Understanding your own culture through studying abroad

In April 2018, a Czech deputy stated that those students who go on a year abroad are “campus layabouts“, and that the only thing they gain from this experience are dellusions about the European Union. This statement has started lots of discussions among both youths and elderly. This has been a particularly interesting topic for all of Czech students doing their whole degrees abroad. We wanted to know if we are also included in the unflattering category and furthermore, if there any advantages of studying of abroad.

One of the main reasons why everyone - including me- wants to study abroad is to learn more about other cultures and customs. While traveling you discover new places, foreign traditions and different behaviour. Therefore, I expected to have a similar experience from studying in the United Kingdom. I was persuaded that I would learn a lot about the “English culture“. However, in the end, the main thing that I have become aware of was my own culture. If you are in a foreign environment, you think more about your native culture. You start noticing things that you have never noticed before. It is easier to define your own culture when you can compare it to another.

Furthermore, I discovered a deeper sense of belonging to the Czech heritage. In December, My English friend and I went to a screening of a film Three Wishes of Cinderella in a beautiful cinema in Notting Hill located next to the Czech Embassy in London. In the cinema, there were people of all generations including grannies or mums with children. The kids were half Czech, half English and would mix up both languages together. It was wonderful to share this unique moment with a whole cinema full of Czech people in the middle of a busy London atmosphere. The screening felt like a Harry Potter book. Enclosed society, which is not visible to other people who would not be able to understand, nor capture it.s

Similarly, we attended May festivities at the Czech Embassy in London. It was a traditional event full of cymbal music, Czech cuisine and people in national costumes. While talking to people of the same heritage, who grew up in the same environment as you did, you realise how easy going the conversations are. Everyone easily finds an engaging conversation topic, understands each other’s puns, and usually has common friends. In this situation you realise how pleasant it is to be with people of the same heritage.

In conclusion, I believe that even if all year abroad people were campus layabouts, the would still learn a lot about being Czech, understand more their own culture and appreciate the Czech society.
 

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