Friday, January 24, 2014

10 Things I Learn While Studying Abroad

1) The importance of a community
I have always been involved in at least a community or club wherever I go. But there were times when I sunk too deep into my academic work that I abandoned the importance of a community. Blame it on the culture shock and trauma of being far away from home, but it was my mistake to lock myself with my joy and concerns I experienced a solitary life during some time in the year 2012, which eventually led to a great depression. Not until, I get involved in communities around me.

2) Efforts are necessary in all ways
In all ways, I mean in all ways. Back in my highschool, I did not have to suffer to reach good grades, food was always on the table, and I had heavy meals five times a day and was still a skeleton. Now, I have to die to reach at least a B-, I have to cook or at least look for food, and I'd be a pig if I do not commit on my diet schedule.

3) The discovery of my true hobbies
I knew long before that I love to write, sketch, play the piano, and sing, but I never truly appreciate these hobbies until I get a stack of assignments and projects. Now that my schedule is terribly packed, my desire and passion towards what I like to do grow even more.

4) Asking a guy's number is considered flirting
Being misunderstood sucks. Enough said. I love collecting numbers from my working partners and for working purposes only. Thanks to some guys who had been giving me hints that I should have asked for email addresses instead.

5) Earning money from little things
By reselling used books, tutoring in campus, and using e-textbook to save and earn money. Not bad!

6) Fork is the main utensil
Back in my country, we prepare forks and spoons for all meals. My previous host parents always removed all the spoons from the table when we were about to have dinner. Spoons are for soups.

7) Trash Day
What's trash day? In Indonesia, we take out our trash whenever we want. The trashmen are around daily with their wooden carts!

8) Back seats wear seat belts too
I had a long time adapting with this law. Simply because we do not wear seat belts at the back seats back in my country.

9) Last name comes first
My professors take rollings according to our last names and companies check out my data in the same manner too. In Indonesia, last names do not exist in our mind. For now, farewell to my first names.

10) The importance of family
I always get emotional when anyone brings out this topic. I really love my family, I really do. I just have not proven much. Truth is, I can never imagine how much my parents have sacrificed their life, time and energy for my own goods. They even restrain their personal spendings for the sake of my sister's and my future. And my realization becomes clearer and stronger while I'm studying abroad. I know because now I miss them with my deepest longing. And I hate the wait of hours of Skype calls that often comes along with irreplaceable sharing, prayer, encouragement, jokes, laughter and tears.

I'll be home someday.

Alice

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