this is a follower appreciation post because if you think about it when 1 person follows you it’s not just a number it’s like a whole real person who breathes and eats and hits its pinky toe into furniture i mean it has legs and everything DO YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH OF A BIG DEAL IT IS
(via undiscoveredtreasures)
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1. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Always be friendly, respectful and straight when you’re talking to people in a foreign country. You’re in their country, never forget that. Make sure you learn at least a few words, and say everything with a big honest smile, even if you feel rotten.
Defer to local people 9 times out of 10, even when it means swallowing your pride, and never take out your frustration on them. But on the rare occasion, like when people are trying to shove you out of the way in a queue, stand your ground and be firm or you’ll be there all day.
2. TIMING IS EVERYTHING
We all make mistakes, but it’s time that’s the real killer. Give yourself plenty of room for error and you can still salvage the inevitable mixup. Leave it until the last minute and you’re screwed.
If you’re catching a train abroad, I say aim to arrive at the station two hours before it leaves. That might sound OTT but if you’re in a big city and you go to the wrong station, or take the wrong metro, or traffic is murder, there’s a giant of a queue to get into the station, or you leave your passport at your hotel, it sure as hell doesn’t feel too long. And if all goes to plan you get a blissful bit of downtime for a coffee and a chill, while the less prepared travelers are racing across town looking at their watch in a panic.
3. ALWAYS LOOK BACK
Whenever you leave anywhere do a sweep of the taxi/café/train compartment/hotel room you’re walking away from, it might be your last chance. It’s easy to leave something crucial behind then it’s gone forever.
Take a little torch so you can look under beds or on the floor under your seat thoroughly, it only takes a few seconds. Get in the habit of doing this wherever you go and you could save yourself a hell of a lot of hassle later.
4. VIVE LA DIFFÉRENCE
Accept, no embrace the fact that you’re in a weird and wonderful country that and it’s life but not as you know it. That’s why you went away in the first place, isn’t it? You will get very easily upset if you want everything just how you have it back home.
And when you find there’s no toilet only a hole in the floor, or you have to eat chicken’s feet to be polite (see below), or an old lady spits on the floor in front of you because you’re showing too much cleavage, don’t get fazed. It’s the little things, even the uncomfortable ones, that make traveling so special. Go with the flow while all this wonderful bizarreness is available, you’ve got the rest of your life for Big Macs and toilet seats.
5. WHEN IN ROME
Keep your eyes and ears open all the time, and watch what local people are doing. It’s their city, they know how it works and the little things that might not be done anywhere else. If you’re nervous crossing a road, wait for someone else’s lead and don’t be afraid to ask for directions even if it means just pointing at a map.
The charm of a place is often the most subtly hidden thing, a quirk in the way life is lived. With the right kind of eyes you can pick up great little customs that might make your visit 10 times better; the clues are all around you.
6. KEEP YOUR CHIN UP
There are times when you don’t feel capable of putting one foot in front of the other, let alone negotiating the Moscow Metro with a heavy backpack. But it’s amazing what a positive attitude does for you.
Smile through the pain, stay cheerful and enthusiastic and the universe often rewards you; a passer-by offers directions, you catch a lucky break, you meet a stranger who gives you that little boost you need. When you’re on your own you have to rely on your own resources because nobody else will cheer you up if you don’t.
7. KEEP YOUR HEAD
If you feel threatened keep a neutral exterior; don’t overcompensate by being bolshie, but definitely don’t show fear either as this can invite the wrong type of attention. Be the grey guy, not aggressive or weak, just calm and collected even if inside your heart is pounding.
There are good people everywhere in the world. But also in real life most people don’t do a damn thing to help when you’re feeling a vulnerable so don’t expect too much sympathy. Stay focused, keep walking and look as confident as you can even when you don’t believe it yourself.
8. GO WITH YOUR GUT
Respect the line between being adventurous and just plain stupid. You’ve got to push yourself out of your comfort zone if you’re going to experience those magic moments, but listen to your instincts as well. You develop a sixth sense as you travel and while you might be nervous walking down a street alone, or crossing a border, or doing a million other things, you can usually overcome this fear.
But if your gut is telling you there’s something wrong, there probably is. Don’t be too proud to change your plans if you get that pang. You’re on your own, you don’t have to answer to anyone, so take control of all the decisions.
9. MANGE TOUT
Never refuse an offer of a drink or some exotic bit of food from a kind stranger, unless you really find the idea gut wrenching. Your body can cope with more than you think. Food and drink is usually the first bridge between two strangers, especially on a long train journey, and if you turn it down the first time it could be a very long ride indeed.
