vanderbilt geo newsletter - fall 2011

abro

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Introducing: The Vanderbilt GEO Newsletter!

Wall of Stories: Abroad in Australia by Oliver Han

In#an#inadvertently#dramatic#fashion,#

I#just#barely#make#the#train#at#

Melbourne#Southern#Cross#Station.#

Sweating#profusely#through#my#

Aussie#style#tank,#I#sit#down#across#

from#my#friend#Nick,#an#exchange#

student#from#France.#He#flashes#me#a#

silly#grin#and#jokes,#“What’s#the#

rush?”#And#then,#as#if#on#cue,#the#train#

whistles#and#begins#to#move.#We#were#

on#our#way#to#meet#up#with#the#rest#

of#the#Melbourne#University#Surf#Club#

at#Lorne#Beach,#a#small#surf#town#

along#the#Great#Ocean#Road.#

That#first#night#at#surf#camp#can#only#

be#described#as#a#delightful#blur#of#

tents,#beautiful#people,#shrill#laughter,#

cheap#Aussie#beer,#and#the#

notoriously#deadly#blue#surf#club#

punch.#In#the#morning#I#wake#up#

surprisingly#lucid#and#practically#

dying#from#the#urge#to#get#out#on#the#

surf.#

After#a#quick#breakfast#with#Nate#and#

Alex,#the#three#of#us#grab#our#boards#

and#head#down#to#the#beach#where#I#

was#delighted#to#spot#my#two#tentQ

mates#giggling#madly#amongst#a#

lackadaisical#mud#pie#war.##After#

observing#the#skirmish#disintegrate#

into#a#flirtatious#wrestling#match,#we#

leave#the#battlefield#behind#us#and#

continue#along#the#shore#with#our#

surfboards#in#tow,#leaving#wavy#trails#

in#the#sand#behind#us.#I#remember#

that#at#this#very#moment,#I#grinned#

stupidly#and#thought#to#myself:#Life%couldn’t%be%more%perfect%right%now.%I’m%in%Australia.%It’s%the%weekend,%and%I’m%about%to%go%surfing%for%an%entire%day%with%awesome%people.%The%surf%is%perfect%and%the%sun%is%shining.%The%only%worry%I%have%right%now%is%finding%the%right%spot%on%this%beach%to%start%surfing.%This%is%the%only%worry%in%my%life%right%now.%I%can%handle%that.%We#then#proceeded#to#surf#for#seven#

straight#hours—finally#stopping#after#

the#last#remaining#rays#of#sunlight#

melted#behind#the#horizon#of#the#Bass#

Strait.#

Such#moments,#like#the#realization#in#

Lorne,#were#frequent#during#my#fiveQ

month#stay#in#Australia,#and#I#

genuinely#cherish#each#and#every#one#

of#them.#These#moments#just#hit#you

—sometimes#they#are#so#powerful#

you#feel#the#need#to#take#a#step#back#

to#take#it#all#in.#The#memories#you#

will#make#abroad#are#unforgettable,#

and#the#people#you#share#them#with#

will#stay#in#your#life#long#after#you#

return#home.#This#is#the#most#

meaningful#reason#for#studying#

abroad:#do#it#for#the#adventure,#the#

fun,#and#the#memories#shared#with#

ContentsWall of Stories by Oliver Han 2Cultural Spotlight by Brian Alosco 3Etiquette by Rachel Whitt 4Six Months in London by Juhi 5 Mirchandani

