Tips for Studying a Foreign Language

November 11, 2015 ~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

Bonjour! When you study abroad you might find yourself in a country where English is not the first language, but this shouldn’t send you into a panic: discover some of the tips I use everyday while studying abroad in Paris here. Bonne chance!

‘I’ll Give You the Sun’ Will Give You All the Feels

October 20, 2015September 17, 2016 ~ Hannah Kate ~ 1 Comment

Summary: Twins Jude and Noah have been practically the same person since birth, but their actions after a tragic event drive them apart. Will things ever be the same again? With alternating perspectives, a young Noah in the past and Jude in the present, the twins’ story is revealed. Jandy Nelson has crafted a beautiful novel about making your way back to the people who love you most.

Okay, okay, let me just begin with some general thoughts about ‘contemporary young adult (YA) fiction’. I feel like sometimes the idea of ‘contemporary’ is completely forgotten. The novel is great, it’s well-written, but you can’t help but think, I don’t think I would ever do/say that or That whole situation is kind of impossible. And yes I understand it’s supposed to be fiction, but I should still be able to relate to what the characters are feeling. I prefaced my review of I’ll Give You the Sun because I’m always kind of wary of contemporary YA fiction with rave reviews. However, the rave reviews are justly placed on the cover because ohmygoodness this book is fantastic. And I mean all of it: the writing, the character development, the relationships, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.

The characters are flawed, real people. They go through tough situations and react to them in a way that’s actually believable. This novel is definitely excellent because of it’s characters. Obviously, characters and their development are an important part of any novel, but sometimes if the plot’s interesting and there’s a couple of funny one-liners you’ll stick around to the end. But I think a true testament to an author’s craft of character is how interested you would be reading about them doing things outside the plot (hence: fan fiction). And I would literally read about any of the characters in I’ll Give You the Sun going to the grocery store or watching paint dry.

And I would literally read about any of the characters in I’ll Give You the Sun going to the grocery store or watching paint dry.

It’s hard for me to pick a favorite character, they are all so interesting and layered. I’m just going to quickly talk about Jude. But before I talk about Jude I’m going to talk about the “Strong Female Lead”. Oh, the Strong Female Lead. You see this phrase everywhere nowadays as movies and books try to show that they are not sexist and their female characters are developed. Here’s the thing though, and this is something I struggle with, I don’t think you should use the idea of a “Strong Female Lead” to market your product. It’s not just an idea for women to be “strong” because we are strong and that display of strength should not just extend to the lead character, it should be every women portrayed. Newsflash: Women are people too. Also, being “strong” doesn’t necessarily have to mean being tough. Characters can be vulnerable and a little selfish and a contradiction because people are. I think the best thing about Jude (and the other characters as well) is that they are real. So for me, Jude is a good example of a “Strong Female Lead” because she’s described and acts like a person.

It’s not just an idea for women to be “strong” because we are strong and that display of strength should not just extend to the lead character, it should be every women portrayed. Newsflash: Women are people too

Alright, I’m going to wrap this up, I know this wasn’t a very traditional book review, but I just wanted to show how I’ll Give You the Sun completely shattered my hesitations about reading it. I guess it goes to prove the adage true, you can’t judge a book by it’s ~~cover~~ , er, genre. In conclusion: read I’ll Give You the Sun because it will give you all the feels!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

October 20, 2015 ~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

Along with this blog, I am also chronicling my adventures in Paris on the official blog of my study abroad program.

For my first post I discussed some ways to save money as a student in Paris and also a few of the places I visited, here’s the opening paragraph:

One of the great things you always hear about Europe is that if you are a student you can receive discounts almost anywhere. In my experience so far, I can confirm that this is fairly accurate as many places offer significant deductions in price. I would recommend checking with your host university to see if they have agreements with any local businesses about discounts.

Intrigued? You can read the entire post by clicking here.

A Note about ‘Culture Shock’

September 29, 2015September 29, 2015 ~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

When you type in “culture shock” on Google you get 20+ million results and top definition (courtesy of Wikipedia) is

“the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country, a move between social environments, or simply travel to another type of life.”

It’s essentially the emotions and changes you experience when you move from one place to another. I attended a workshop/presentation on culture shock or ‘entry adjustment’ put on by my study abroad company and it really helped me understand a little bit more about culture shock and myself.

Culture is a very nuanced thing, it’s so much more than food, language, customs. It’s value systems, and relationships, and body language. We are a product of our culture, whether it be our country, local or family culture; it shapes who we are. Living in a diverse place where multiple cultures are present, I feel like I am pretty capable of balancing culture with my identity. Identity is super important, as I think no matter where you are or what type of culture you are in you should be able to maintain a core sense of yourself.

So I have been in Paris for about two weeks, and so far I haven’t really been ‘shocked’ by anything. Some may say I’m still in the honeymoon phase, but I’m not sure if I’m going to experience ‘culture shock’ like it’s presented in this graphic.

I think that just goes to show that culture shock is a different experience for everyone and although there are a million graphics and articles about it, everyone’s experience is unique. I admit that right now I am experiencing some “frustration/annoyance with everyday differences” like trying to find a movie theatre, or a place to get my nails done or when I ran out of my deodorant I brought with me and had to face going into a pharmacy with brands I didn’t recognize in a language I was a beginner in. (Note: I did buy some deodorant, it worked out, I don’t smell!)