And you could miss out on perhaps the most interesting character of the whole trip. And yes, that includes eating crickets, pigs tails and chicken’s feet, or necking brandy at 6 in the morning, it will always be worth that urge to gag.
10. CARPE DIEM
The end of the trip creeps up subtly and next thing you know you’re back home, in your old routines, your old self, no longer on the move. Yes, there are some bloody annoying things about travelling: the guy in the compartment of your train who slurps tea and smokes and won’t shut up when you’re trying to sleep, the endless lugging of backpacks around hot muggy cities, the surly officials, cockroach-ridden hostels, delays, language barriers, time zones, mosquitos, etc. etc. etc.
But none of that matters when you’re replaying the tapes in your head.
Just the fact that you did it counts, and the wonderful moments that each little stumble was a step toward. So while you’re out there, don’t meditate on the mishaps.
There will come a day when you’d happily relive every single second, cockroaches and all.
via Travel Dudes
First reblog I believe… :)
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I have stories to tell… but right now I have been sick ever since I got home on Saturday. So Ill post whenever I feel better.
Till Then.
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Your welcome. It was a pleasure to do so, and to hear back from you.
The school is amazing. Sure they give you a lot of work depending on the class. The school’s different departments are either in the same building or a building 5-15 min walk from each other. I was able to get out of taking Italian due to the fact that you have to participate a lot. It was odd, how I was able to get out of that class but since I am taking 3 studio classes and 1 art history class to add Italian to my list would have made my experience here a lot more stressful. By the way if you get any accommodations back at your home college ask the head of the disability Center at your college to contact the dean of students here. She is really a nice woman. Very helpful.
But I have heard the Italian classes can be really hard.
So what classes are you signed up to take?
The housing. Well I signed up for housing through LDM and ended up in a beautiful Large 2 bedroom apartment. Of course you get a roommate. So in total there are 4 ppl in this beautiful apartment that is in between the Duomo and the Academia. Great location. My roommate is awesome. But it all depends on luck. Since my flat mates are quite messy and rude. The Internet here is really finicky. Depending on the apartment you may or may not be able to access it so easy. Like Italy itself it’s slow. And annoying.
Well since I am in art classes, the girl/guy ratio is very skewed: more girls then guys. Actually I have only 1 guy in only 1 of my classes. I don’t really know the rest of the other departments but based on orientation (in Italy) it looked about 60-70% girls, 30-40% boys. I may be wrong. I just havent met any others yet.
By the way if you have a Facebook account, look me up and friend me if you want to, search for Danielle Sternberg, current place of living is Florence (just to make sure you find the right person) From there I can let my friend who is staying here for the rest of his college career either contact you or you can contact him. Or whatever. And I asked him about it and he said it was fine. :) Facebook would be the best way to contact him right now. And probably the safest way. I don’t know if he has a tumblr account or not.
It’s ok to be terrified about going alone. It’s normal and you will find that there are others who are terrified as well. :) But once you are here and settled in you will find that you had nothing to worry about.
If you want after friending me on Facebook we can talk more there. It will be a lot easier via messaging….
I hope I answered your question. If you have anymore I will be happy them.
~Until next time
Danielle
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Hey. Sorry for replying so late. It’s kind of hectic right now, but as a fellow individual with social anxiety I know it can be sometimes hard to ask questions to a total stranger even if its online. (May not be the case, maybe just me. Lol).
Congratulations on getting accepted. :) I’m studying at Lorenzo de’Medici. IF you are going there, I have an awesome friend that I have meet through classes who is spending 2 years here (in Florence). Well a year and half now. Who is super nice and really friendly. My professor and I joke that he knows all of Florence. Just message me back. But its probably not best to push friends on people. My mother always does that back home and one time it turned out horrible but one time she did that and I gained the most amazing friend ever. It really depends.
Now onto more relevant issues at hand. Social Anxiety and studying abroad. I felt the same issues that you are feeling right now, since I am/was studying abroad alone. I didn’t know who I was rooming with, if I would be friends with them, if I would make friends at all. Deep down I knew that I could do this with or without friends. But my parents gave me a condition on traveling while I was in Italy to other countries: I needed to travel with someone else. Which may or may have not motivated me since I was so determined to go to London and England in general regardless if I was with someone or not. Trust me and do not travel to another country outside of Italy alone, because you won’t enjoy it as much, plus you’ll have a buddy to get lost with and laugh about it later (Sorry this probably is going to be a tad long).