Language Spotlight by Quincy Ross 6

Studying abroad in Australia with the IFSA Butler group

1

people#whom#you#will#grow#to#love.#

Each#abroad#experience#is#different,#

and#each#is#as#exciting#as#the#next.#I#

encourage#you#to#take#the#leap#abroad#

and#take#full#advantage#of#what#could#

easily#be#the#best#five#months#of#your#

life.##

In#my#room#now#there#is#a#collage#of#

pictures#on#the#wall#that#were#taken#in#

Australia.#Oftentimes#I#can’t#help#but#

stare#and#relive#the#memories,#the#

cherished#moments.#The#picture#of#a#

white#Mitsubishi#station#wagon#

reminds#me#of#the#time#I#drove#that#

car#along#the#Great#Ocean#Road#in#

Melbourne#with#my#best#abroad#

friends,#stopping#by#random#beaches#

to#swim#in#landscapes#so#beautiful#you#

have#to#see#to#believe.#There#is#a#photo#

taken#at#my#first#Aussie#Rules#Football#

League#match,#and#I#remember#leaving#

the#game#amused#and#confused#as#to#

why#people#bother#to#watch#the#sport.#

There#is#a#picture#of#two#kangaroos#

boxing#in#Sydney#Zoo—next#to#it,#a#

picture#of#me#running#alongside#wild#

kangaroos#in#Grampians#National#

Park.#Carelessly#placed#beside#that#is#a#

picture#of#my#friend#Will,#grilling#

kangaroo#steaks#by#the#waterside#in#

Brisbane#when#I#visited.#In#the#top#

right#corner#there#is#a#snapshot#of#the#

Penguin#Parade,#and#I#remember#

watching#those#tiny,#fairy#penguins#

march#courageously#across#the#sands#

on#Phillip#Island.#

The#photo#taken#in#front#of#the#

Melbourne#Crown#Casino#reminds#me#

of#the#time#we#went#to#that#casino#4#

times#in#a#single#day—the#day#I#lost#all#

my#hardQearned#Blackjack#winnings#to#

a#few#deadly#spins#of#Roulette.#Next#to#

it#is#a#picture#of#me#holding#a#6Qpack#of#

Heineken;#in#the#picture#I#am#crying#

because#I#paid#the#equivalent#of#$18#

USD#for#it.#Strategically#placed#beside#

it#is#a#picture#of#over#200#empty#

bottles#of#$3#wine#sitting#on#a#dining#

table,#the#proud#results#of#5#months#of#

thrifty#spending.#

The#surf#club#pictures#remind#me#

of#some#of#my#best#times#in#

Australia.#Group#photos#from#

numerous#surf#club#pubQcrawls#

and#barbeques#are#scattered#

about,#and#I#can’t#believe#how#

much#I#miss#going#out#with#

surfers.#I#remember#catching#my#

first#surf#in#Sydney,#and#I#vividly#

recall#the#rush#I#got#out#of#riding#

my#first#wave#from#crest#to#shore#

in#Melbourne.#I#will#never#forget#

the#feeling#of#camping#out#on#the#

sand#and#making#bonfires#at#night#

with#the#surf#club.#The#blurry#

picture#of#us#skinny#dipping#in#the#

dark#after#an#entire#day#of#surfing#

on#Lorne#Beach#is#one#of#my#

favorites.#

The#landscape#photos#from#Spring#

Break#in#New#Zealand#are#so#

stunning#I#have#a#hard#time#

believing#I#was#actually#there.#I#

remember#how#the#four#of#us#

switched#off#driving#that#

enormous,#lime#green#RV#all#along#

the#coast#of#South#Island,#starting#

in#earthquakeQravaged#

Christchurch#and#ending#in#the#

city#of#adventure,#Queenstown#(all#

the#while#playing#the#Lord#of#the#

Rings#soundtrack).#I#look#at#the#

bungee#jumping#pictures#from#

Queenstown#with#pride,#and#I#

remind#myself#that#the#pictures#of#

the#majestic#Franz#Josef#Glacier#do#

not#nearly#do#it#justice.#

Then#again,#none#of#these#pictures#

do#my#Australian#experiences#

complete#justice.#But#it#is#in#these#

pictures#that#I#can#begin#to#tell#the#

fascinating#tale#of#my#study#

abroad#experience#in#the#land#

down#under.#It#is#five#months#long,#

but#it#is#an#adventure#story#of#a#

lifetime.#And#most#importantly,#it#

is#mine#to#tell.#What#kind#of#story#

will#your#abroad#pictures#tell?#

QOH

Vanderbilt students studied in over 30 different countries during FALL

2011

DIS: most popular program. The Danish Institute for Study Abroad features: courses taught in English, traveling across Europe through course-integrated study tours and adventure trips, and a large variety of cultural immersion and housing options!+200: # of students who went abroad last semester+100: # of programs available to choose from

2

Paradise at Loch Ard Gorge.

