between service staff and customers. Most service staff would not address customers in the Mandarin equivalent of the casual "tú" form (as service staff here do), and they even slightly bow their heads to customers to show courtesy.

The general service instinct = give customers the benefit of the doubt. Staff also tend to feel more genuinely embarrassed and apologetic when they cannot satisfy customers' requests.

Spain-specific customer service tendencies to buckle up for:

Complaining may not yield much return on investment. You just might find yourself in a long and slow battle. My friends and I learned this the hard way when we wasted our time and energy trying to request issue resolution/compensation at our hostel in Barcelona. (Hint: stay away from Yellow Nest Hostel in Barcelona unless you want to risk feeling your blood pressure spike during your holiday.)

Asking for the manager won't necessarily help. Again, we learned this the hard way at Yellow Nest Hostel. In fact, when we finally got connected to the manager after being disrespectfully brushed off 2 days in a row (with no apology), the manager himself actually criticized us. We could not believe how rudely we were treated, especially when we had been so courteous to them all along.

It's nothing personal. Unlike in places such as Vancouver, waiters/waitresses don't usually get tipped here. So it's really amazing when you meet joyful, sweet waiters/waitresses who just make your day.

Well, I'm not walking away from Spain anytime soon. I just hope I have helped reduce some of your shock of becoming "just a customer" for when you land in Spain. We can rage together later.

All the best,

Emily Chen

[culturediving]

People are the most beautiful scenery when you are abroad, always

There are so many travelholics in the world, and also there are so many reasons to travel. Check 17 reasons why travel is good for you and 3 reasons to travel while you are young. But for me, no matter where I go, the best thing of being abroad is meeting good people from all over the world. Except for the magnificent architectures and marvelous natural wonders, people are always the most beautiful scenery during my journey, and they make my adventure complete.

The locals in Pamplona:

The very first luck of me is that my school gives me a great buddy. My buddy called Marta, it was she that drove me to the hostel when I arrived this totally foreign city, helped me to find a house to stay, and took me to my first juevintxo. Without her I couldn’t get accustomed to my exchange life so fast. What’s more, she spent a semester in Taiwan last year, so we always miss the convenient living functions, the hospitality of Taiwanese people, and the most important of all: the delicious gourmet together. It is always amazing when you listen to others talking about your country in high spirit. That makes you feel proud of the place you belong to. She even told me that she really wants everybody to know how amazing Taiwan is, but she finally decided to keep Taiwan as a secret wonderland in her mind because it is too good to share with others. :P

The Erasmus students I meet there:

The best thing about exchange is that you can know the world much more. Not from books, not from TV programs or internet and not from others word of mouth. Every time when knowing a new friend from a new place, it’s just like a new place becomes a 3D one in the map in your own heart. It is totally different to read news about the politic conflict of Venezuela than to hear about the truly condition and their fearfulness from a Venezuelan.

Also, you can share your aspiration for democracy together with a HongKonger, you can discuss about the problem of higher education with a Korean, you can mimic each other’s language in a stupid way with a German, and you can know where is the best island to go on a vacation from a Filipino friend. You can find so many different perspectives about the world, and you will love this world as well as your own country more.

The people I met on the way:

As Emily mentioned in her own article this week, I had encountered the worst customer service at YELLOW NEST HOSTEL Barcelona. However, a friend I met in the hostel just gave me a can of beer, forcing me to drink it and told me that, He knew I was totally furious about the WiFi trouble and the attitude of the service representatives of the hostel, but life is so short and the world is so beautiful, so why not just enjoy the moment? It was him that somehow changed my perspective about living, and I started to think about cherishing every moments. So I believe that every person I meet, every different story that come to me will become a part of me, and triggers me to become a person with more colorful stories.

So that’s why I like to travel, and that’s why I consider to go on exchange in Europe is the best decision I have made in my college life. : )

Nai-Jen Lin

[culturediving]

Week 3: I miss Hong Kong

There are rules about being an excellent exchange student.

Rule#1: Know perfectly well about your country/city so that you can introduce it to others

Rule#2: Forget about what you’ve learnt or known about your own city and get to know it again from another perspective.

Rule#3: Enjoy your stay in a foreign country and overcome homesickness.

But I’m homesick.

I’m homesick so badly.