Don’t let your social anxiety get in the way of anything. Be yourself. You can do it. And try to remember how you met any of your friends in the past. For example, I find my friends in my art classes. Since art is my passion and so is theirs. Thats a start of a friendship. Then delve deeper and reveal your true self. Little by little. And those who stay and talk with you further are those who can be potentially your friends. Those who look bored and your just talking the entire time aren’t the people you want to be friends with. In general. The same rules apply about making new friends anywhere as is here, someone needs to start talking.
Study abroad is all about taking risks (in reasonable manner). Its about exploring yourself, finding who you are by doing the extreme becoming a foreigner in another country. I’ve personally learned that wherever I am I will always be a foreigner. Since, my way of thinking and talking is sometimes misinterpreted wherever I am (even within my own family).
What I meant is do things you normally wouldn’t do or plainly just force yourself to do those things like going to talk to a new classmate.
I know its hard to push yourself to get out there and talk. But until you get over that bump on the path you are on you won’t ever get past it. You should be proud of yourself that you have chosen to study abroad when you have social anxiety. You are taking one step toward changing your life forever.
One piece of major advice, is to remember to stop and take it all in. Don’t get overwhelmed by it. Don’t let anyone, even your inner self take you down and believe that you cannot do it.
Be honest and true to yourself. People really appreciate those things.
If you need any tips on conversation starters. Just ask. I may be still horrible at starting a conversation. But I’ve picked up things over the years. Try to look deep within and think about your passions and what you love most. Its easier to relate (I may have already said this, sorry, its 7:30 pm here right now.)
I don’t know if I am being helpful or not.. Erg.. :) If I didn’t give you any new information just ask me any questions directly. Even when you have finally arrived ask, and I will answer. I will always be available to answer any questions. It would be an honor to do so. :)
Congratulations again. And good luck if don’t hear back from you.
Oh and thank you.
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Here we go, a video of my presentation at La Strozzina. This version is one that my roommate recorded for me. The study abroad program has video taped it themselves as well so I will get out that link once they give me that. Plus I get to show you my classmates presentations as well. :)
Not as great as I hoped it would be the sound quality. Will have another version available as soon as my study abroad program releases it. Sorry.
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Preview to Presentation.. Won’t give all the photos away.. well until after the event.
Close up of Self-Portrait
Medium: Oil Paint and Oil Pastel
Date: November 2012
Size: 70 cm x 80 cm
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Or did I? Hmmmm.
I’m presenting my art work, in front of 100-150 people, in a form of a verbal and visual presentation via pdf at La Strozzina a Contemporary Art Museum in Florence, Italy… Here’s the link to it:
http://www.strozzina.org/en/events/evento-speciale-me-myself-and-i/
What I will be doing afterwards is posting my grand achievement (in video format) of speaking in front of a crowd on youtube and then posting it here on tumblr. I may give a preview of what pieces I will be presenting… But not what I will be saying.
I’m so happy that I’m being given this grand chance to conquer a challenge that I need to face and will have to face in the future. I’m so grateful. It really warms my heart. I can’t really explain it clearly how I feel. I don’t feel nervous at all. I feel nervous about other things, like this 8 page essay that I have to write for my Art History Class due Wednesday, and my final projects and papers that go along with it. But I am not at all nervous for this.
I have accomplished so much this semester, battled against my Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD, and Anxiety Disorder. And actually survived. I just wish I was able to write more about my experience, whilst it was occurring. Instead of making promises that were broken multiple times. Trying to battle against the odds while keeping a blog up is hard.
One thing I do promise is to write once I am back in the states about everything. Let my heart spill forward. Tell you guys and the world everything. Reflection of the past is what I do best. Thinking about my mistakes and what I wish I could have done better is what I have words to say about.
I am thinking about continuing this blog afterwards. Since this title fits perfectly, where ever I am. Where ever I am I am still an Aspie Abroad. From my experience as a whole, even when I have 3 weeks left, I could say that wherever I am I still feel like a foreigner out of place. Not belonging. People still will misinterpret me and I will still do things that are not part of the cultural norm.
Plus *cough* one day I hope to be back in Europe, specifically the UK, to go to graduate school, to possibly live. I just absolutely love it there. Sigh. Anything is possible? Right?
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Doctor WHO EXPERIENCE. GAH. I was a tad too excited.
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If one wants details just ask.
**Advanced Drawing Midterm Assignment**
