Habits I Picked Up Studying Abroad
BY Rachel Zheng
Getting the amazing opportunity to study abroad twice in Europe, I have definitely felt the cultural influence on how I go about my day to day life. From new hobbies to an altered mindset towards life, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the European lifestyle.
Newfound Love for Football
Last semester I studied at NYU Madrid and this semester I’m studying at HEC Paris through IBEX. Both countries house many passionate football fans, and it was a bucket list item for me to attend a football match. One of the courses I took this semester at HEC Paris, “Effective Teamwork,” which counts towards my management concentration, brought in a famous parisian football player to teach us about collaboration on the field.
After a fun class filled with football exercises focused on building teamwork, she invited our class to attend one of her games.
Recently, I visited Madrid again and got a chance to attend a Real Madrid Champions League game. Experiencing the energy in a stadium of 80,000 fans was thrilling and seeing the incredible skills of the player made me wish I had gotten into the sport earlier.
Taking the Time to Enjoy Coffee + Meals
Growing up in NYC, I have been somewhat accustomed to a fast-paced lifestyle. During my orientation for HEC Paris, I distinctly remember a faculty member remarking that if she did not have time to sit down and enjoy her cup of coffee in the morning then she did not have time for coffee at all. I have grown to become more familiar with this concept after spending two semesters in Europe, whereas in NYC it is quite normal to rush drinking your coffee during your morning commute to class or work as a necessity.
While I will still take coffee to go, I think her sentiment to appreciating the small things and moments in life still holds true.
Meals in Europe are also comparably longer to meals in NYC. In Europe, meals can typically be hours long. Furthermore, waiters will never rush you to pay a bill or leave the restaurant. Savoring your meal and the company around you is something I will definitely take back with me to NYC.
Getting to Know a City Through Walking
My love for long walks has strengthened considerably as it has become my favorite way to get the feel of a city. When I am traveling on the weekends, I always set aside a couple hours to roam around the city and find hidden gems that might not necessarily be on a recommendation’s list I found online. By walking, I can connect to a city, its people, and local culture in a way that I might not be able to if I were to always take a taxi from one destination to another.
Reflecting back on my study abroad experiences, these two semesters have been filled with tremendous joy, excitement, and growth. I absolutely recommend studying abroad to any NYU student, whether at a NYU location or through IBEX. Not only do you get to build some of your best memories at university, but you will also likely notice positive changes in yourself that you can carry with you to future stages of your life.