Category B: Study Abroad

I mentioned studying abroad in Lyon, France my previous post under Category A. Here, I will be talking a little more about how study abroad changed my perspective and took me a step closer to being globally competent. The two points I will be covering here are:

1. Language: As I have already mentioned, I went to Lyon, France to do my study abroad. English, there, is hardly spoken. And my French skills are too basic to carry out a sensible conversation. Communication was halting and 'unreal'. But as I learnt to cope with it, I realised this taught me patience and I became more accepting of the fact that communication is not going to be easy so it is just as well to keep frustration at bay. Eventually, by the time my stay in France came to and end, communication became more smooth, more 'real'.

2. Integration: I found it rather difficult ti integrate in France. Most of my classmates were from other parts of Europe. People found people from their home country and grouped up. I found it difficult in break in and integrate. But then, what finally helped me integrate were group projects in class. I learnt to get along with people of different nationalities in a country where no one spoke my native language and I

didn't speak theirs and to add to that, none of us considered Emglish to be our first language.