As StudentsAbroad suggests, homesickness is:

Some students might experience homesickness within the first few days or weeks of being abroad, while others might not be hit by homesickness until later on, or closer to the holidays. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, family events or even family illness or death can all cause you to feel homesick, or make you wish you were at home. 

Why am I homesick?

Don’t ask me. It’s a very long story.

My reason is far more complicated than just a family gathering or a festival in Hong Kong.  

A week ago I was still a happy child going around in Pamplona, having siesta in the lazy afternoons, going for juevintxos every Thursday night… Life was so simple and easy for me until I saw this:

I was shocked! I was TOTALLY shocked!

What are they doing?

(You may check the background of the protest Umbrella Revolution from BBC: WHY IS HONG KONG PROTESTING?)

The protesters did not do anything. They were just there shouting slogans.

The police are NOT PROTECTING our citizens but HURTING them. They used pepper spray and fired 87 tear gas to the unarmed Hong Kongers who only have paper masks and umbrellas to protect themselves.

My neighbours were there. My classmates were there. My friends were there. People I love were there. They were to strive for democracy. They sat under the hot sun for a whole day. They slept on the streets. They survived by only eating biscuits and bread.

They could have stayed in their air-conditioned flats. They could have slept on their comfortable beds. They could have had a hot shower before going to sleep. They could have enjoyed a really nice dinner in a fine-dining restaurant.

But they were there.

And they are still there.

   I wish I were in Hong Kong. 

I remember one day when I was having class, during the break, the professor was reading the news about the protest in Hong Kong. I was so touched for I feel that there are people around the world who really care about us. Our voice is heard.  

I am proud of Hong Kong. I have never known that we can be so united, so determined and so brave. It seems to me that Hong Kong is a familiar yet new place to me. So, Rule#1 and Rule #2 checked. 

Hong Kong is considered to be the safest city in the world and people are polite and helpful. Even when we are having the protest, foreign media say that we are The World’s Politest Protesters.   

The Independent also says Hong Kong protests: The politest demonstration ever-but where do they go from here?

We cleaned our own rubbish. We apologised for the barricades. We even did our homework during protest! Want to know more? Check out Things that could only happen in a Hong Kong protest. 

This is who we are. We are Hong Kongers.

Yuen Man Ki

[culturediving]

"When in Rome,...?"

I had no idea that I would encounter a moral dilemma while on exchange. Just the other day, amidst all the colorful travelling, tapas-sampling, and flamenco-watching, I found myself in a pickle.

A group of friends and I were discussing our Sevilla travel itinerary when my friends squealed, “We´re going to watch a bullfighting show!”

...My face fell a little. As I tried to keep a weak smile, something inside me held me back from matching my friends´enthusiasm for this activity. I had watched documentaries and videos (WARNING: this must-watch video is highly graphic!) and studied bullfighting in my Spanish class before, so I knew many of the gory realities behind this tradition.

The moral department of my brain then commenced a heated “push-and-pull” battle. As one side whined, ¨Come on Emily, you´re in Spain! Just embrace all of Spanish culture with an open mind!”, the other side argued that I should not support this form of animal cruelty.

To refresh my memory, I searched some articles on both sides of the argument for bullfighting. For reference, here are two articles explaining why some choose not to support bullfighting:

Bullfighting: The Facts Bullfighting; A Tradition of Tragedy

"If too spirited, the bull is beaten, his vision blurred, even bones are broken. If unwilling to fight, chemicals are painted on his legs to make them burn so he cannot keep them still and will appear spirited and eager to fight. Pins are often inserted in the genitals…torture is scientifically intensified to break his spirit and disable his body...a sharp instrument is rammed into his neck…a “picador” on horseback twists a surgical steel blade into the bull’s neck to further destroy the muscles …"

It's no wonder that bullfighting has been officially banned in places such as Catalonia despite it being commonly perceived as a long-time cultural tradition and an “essential” Spanish art or sport. To be honest, it was tempting to just go along with what all my friends were doing so that I would not seem like a party pooper or be the only one left out. However, I decided that bullfighting is an inhumane tradition that glorifies animal cruelty. As one who chose to be vegetarian because she does not wish to support inhumane factory farming, it would be particularly morally inconsistent to support bullfighting. I told my friends about my decision, and explored other parts of Sevilla while my friends went to watch the bullfight.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." But this quote can be interpreted in many ways.

I made a decision for myself. I will embrace Spain's amazing culture by practicing mi español, befriending locals over pinchos and sangria, immersing in the lifestyle and la siesta, cheering on flamenco shows, and appreciating guitarra española music. But I will not take part in an event that goes against my values.