Twelve Apostles Beach!

Feeding wallabies!

How To:

How to choose the right program for you!

1. Location! Location! Location! List a few places you’re dying to experience and look at those places first. Keep in mind the dates and fees of each location, especially if you are planing to have an internship or take classes in the summer.

2. Study Abroad worksheet!Fill out the Study Abroad worksheet found at GEO and go to a Study Abroad 101 meeting. Remember to ask your professor(s) about a letter of recommendation well in advance. They’re exceptionally busy people and often need an ample heads up.

3. E-mail a Peer Alumni!Ask questions and find a program that fits your interests by emailing a Peer Alumni who went to that program or talk with the GEO office. Schedule an appointment with GEO representatives who are in charge of the areas you are interested in.

4. Meet with an Advisor! Meet with your Study Abroad Advisor and your Academic Advisor to work out the details of your trip and course selection. Really think about what classes you want to take and whether or not you can receive credit for a major or minor. Remember that you cannot earn AXLE credit abroad!

Check out Study Abroad Student Blogs!Curious about the study abroad experience? Click on the “Blog Roll” tab on the left of the Vanderbilt GEO homepage and and start exploring blogs and online journals by students who are currently abroad!

GEO Cultural Spotlight Hygge: A Danish Phenomenon By Brian Alosco

Hygge#(most#closely#pronounced#whoQ

guh)#is#a#Danish#word#with#no#direct#

English#translation.#The#closest#English#

word#would#be#“coziness,”#but#hygge#is#

so#much#more#than#that.#It#means#

feeling#a#sense#of#community,#being#

happy#in#each#other’s#company,#having#

nothing#to#worry#about,#and#just#being#

content#with#life.#In#our#fastQpaced#

American#society,#it’s#rare#to#find#a#

time#to#just#stop#and#enjoy#the#simple#

things#in#life.#It’s#no#wonder#we#don’t#

have#a#translation#for#the#word.

Various#things#can#make#one#feel#

“hygge,”#and#it#varies#between#different#

people.#For#some,#having#a#beer#at#the#

local#pub#with#a#group#of#your#best#

friends#is#hygge.#For#others,#it’s#sitting#

around#the#fireplace#with#your#family#

covered#in#tons#of#blankets.#Or#it#could#

be#sitting#down#for#a#threeQhour#dinner#

and#eating#until#your#stomach#can’t#

hold#anymore.#

Hygge#becomes#especially#important#

for#Danes#during#the#winter,#when#

daylight#is#limited#and#the#weather#is#

freezing#cold.#It#keeps#them#happy#and#

warm#during#this#(literally)#dark#time.#

In#the#words#of#one#of#my#Danish#

friends,#“Hygge#is#a#phenomenon#of#

overabundance.#You#can’t#hygge#

yourself#very#much#if#you’re#cold#or#

hungry.”#It#is#for#this#reason#that#

Christmas#and#hygge#are#closely#

related.#A#Danish#family’s#Christmas#

includes#lots#of#candles,#lots#of#dancing,#

and#lots#of#food#–#a#combination#that#

epitomizes#hygge.#

During#my#four#months#in#Copenhagen,#

I#was#able#to#embrace#hygge,#even#with#

my#American#friends.#We#would#light#

candles#and#have#some#wine#while#we#

watched#a#movie#or#just#talked#about#

our#lives.#It#was#during#times#of#hygge#

that#I#felt#closest#to#my#new#friends.#

The#atmosphere#made#me#feel#like#we#

all#belonged#together#and#gave#us#a#

sense#of#family.#We#didn’t#need#to#be#

biking#around#the#canals#or#out#at#a#

club#to#be#happy.#We#just#needed#each#

other.#I#know#for#a#fact#that#hygge#is#a#

contributing#factor#to#making#the#

Danes#the#happiest#people#on#Earth,#as#

it#definitely#made#me#a#happier#person#

during#my#time#abroad.

QBA

Getting hygge with each other (and hot chocolate) to stay warm in the snow.

