A lesson from living overseas

Some people are born and grow up in the same town they’ve always known, but others are accustomed to completely foreign environments to what you may know. Having lived overseas and experienced life in other countries, I’ve found that students at SJHS—like myself— have been molded by their time living outside of the US.

With how permanent moving out of the country is, it’s understandably hard to pick up your entire life and move it to another place which is completely unknown to you. It’s also easy to initially become confused by the different language, customs, and social behaviors which you’re thrown into—creating a new normal in your life.

“Once you move there [you] can’t really come back. It’s kind of a scary thing,” Leslie Russell, 10, said when talking about moving overseas. 

Leslie and her family moved from Sweden to the United States when she was seven and may be moving back next year. The culture shock she experienced when coming to the States was mostly due to the way people interacted with one another and conducted themselves. 

Her sister, Anna Russell, 12, also agrees with the sentiment that there are behavioral differences between Swedes and Americans. She was struck by how Americans carry themselves in comparison, being very upfront and direct when interacting with others. She was ten when they moved to the States, having lived seven years in Sweden.

“I feel like in Sweden they’re more reserved and introverted and don’t approach people very much. So it’s hard for me to be more open,” Anna said. 

However, social behaviors you pick up are not just limited to being more coy than others. Personally, when I came back to America from my time in Egypt, I realized that I had gained mannerisms of the Egyptians I was around every day, and subconsciously had begun to adapt them into my own life.

Learning to accept these changes, whether you’re coming to America or leaving it, teaches you to be resilient in any circumstance presented to you. 

“You have to… accept what people are going to say, and the differences, to adapt yourself to what will happen,” Emma Cochetel, 12, said as advice to someone traveling or going to any place they are unfamiliar with. An exchange student from France at St. Joe this year, she’s experienced what it’s like firsthand to be somewhat estranged in a new country.

Another French exchange student at the high school this year, Romane Poulou, 12, explained that at first it was hard to be in the US because of homesickness and the language barrier. She was eventually able to acclimate herself to the new environment, learning to be independent and self-reliant when in America.

“[It made] me grow up a lot… I learned much more about who I am and learned a new language and a new culture, new country. That has [taught me] to be open-minded,” she said.

“[It made] me grow up a lot… I learned much more about who I am and learned a new language and a new culture, new country. That has [taught me] to be open-minded.”

Obtaining this open-mindedness through the experience is something Emma also agrees on learning here. Living in another country expands your horizons and teaches you to be more tolerant of others, accepting differences in other cultures and people as a whole. Even better, taking a new culture and working it into the one you’re used to helps create your own unique lifestyle and give you perspectives you wouldn’t have gotten any other way. While you may not be able to travel to other countries at this exact moment, spending time becoming familiar with other cultures can help to open your horizons similarly.

Even if you haven’t travelled, simply learning about other places can open you up to realizing the stereotypes and generalizations that others around you make. 

“For Sweden, everyone thinks everyone is really really hot. But it’s really not true.… Everyone's like, ‘Blonde, blue eyes, Swedish’...they see the movies and stuff [where there’s] the hot Swede, but that’s not actually true,” Leslie said. 

Misconceptions like these and the tendency of Americans to generalize other places that aren’t America can be frustrating when you know it’s not like that in reality. 

“I feel like people in the U.S. are not very well educated about Europe or different countries,” Anna said. 

“I feel like people in the U.S. are not very well educated about Europe or different countries.”

However, simply just being exposed to other places through travel or research can quickly familiarize you to them, making you more globally educated for the rest of your life.

At home, simply watching shows or movies from other countries with English subtitles on, or listening to their music can help you to be familiar with the place. Even better, taking time to research different areas of the nation or what everyday life is there can give you a similar learning curve to visiting.

And if you do travel, remember, the best way to adventure is to engross yourself in the location by learning about the people, not just the classic tourist hot spots or your resort’s poolside. Think of it as living somewhat like a foreign exchange student. Of course, see the Eiffel Tower and tour the Colosseum, but make friends with locals at cafes and understand their lifestyle to improve upon your own.

all images courtesy of the dumke family