-Emily Chen

[culturediving]

Week 2: Food Culture in Spain VS Food Culture in Asia

When I watched this video, I couldn’t but keep laughing. The above advertisement from HSBC speaks perfectly about culture differences.

Growing up in Hong Kong where Chinese culture prevails, I am well aware of the Chinese food culture. It is true that we love to show generous and kind reception towards guests as a way to welcome them. For example, when we invite guests to have dinner at our place, we have to fill the bowl full with rice to show our respect. And we always encourage our guests to eat more, putting a lot of food in their plates and bowls. We seldom pass the food on the table, but we often pick up the food with chopsticks for the guests to show hospitality. When we see their bowls are empty, we will immediately put food in the guests’ bowls. (So the guests will keep eating for the whole night. Not a good idea for you to be a guest if you are on a diet.)

That’s the table manner we have in Hong Kong.

As an exchange student, the most frequently asked question that I come across when I first meet people, of course, is ‘Where do you come from?' And every time I answer ‘I’m from Hong Kong’, people will just look at you amazingly and say ‘I love Chinese food!’

The same applies to other international students as well. So we can always hear

‘Oh you are from Italy! I love Italian food.’

‘Wow Germany! I love German food!’

'Japan? Awesome! I love sushi so much!'  

Undoubtedly, food is universal and the topic about food always works perfectly whenever we meet new friends.

Who can resist delicious food? No one can. But the truth is, sometimes food culture can be a great culture shock that you often come across overseas. Below are some of the culture shocks about food I have come across.

 Can I eat them raw?

In Hong Kong, I cook every vegetable before eating except that I sometimes eat tomatoes and cucumbers raw. Every time I am about to cook my veggies, my roommates will look at me and ask ‘Why are you cooking the vegetables?’

I perfectly know that vegetable salad and fruit salad are common in foreign countries. But it still makes me surprised that some vegetables that I have always cooked before eating can be eaten raw. A friend told me that she can eat mushrooms raw. During class, she will just take out a mushroom and eat it like a snack. That sounds even more unbelievable to me because in my concept fungi have to be cooked before serving. Therefore, I decided to look it up on the internet. As The Health Benefits of Mushroom Consumption points out,

Consuming the mushrooms raw or using a whole food mushroom (powdered pill) product is generally a better alternative if you're reasonably healthy and looking to maintain optimal health, as they help maintain ideal function of your various systems as opposed to imparting a direct effect.

 Okay, now I think I can try eating mushrooms raw.

 Why do they eat so much?

One day I went to a Spanish restaurant with my friends. I looked at the menu del dia, and opened my mouth wide.

 What? The first dish is Paella Seafood (with a portion that can feed two girls) and the second dish is fresh grilled chicken (Half of the chicken!), followed by a chocolate cake. Can they really finish the whole meal?

In Hong Kong, we can have a bowl of Wonton noodles for our lunch and that’s all. The portion is much smaller!

Why do they eat so less?

While the menu del dia is large in portion, pinchos, on the other hand, are delicious food that is served in small portion. It can be a small piece of bread with cheese and jamon on it. Every Thursday people will go to the old town and enjoy Juevintxos(pinchos at a cheaper price). Normally they will have three to four Juevintxos a night and those will be their dinner. I go there for Juevintxos as well. But I just feel SO HUNGRY even after having several Juevintxos. I start to wonder maybe there is a hole in my stomach… 

Feeling worried after listening to my story? 

Don't worry!

There are many websites that help you cope with culture shock. One of the websites that I found useful is What's Up With Culture, which offers a range of handy guidelines and tips covering preparations before trips, a brief introduction of different cultures around the world and  adjustments to our homeland after returning.

Still worry? Why not go and check it out!

Yuen Man Ki

[culturediving]

A Taiwanese with an English name.

One of my friends who studies in Belgium told me that she once heard this kind of conversation in a restaurant. “You know what! I met a Chinese guy and he introduced himself like “Hi! I am a Chinese, and my English name is……” What the fuck! hahahahahhahahahaha!!!!!!”

Okay, I know this must be the biggest question that western people want to ask us. - Why you Taiwanese and Chinese always use an English name instead of your original name? - The answer to this question is really complicated. And, actually, to use or not to use English names is also a dilemma to us.