3

Events!January 26, 2012 (1pm-4pm)Study Abroad Info FairGet your share of abroad excitement at the Study Abroad Info Fair in the SLC Ballroom! Meet representatives from a wide variety of study abroad programs and talk with returned Vandy students who have studied at the programs you are interested in! February 3, 2012 (All Day)Interdisciplinary Conference on Global Research and Study AbroadStudents and faculty recently returned from abroad are encouraged to take part in this Mid-Tennessee regional conference where participants will connect and share their international endeavors in an academic setting! Other highlights include résumé building, career development, networking, and re-entry workshops. •January 13, 2012- abstract submission deadline for students and faculty interested in presenting •January 14, 2012- deadline for general registration Contact michelle.m.lily@vanderbilt.edu

DeadlinesFebruary 3, 2012Don’t forget to submit your Maymester and Summer applications!February 29, 2012If you are going abroad in Fall 2012, turn in all your material to GEO before this date!

Etiquette: Italy Buon Appetito! by Rachel Whitt

Picture#this:#it’s#your#first#

evening#in#bella#Italia.##It’s#time#for#dinner#and#you#are#

eager#to#have#your#first#

authentic#Italian#meal.##You#

venture#out#into#the#city#in#

search#of#a#restaurant#that#

promises#the#best#pasta,#pizza#

and#tiramisu#in#all#of#Italy.##

But#as#you#search#for#

restaurants,#you#find#that#they#

are#all#closed#and#have#

strange#names.##As#you#read#

the#menu,#you#see#words#such#

as#antipasti,#secondi%and%vino%della%casa.##When#your#bill#arrives,#you#realize#there#are#

extra#charges,#and#horrors#of#

horrors,#you#discover#you#

were#charged#for#your#water!##

Having#dinner#at#an#Italian#

restaurant#is#a#cultural#

experience#and#there#are#certain#unspoken#rules#and#expectations.##However,#a#basic#

knowledge#of#the#Italian#dinner#etiquette#will#give#you#the#perfect#Italian#meal#you#

have#always#wanted!

# Italians#eat#dinner#relatively#later#than#Americans.##In#fact,#most#restaurants#do#

not#even#open#until#after#eight#o’clock,#and#in#Southern#Italy,#dinner#does#not#usually#

being#until#nine#o’clock!###There#are#“tourist”#restaurants#that#are#open#in#the#early#

evening,#but#they#are#usually#very#expensive#and#the#food#does#not#taste#very#good.#

# In#Italy,#there#is#not#one#generic#name#for#“restaurant”.##Ristoranti#are#elegant#and#expensive#restaurants,#while#trattorie#and#osterie#are#less#expensive#and#serve#traditional#food#at#a#reasonable#price.##An#enoteche#and#pizzerie#are#also#less#expensive#and#it’s#common#to#order#only#one#dish.##

# At#any#ristoranti,%trattorie#and#osterie,#you#are#expected#to#order#at#least#two#courses.##The#appetizers#are#called#antipasti,%the#first#course#dishes#are#primi,%the#second#course#dishes#secondi,#and#desserts#are#dolce.%#When#ordering#beverages,#it’s#common#to#order#one#beverage#for#the#table#to#share.##Restaurants#offer#a#large#

selection#of#wine,#but#wine#by#the#bottle#is#expensive.##A#great#option#is#to#order#the#

vino%della%casa,#which#is#the#restaurant’s#house#wine#served#by#the#liter#and#is#considerably#less#expensive.##Water#is#served#by#the#liter#as#well,#and#you#can#order#

either#still#water#(acqua%naturale)#or#carbonated#water#(acqua%frizzante).%#Italians#do#not#drink#tap#water,#so#you#will#have#to#pay#for#bottled#water.###

Dinner#is#never#meant#to#be#a#quick#affair;#Italians#eat#slowly,#have#long#

dinner#conversations#and#the#waiter#usually#will#not#bring#the#check#unless#the#

customer#asks#for#it.##Italian#waiters#and#waitresses#do#not#rush#the#diners,#which,#to#

Americans,#make#the#wait#staff#appear#to#be#less#attentive#or#even#rude.##But#that#is#

not#the#case#at#all.##Dinner#is#supposed#to#last#at#least#three#hours.##A#long#dinner#

allows#diners#to#enjoy#each#other’s#company,#have#quality#conversations,#and#most#

important#of#all,#have#a#scrumptious#meal!##At#the#end#of#your#meal#when#you#ask#for#

the#check,#don’t#be#surprised#to#see#extra#fees#such#as#“il%coperto”#or#“servizio%incluso”#as#cover#charges#and#gratuity#are#included#in#the#total#fee.##

Lastly,#when#everyone’s#food#arrives#and#before#the#meal#begins,#do#

not#forget#to#say,#“buon#appetite!”

