The Impact of Study Abroad
The opportunity to study abroad is one that many people dream of. Oftentimes, individuals are attracted to this idea because of the destination, the food, and the overall escape from reality. Although these three elements do intrigue me just as much as the next person, there is one additional advantage that stands out to me the most. This asset, however, derives not from the external, tangible benefits that accompany an experience of such magnitude, but rather the internal growth within myself that has taken place as a result of seizing a chance like this one.
As I am writing this article, I am presently three and a half weeks into my month-long study abroad trip in Rome, Italy. Throughout this time, I have had the opportunity to work with twenty-seven other students from the University of Arkansas to help rebrand our client, Roma Faber, which is a consortium of merchants, businesses, artists, and vendors in the Rione Ponte district of Rome. Working in a group with four other marketing students, my team members and I have collectively constructed a refined identity for this neighborhood to improve their businesses in terms of promotion, sales quantity, and overall generated revenue. To properly examine this shopping district before formulating a marketing plan for these specific retailers, we visited every store representing the Roma Faber group to gather information regarding each shop’s current branding strategy. Through empirical research, I had valuable interactions with numerous local business owners as my team and I inspected the visual, cultural, and ethical appeals of each boutique. This allowed me to distinguish the intention behind each retailer’s particular craft and concurrently develop a more profound understanding of the eloquence portrayed by Italian culture. Taking these exchanges into account, my group members and I made note of both the strong and weaker elements we observed as consumers in each store and used this knowledge for business reflection, and application, thereafter. Due to this unique hands-on rebrand mission, I have acquired a considerable amount of appreciation for the loyalty and authenticity that remains rooted in the heart of the Eternal City as it sits on display in Rione Ponte.?
As a marketing student who thrives in a creative working environment that provides endless opportunities for educational development paired with valuable instruction, there has been no better fit for my summer than to operate under these conditions, especially in an unfamiliar foreign territory. From the very start of my time living in Rome, I have been perpetually saturated by the richness of Italian customs, while I set out to behave as a Roman citizen in all respects each day. Amid this newfound cognizance, I have also been confronted with the challenges of releasing certain routines that dispute Italian tradition as I am exposed to numerous foreign languages, dressing normalities, daily eating regimens, work schedules, etc., all differing from my own. However, it is by placing myself within these unconventional circumstances that I have been able to detach from the way I previously comprehended the world, further expanding my knowledge beyond what I formerly believed to be correct and superior. In the absence of this study abroad experience, the limitations established by my own perception of both visible and concealed opportunities that exist around me would have remained greatly restricted. According to an article published by Helpful Professor, cultural blindness refers to the lack of awareness, understanding, or recognition of cultural differences, leading to an inability to effectively appreciate diverse cultural perspectives. Being someone who was born and raised in the United States, I confess that I had fallen victim to this subconscious mentality prior to my studies in Rome. While I have always been extremely accepting of other cultures, countries, and customs, I had never participated in a way of life that contrasts so eminently from my own, aside from a short family vacation. Because of this, I am convinced that a crucial doorway within my ever-developing identity leading to the path of noble insight, would have remained permanently barricaded by ignorance if I had not taken the chance to embrace this opportunity.?
For the last few weeks, I have been fortunate enough to operate in a way that I never would have known if I hadn’t taken the risk to study abroad. Throughout my time here, I have eagerly, and apprehensively adjusted to the Roman lifestyle by embracing the norms of a true native. On a daily basis, I undergo frequent walking, navigate various modes of public transportation, live a slower-paced leisurely lifestyle, and continuously strive to adopt a more flexible and compliant mentality. Although these behaviors may appear to be simple and appealing at first glance, they contradict everything I once knew as an American citizen living in Dallas, Texas. Therefore, these deviations within my daily routine have brought about a generous amount of culture shock and an occasional sense of estrangement. It wasn’t until experiencing these specific conflicts though, that I was truly able to discern the significance behind the concept “work to live, don’t live to work.” Prior to my studies in Rome, I interpreted this saying as an excuse that was oftentimes utilized by individuals lacking in motivation, purpose, or determination for their career path. It is within this change of lifestyle, though, that I have experienced a shift in mindset due to my improved ability to view the world and the workplace from a birds-eye view. Recently, a native Roman taxi driver told me something that has been circulating in my mind ever since. He said: “The flexibility of Italian culture is not to be mistaken for laziness. Business is business, but life will never be.” This quote reiterates the notion that hard work and success do not have to be mutually exclusive from a fulfilling life in order to be properly sustained. Although it may seem contradictory, it isn’t until you discard your standards of perfection and subsequently acquire a refined frame of mind associated with these unrealistic expectations, that you can accurately discover the freedom that lies within all unavoidable uncertainty.
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Mental maturation is a quality that we as humans constantly strive for, but I believe the reason we so often fall short of satisfying this desire is because of our reluctance to seek out discomfort. I believe that the dauntless aspirations I have for my future career and overall identity as a human being could never exist without pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, and the recent opportunity I have taken to study abroad has done just that. Reflecting on the last month of my life which I have spent living in Rome, Italy, I acknowledge that this experience has been undeniably pivotal for me as a business student, a member of society, and an overall individual. Throughout this time, I encountered many challenges which later translated to learning opportunities that I never would have obtained apart from this incredible trip. While I accept that I am young and still have much to learn, I am certain that the professional teaching I have gained during my time abroad concerning my particular area of study, in addition to the cultural comprehension of the world I have adopted through this four-week session, I have been presented with the perfect chance to step into the shoes of the influential business woman I aspire to become. It is solely due to this advantageous experience that I have been able to develop, thrive, and flourish in ways that can only be accomplished through immersion into the unknown. I will forever be in debt to this journey for the unparalleled development it has produced within me, and while I am dreading the conclusion of my time here in Italy, I am looking forward to applying these evolved proficiencies to my reality when I return home to the United States.
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