 I mean, we do want to keep our real names if we can, but honestly we are really tired of repeating our names again and again to non-Chinese speakers, and end up hearing a really weird pronunciation of our names (okay but sometimes it's cute), or simply not to be remembered. Chinese names are so various, we don't have a list like Ella Ellen Emma Elsa, instead the names can be whatever combination of two words. So they may be hard to remember and lack of logic to non-Chinese users. By contrast, many of our Asians are deeply exposed to Hollywood movies and Billboard pop musics, so many of the Western names can be very familiar to us.

What's more, having English name is very normal to us. Most of us were given English names when we started to learn English in our very young age. And actually some big companies or foreign branch companies acquire every single employee to use English name, maybe it sounds more “international”, or it is just more convenient to contact with foreign clients or something like that. And you can also check What’s up with Chinese people having English names? to figure more reasons out. (This article is written based on Chinese, while I am a Taiwanese. We speak the same language so some of the reasons are the same, but some sociological reasons may not.)

As for me, I really want to keep my name when I meet new people in the university, cause I like my name and I consider it a part of me, my culture. I don’t really want to change myself to cater to this English-dominated environment. And the Koreans and the Japanese I met there also use their original names here, so why not?

However, there is something happened to me that make me rethink about the issue. I met a German classmate in the very first day I arrived Pamplona. When I was introducing myself to him, he especially emphasized that he wanted to know my REAL name, not an English name. He also considered it really weird for us to use a fake name just on purpose to cater to English speakers. At that time I felt really good cuz I thought that he really knew how to appreciate different culture and was willing to remember my Taiwanese name, which is hard to remember as well as to pronounce. However, guess what happened? The next time I talked with him, and I realized he totally forgot my name. I was not very upset cuz I know is hard for them. But even this person who told me that Asian name was fine and he wanted to know me with my real names forgot my name, who else I can expect?

Okay... I think I will still insist on my Taiwanese name, but I gotta get use to repeat it again and again and again.....

Peace.

-Nai-Jen, Lin

(yeah this is my Romanization name, but it still isn't the real pronunciation of my name because the in Chinese we have different tones which is not able to be shown in the form of romanization names......

Chinese is really a hard language right? XDXD.) 

[culturediving]

I am here, 10000 kms away from home.

Every time when I am asked why to go on an exchange? I always answer that I want to see the world in a different angle. Sometimes in Taiwan, the place I am from, are too many “correct answers”. The best occupations are doctors, lawyers of public officials because of stable income; the definition of beautiful women are big-eyed, straight-nosed and slender ones; no one encourages you to be different. So, I decided to give myself an extra semester, to find my own answers. Instead of squeezing myself into a suit-dress, looking for a decent job, I hopped on an airplane and got here cause I want to know what other college students from all over the world are doing, I want to see more, learn more, feel more and be more.

But why Europe? Initially only because I want to travel as much as I can (jajaja). On the other hand, Just like under a rose-colored filter, Europe seems to be a dreamy place to many Taiwanese people. Actually, in Taiwan, you can see kind of signs just like “Norwegian wood Motel”, “Old England B&B” and “France Paris wedding dress” everywhere. So many European (Broadly, or western) geographical names and copied-style buildings exist on a tiny little Asian island, seems a little stupid right? I really hate this stupid phenomenon but I have to admit too, I also have a romantic fantasy of Europe. Maybe because it boasts magnificent historical architectures and exotic lifestyles… Or maybe simply because it is so different from my hometown. You know, traveling is always like escape from a place you are bored with and go to another place that others are bored with.

Yet how is the actually life in Europe compared to my imagination? I can only say: also, SO DIFFERENT. Although I was really fascinated by the greatness of Berlin, felt in love with the graceful atmosphere of London, drunk with the romantic philosophy of life in Paris, and enjoyed the Sunshine and ardor of Barcelona, I also encountered several things which were not delightful at all here in Europe, simply like even the moon has its dark side. Sometimes I really miss home, miss the irreplaceable, adorable people who speak same language and share similar values and lifestyles with me. However, I always convince myself that this is exactly the lesson. The reason why I hate here is the reason why I should come here. I need to accept all of these differences, break my heart completely and then the whole world will fall in.

Thus, I am really rejoiced that I am not merely a traveler but have the chance to live here for a while, try to be a local, encounter the culture shock and then embrace it. 

Peace.

-Nai-Jen, Lin