QRW

Tip: Gifts From Abroad!Share your abroad experiences! Give a gift! It’s a good tip to save some room in your luggage for gifts and souvenirs to bring back home for your friends and family. It’s great to buy shot glasses and key chains, etc--but also try to think outside the box and get things that are unique to the culture of your particular country! Using Australia as an example, how cool would it be if you got:

4

First Italian tiramisu, buon appetito!

Six Months in London by Juhi Mirchandani

My#six#months#at#the#University#

College#London#was#easily#the#best#time#

of#my#life.#Four#months#down#the#road,#I#

still#haven’t#managed#to#figure#out#what#

made#it#so#special#to#me.#It#wasn’t#just#

one#factor#or#aspect#of#the#study#abroad#

experience...#for#me#it#was#the#whole#

package.#While#in#London,#I#was#

challenged#intellectually.#My#cultural#

horizons#expanded#enormously.#I#met#

people#from#all#over#the#world,#with#

different#beliefs,#passions#and#

aspirations.#And#I#got#to#do#all#of#this#

while#living#in#the#world’s#coolest#city#(in#

my#opinion,#anyway.)

Let’s#start#by#covering#the#

basics.#If#you#decide#to#go#to#London,#you#

will#be#attending#University#College#

London,#more#affectionately#known#as#

UCL,#one#of#the#world’s#premier#higher#

education#institutions.#The#school#is#

located#in#the#historically#quirky#

neighborhood#of#Bloomsbury,#in#the#

heart#of#central#London.#Walking#into#

school#each#day,#I#passed#the#former#

home#of#Charles#Darwin,#and#the#first#site#

of#the#Freemason#Society.#Not#only#is#the#

school#steeped#in#tradition#(the#

canvassed#body#of#Jeremy#Bentham#sits#

in#a#corner#in#one#of#the#hallways,#

watching#over#students#as#they#journey#

to#and#from#class,)#it#is#probably#the#most#

social#of#the#University#of#London#

consortium’s#schools.#The#students,#all#of#

whom#are#incredibly#smart,#also#know#

the#importance#of#balance.#Head#to#the#

student#union#(AKA#bar,)#anytime#after#5#

p.m.#on#a#Wednesday#and#you’ll#be#

fighting#for#a#place#to#sit.#Everyone#will#

be#there.#When#the#clock#hits#nine,#the#

place#empties#out#rapidly,#as#everyone#

makes#their#way#to#student#night#at#The#

Roxy,#every#UCL#students’#favorite#hang#

out.#Come#10#a.m.#the#next#morning,#the#

same#kids#who#were#out#til#five#that#

morning#will#be#impressing#(both#you#

and#your#professors)#in#class.#The#kids#

here#have#perfected#the#art#of#working#

and#playing#hard.

