When discussing study abroad, people naturally think of the term culture shock, which is defined as “a sense of confusion and uncertainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an unfamiliar culture or environment without adequate preparation.” Now, that definition might include food, transportation, language, and, most importantly, how schooling is structured. But for me, at the top of the list was what my living situation would look like.
Picture of my room during the day with all the things that represent me.
At my school back home, the dorms are integrated with the campus, so the buildings with classrooms are next to the dormitories. However, upon coming here, that was not the case, as I quickly found myself in what looked like an apartment complex, complete with a field to run in (or frolic, if that's your thing). And the biggest surprise of them all, besides not having an elevator, was that the dorms are set up like flats. But the surprises don’t stop there, as I used my key to open the door to what would be my very own room.
My first reaction was, “Is that a bookshelf?” simply because I am a nerd and did bring books with me. My second reaction was to turn my head and see that I had my own bathroom! See, growing up in a small house with five siblings and then going to a public university with communal bathrooms, having my own space just made my residence seem otherworldly.
Besides having an individual space, there was also the next shock of having my own semi-private kitchen. Comparatively, my school back home would provide one kitchen for the entire building, which consisted of approximately 342 students. Three hundred fourty-two very hungry men and women, so naturally, using the kitchen was not ideal. However, much to my stomach’s delight, the kitchen I have here is shared between me and three other people. Practicing my minimal cooking skills is now plausible, and even better, there’s an oven, which allows me to bake a delicious sweet treat after a long day of classes.
My favorite time of night, when I can relax and enjoy a good show before bed.
I believe the greatest benefit of having my own space is the life lesson of individuality and adulthood. No janitors, no kitchen cooks or staff at the dining hall, no one to do laundry or even go grocery shopping. It’s all on you. Learning to budget when you can go out with friends or when you need to stay in and cook. Buying the right kind of detergent or cleaning supplies so nothing gets stained or ruined. Burning your salmon because you left it on the stovetop for too long and praying you don’t set off the fire alarm (not that I would know). These are all lessons that I have learned in the few weeks since I started living in my flat, which I doubt I would’ve worried about back home.
Being on my own is great and all, but there is still the need for a sense of community and friendship. Luckily for me, that is not a struggle while living here, as there are different ways to get involved while still having time to myself. Hosting dinner in the small kitchen with friends, setting up game night and movie night with my projector and gaming console, or even heading over to the main building to use the foosball or pool table are all ways to get involved.
And when the night is late and I’ve decided that I shouldn’t skip my morning class, it’s nice to know that I’ll have a place to call mine and mine alone. Now, the only remaining question is, how do I make this space feel like mine? And I have got to say, I’m doing an excellent job so far.