So with this discussion about my minor frustrations, I give you some personal strategies I used to cope with ‘culture shock’:

Journaling – it’s a great way to understand what you’re actually feeling. Sometimes I’ll sit down for say 15 minutes and just write literally everything that comes to mind. After that I read what I wrote and able to better process what I’m feeling.
Food – I brought a few snacks with me from home and whenever I need a reminder, I just eat a few Oreos. However, it doesn’t have to be something from your hometown, I also find pain au chocolat really comforting (which is great because I’m in Paris).
Talk to someone- whether it’s your friends back home, your friends that you’ve made, or an advisor, talking to someone is also a good way to process how you’re feeling. Most people will understand how you’re feeling, and be able to offer some advice or simply just listen.
Find your happy place – I have found a few in Paris: every morning when I’m taking ligne 6 and cross the Eiffel Tower or the spectacular view from one of Paris’ (many) bridges. These moments/places help remind that I’m in Paris, a city I always wanted to live in.
Give yourself permission to be tired/sad/lonely – I think a common feeling when you’ve travelled to a new place is feeling guilty for not appreciating everything to the fullest. Yes, you are really lucky that you got to travel/live here and (most likely) you appreciate that fact. But it’s still somewhere new that you have to adjust to. It’s okay to be tired/sad/lonely sometimes, after all you are only human. (Obligatory moral note: if you’re feeling tired/lonely sad all the time and think it’s more than culture shock, you should seek help from a professional.)

And on that note about feelings and guilt, I feel that sometimes we feel guilty for not managing other people’s expectations.

Yes, I am lucky that I’m studying abroad in Paris, I’m extremely (extremely) grateful and am doing my best to make the most of my experience; however, I am also living here, which means I do ordinary things like grocery shopping, going to school, etc. Not every moment of everyday is Instagram-worthy.

I definitely think this is something I’ll blog about again as time goes on and I have more experience in Paris. I hope this post helps you better understand ‘culture shock’ and some ways to handle it. If you have anything to add, please share it in the comments below!

À toute à l’heure!

Orlando Museum of Art

September 18, 2015 ~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

Website: http://omart.org/

Outside of the sensory overloading strip of fast food chains, gift shops (“We sell Disney tickets here!), and amusement parks (“The Happiest Place on Earth”) in downtown Orlando is the Orlando Museum of Art.

The exterior of the Orlando Museum of Art

Pre-Paris Preparation: Packing

September 14, 2015September 14, 2015 ~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

It seems like eons ago that I first applied to my study abroad program, but really it was only in March that this process all started. Now with less than 48 hours to go before I’m heading off for Paris I thought I would share some of the things I learned along the way about preparing for a study abroad experience.

Packing

Oh, the perils of packing– am I going to need this green cashmere pullover? Do all my pants look the same? Where are those amazing pair of tights I bought?

I was slightly overwhelmed when I first began this process, but here are some things I did to minimize my stress level.

First thing first is research: take into account weather, seasons, events, dress codes, etc. I am starting during the Fall semester, which means layers, boots, and coats (items that take up more space in a suitcase). I started by just pulling out everything that could be layered and I would actually wear (if you’re hesitating about something don’t bring it because that’s less space for potential souvenirs). I grouped items into their various categories (tops, pants, jackets, etc.) and double checked that “Yes, I would actually wear that.” I found some great packing tips through my program’s blog. I made my own spreadsheet of all the clothing items I packed to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything essential and will make the re-packing process easier (hopefully).

There’s a million hacks and tips n’ tricks online about packing, one of my favorites is Ingrid Nilsen’s video about how to not overpack. I bought a few sets of packing cubes and they are amazing! They allow you to keep things separate and organized. I spent a few days in London before heading to Paris, so I dedicated one of my larger cubes to everything for that mini-trip.

The great thing about going on a longer trip is that you have a limited wardrobe and have to get creative with your outfits. An app that I’m using to help me organize my outfits is ClosetSpace. It allows you to create a virtual closet of your clothes and make outfits. It even takes into account weather, temperature, and occasion.

A factor to consider when you’re choosing items is a color palette. I naturally gravitate towards a more neutral, muted color palette: greys, blacks, denim, whites, navy, which makes it really easy to pair items together.

A factor to consider when you’re choosing items is a color palette. I naturally gravitate towards a more neutral, muted color palette: greys, blacks, denim, whites, navy, which makes it really easy to pair items together. However, I don’t want to be boring!

Some ways to add interest to your wardrobe:

Cut and shape: Even though most of my clothes are neutral, I like to keep things interesting with shape. A structured, boxy jacket or grey/black paneled top adds drama without being over the top.

Pattern: Whether it be stripes or polka dots, patterns break up a muted color palette. I have a few casual long sleeve tops in brighter color combinations (orange/navy, red/white) to keep things fun.

Texture: Mixing textures is another great way to add interest to your outfit: consider a sheer, white blouse paired with a dark jean and a leather jacket.

Statement piece: A great statement piece should be the central focal point without detracting from the rest of your outfit. One of the statement pieces I brought along with me was pale pink raincoat with black details.

I hope you are able to apply these packing tips for your next adventure. Stay tuned to the Adventure section of the blog for more updates from my study abroad adventure in Paris! Bon voyage!

hannah says/thinks/feels

i am more than what i say.

Author: Hannah Kate