If#I’m#going#to#be#honest,#the#

workload#is#pretty#light#throughout#the#

semester.#I#only#had#eight#hours#of#class#

time#a#week,#and#spent#a#majority#of#my#

time#outside#of#the#classroom.#This#gave#

me#plenty#of#opportunities#to#get#to#know#

and#make#London#my#own.##So#little#time#

in#the#classroom#means#that#students#get#

the#chance#to#really#make#the#most#of#

being#in#London.#During#the#course#of#my#

semester#abroad,#I#managed#to#hit#up#at#

least#10Q12#different#museums,#8#

markets#(Borough#and#Camden#being#my#

favorites),#become#a#regular#at#both#the#

local#pub#and#the#local#Nando’s#(Best.#

Chicken.#Ever.),#and#have#designated#

study#spots#around#the#city.#Being#in#class#

so#little#made#it#easy#to#travel#and#

explore#both#Britain#and#the#rest#of#

Europe.#

A#large#portion#of#the#study#

abroad#experience#is#traveling#and#

exploring#new#places.#Being#in#London#

had#many#advantages#for#those#of#you#

who#want#to#get#out#and#see#the#rest#of#

England#and#Europe.#As#a#major#city,#

London#has#multiple#airports,#

numerous#train#stations#and#extensive#

bus#routes,#spanning#Europe#and#

Britain.#No#matter#where#I#wanted#to#

go,#there#was#always#an#affordable,#

direct#option.#

When#I#wasn’t#off#gallivanting#

on#the#weekends,#friends#were#coming#

by#to#visit#me#and#I#got#to#show#off#the#

city#I’ve#grown#to#love#so#much.#Don’t#

be#fooled#though;#the#exams#are#brutal#

and#require#lots#of#studying.#The#last#

two#or#three#weeks#before#finals#are#

rough,#but#the#freedom#during#the#

semester#is#more#than#worth#it.

So#many#people#have#asked#me#

why#I#decided#to#go#to#London.#As#many#

have#pointed#out,#London#is#probably#the#

most#similar#to#America#from#a#cultural#

perspective.#There#is#no#language#barrier,#

and#it#is#home#to#many#American#schools#

and#people#–#in#fact,#there#was#even#a#

Super#Bowl#party#hosted#at#Wembley!#

Was#I#robbing#myself#of#the#cultural#

experience#of#being#abroad?#The#answer,#

in#short,#is#no.#And#here#is#why.#There#is#

no#other#city#in#the#world#that#is#more#

diverse#than#London.#People#from#all#

over#flock#here,#and#walking#down#any#

ONE#road#you#hear#about#12#different#

languages#being#spoken.#On#top#of#

learning#all#about#British#culture,#you#are#

exposed#to#cultures#from#all#over#the#

world;#on#Chinese#New#Year#there#were#

street#parades,#and#on#Holi,#there#were#

paint#fights#on#the#streets.#London#is#allQ

encompassing.#There#is#something#to#do#

for#everyone.#The#numerous#museums,#

markets,#sports#teams#and#historical#sites#

ensure#that#no#matter#what#you’re#

interested#in,#you#will#find#your#niche#in#

the#big#city.#I#cannot#recall#the#number#of#

hours#I#spent#walking#down#the#halls#of#

the#museums#(my#favorite#being#the#

Victoria#and#Albert#–#I#think#I#went#there#

maybe#six#times),#trying#street#food#at#

one#of#the#many#food#markets#(Borough#

Market#is#a#MUST!),#or#down#at#the#local#

pub#watching#the#football.#Contrary#to#

popular#belief,#the#weather#wasn’t#bad#at#

all!#It#only#poured#a#handful#of#times#

during#the#semester,#and#from#midQ

March#onwards#it#was#sunny#and,#dare#I#

say#it,#warm.#

The#memories#of#my#time#in#London#

are#fused#together#in#a#kaleidoscope#of#

images,#laughs#and#absolute#amazement.#

I#was#so#caught#up#in#soaking#in#the#

wonderful#culture#around#me#I#hardly#

had#time#to#breathe,#and#before#I#knew#it,#

the#semester#was#over#–#and#I#was#

confused#as#to#how#it#had#ended#so#

quickly.#Not#a#day#goes#by#where#I#do#not#

think#about#my#time#abroad,#the#friends#I#

made,#the#places#I#saw#and#the#city#I#love.#

The#lettering#on#my#UCL#hoodie#is#fading#

fast#from#overuse#and#I#know#I#have#to#

head#back#as#soon#as#possible#to#replace#

it.#I#was#fortunate#enough#for#my#time#at#

UCL#to#truly#mean#something#to#me,#and#I#

am#so#enamored#with#London#that#I#am#

heading#back#to#do#my#master’s#there.#So,#

to#all#of#you#who#are#thinking#about#going#

abroad,#I#would#say#do#it.#It#will#shape#

both#you#and#your#life#in#ways#that#you#

never#dreamed#of.

-JM

5

Survey

Did#you#find#this#newsletter#

enjoyable?

Yes Maybe No

Did#you#find#this#newsletter#

informative?

Yes Maybe No

Would#you#read#more#

newsletters#from#GEO?

Yes Maybe No

Would#you#give#this#to#

someone#you#knew#that#

was#interested#in#studying#

abroad?

Yes Maybe No

Are#you#pumped#to#study#

abroad?

Yes Of course Absolutely!

GEO Contact Info

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITYSTUDENT LIFE CENTER, SUITE 115310 25TH AVE. SOUTHNASHVILLE, TN 37240

TEL: 615 343 3139FAX: 615 343 5774GEO@VANDERBILT.EDUSKYPE: VANDERBILT.GEO

Language Spotlight: China

Speak To Me By Quincy Ross I#pointed#to#my#drink#order#on#

the#large#menu#because#I#couldn’t#read#

those#particular#Chinese#characters#and#

then#stood#there#and#watched,#in#shock,#

as#the#manager#criticized#the#young#girl#

that#stood#behind#the#cash#register.#She#

had#shown#me#the#Chinese#hand#symbol#

for#6#and#then#said#“6#kuai,#please”#in#

Chinese.#The#manager#went#on#for#

nearly#a#full#minute#yelling#in#Chinese,#

saying,#“You#can’t#speak#to#her#in#

Chinese,#she#is#a#stupid#foreigner#who#

can’t#understand.#She#doesn’t#know#the#

Chinese#way#of#counting#on#your#hands,#

you#have#to#make#sure#the#customer#

understands.”#I#stood#there#quietly#and#

waited#for#him#to#finish.#Then#I#grabbed#

my#drink,#and,#in#perfect#Chinese,#I#said,#

“I#can#understand.#This#stupid#American#

speaks#Chinese.”#

Language#is#powerful.#It#is#the#

method#by#which#we#communicate,#it#is#

the#means#by#which#we#express#

emotion,#and#it#is#the#roots#in#which#we#

proclaim#action.#We#heavily#rely#on#

language#each#day.#Imagine#how#tough#it#

would#be#to#order#that#Venti,#NonQFat,#

No#Foam,#6#pump,#extra#hot,#chai#tea#

latte#without#being#able#to#speak.#Now,#

you#might#be#wondering,#“how#can#I#

survive#while#living#in#a#foreign#country#

if#I#don’t#speak#the#language?”#Well,#don’t#

fear.#Often,#students#choose#to#study#in#a#

country#where#they#have,#at#least,#basic#

knowledge#of#the#local#language.#If#you#

are#going#somewhere#completely#

foreign,#don’t#worry#either.#In#today’s#

world,#many#people#speak#English.#By#

now#you#might#be#thinking,#“If#most#

people#speak#English,#why#bother#

learning#another#language?”#Well,#I’m#

glad#you#asked!

Learning#another#language#

gives#one#the#ability#to#step#inside#the#

mind#and#context#of#a#completely#

different#society.#While#abroad#in#

another#country,#foreign#language#is#

your#key#to#unlocking#a#whole#new#

culture#–#it#will#guide#your#conversation#

with#the#shop#keep,#give#you#the#ability#

to#order#local#fare,#let#you#understand#

your#foreign#roommate’s#perspective#

and#equip#you#to#navigate#the#

backstreets#of#your#new#home.#

If#you#aren’t#ready#to#take#the#

plunge,#and#immerse#yourself#

completely#into#the#language#of#a#new#

culture,#at#least#equip#yourself#with#

some#basic#language#knowledge#before#

you#go#abroad.#Phrases#like#“hello,”#“how#

much,”#and#“where#is#the#bathroom”#

should#be#enough#for#you#to#get#by#on#

for#a#few#weeks.#If#all#else#fails,#just#

smile.#While#there#are#hundreds#of#

languages#in#the#world,#a#simple#smile#

speaks#them#all.##

QQR

Useful Phrases for Studying Abroad in China

你好 (nǐ hǎo) – Hello!

早上好 (zǎoshànghǎo) – Mornin’!

你会�英文�?（Nǐ huì shuō yīngwén ma) – Speak English?

不明白 (bù míngbai) – I don’t understand.

多少�（duōshǎo qián?) – How much is this?

�� (xièxie) – Thank you!我的气�船充�了�� – My hovercraft is full of eels! (Just kidding)

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