Study Abroad Experience and Reflection

This assignment is a reflection on the author's anticipated study abroad experience in the USA. They discuss how their perspectives will change due to immersing themselves in a new culture, exploring different academic opportunities, and utilizing resources provided by the university. The paper also delves into the influence of American media on Australian conceptions of the US, highlighting the contrast between pre-conceived notions and reality. Furthermore, it analyzes the potential impact of becoming an international student ambassador, emphasizing the benefits of networking and sharing experiences with other students.

Running head: STUDYING IN THE USA
STUDYING IN THE USA
Name of the Student:
Name of the University
Author Note:

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Goals and expectations for the study tour to USA:
Setting goals for studying in an abroad country because ids makes me clear what I
want to get out of my trip in the USA and makes me sure whether I am capable for
accomplishing my goals.
 Advancement for future profession
 Utilizing scope for studying with preferred subject
 Facing challenges for living as well as studying in USA
 Desire for expanding my own horizons
 Experiencing an exotic place
 Learning other languages and cultures
 Keeping up with other students
 Hoping for the new setting
 Avoiding uncertainty and pointlessness and finding a new way
My assumptions, knowledge and perspective about the USA:
My concept about the culture and behaviour of the USA is largely based on the news,
movies, TV shows and friend living in the USA. I believe that the country is rich with diverse
culture as people from different section of the world visit America. It also has immigrants
who stay in the county for profession and research works. Some of them must have loved the
culture and could not return back to their native land. Therefore, it seems to be very difficult
for defining a typical American. From the American history I came to know that current
Americans are largely from European decent therefore, I guess some of the cultural traits will
be familiar with my Australian culture.

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Most Americans I believe lover of various sports. As they work throughout week,
they look forward for entertainment in the weekends. I guess they spend recess watching
sports in stadiums or TV.
American influence on Australian culture:
Until WWII Australian culture was mostly bore the influence from Britain. Most of
the population was decent from Britain or born in Britain. After war they came to Australia
and started living here. Therefore, many people considered the country to be a British colony
and nothing more than that. Our national identity was similar to that of Britain and its effect
was far reaching. The Briton culture effected our food, fashion, entertainments, sporting
culture including social values as well as attitudes.
After world war, our culture stated to change significantly. As the USA has become
the economic power, they also started to dominate cultures all over the world through
Television shows, movies and music (Salisbury, An and Pascarella 2013). During post-war
era, people of Australia were becoming affluent and taking advantages of technology as well
as communications, which enabled transmission of products and ideas from America
seamlessly. We even use the American spelling as major computer companies use such
changed spellings. American shows, media and movies have also influenced our general
knowledge and society.
Learning in the USA:
I believe USA has always been an allure and drawing talents like magnet. Studying in
the USA will allow me for valuable academic, personal as well as professional development.
It will definitely open up innumerable career opportunities after my completion of studies.
The country has the reputation for famous higher education programs and half of the
world’s best universities are located in the USA. I believe that small size of the classes,

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highly accredited teachers, advanced technological support and research capabilities will
create greater opportunity for me. Completing studies from top universities of USA will
encourage me and distinguish me from other peers with same background as well as help in
getting ready for career experience.
I believe that I shall be expert in my field when I will get into my kind of profession.
This is because study in the USA will provide me with facilities on any subject I want to
choose. The country’s international student’s policy will be guiding me for getting
scholarships.
The USA is the leader in the fields of technology as well as research. These are benefitted
from funding and support to the international students. I will be able to join the research
projects in the universities where the students’ works are published and they can apply for
patent and even get assistance in starting companies. These universities have research labs as
well as campuses.
The university campuses will give not only professional opportunities but also
encourage me to socialise with peers. I have heard these campuses also include a lot of
facilities for student relaxation and entertainment.
I know that the USA always welcome multicultural environment therefore even if I
get small cultural shock in the beginning I will definitely adapt to the situation. This
multiculturalism will help me in my career in future. Interacting with diverge people in
colleges will build capability of interaction with people from other culture and analysis issues
from global perspective. Living far from home I shall be more self-motivated, flexible as well
as independent. I shall become outgoing, communicative and confident for any kind of
challenge.
Knowledge about USA:

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From my friends studying in the USA, I have come to that making fun of their culture
or derogatory remarks about their country hurt their emotions and background. They also
value their privacy and expect etiquette regarding visit to their places.
Life in the US seems to me fast paced. The Americans do not intend to waste time for
anything. This is I guess the reason why they invented fast food. To me, they might be
impatient yet disciplined otherwise the country would not have been so developed.
I came across some legal and cultural rigidity prevailing in the country while studying
about their culture. Racial comments are strictly judged and hurt people’s emotion. Blacks
are referred as African American in USA.
The most important knowledge I gained from popular TV shows that people are not
so curious about the background or the culture of the immigrants. This may because they
have seen and accustomed with people coming from different corner of the world. Some may
be curious and ask about my culture and my country if they come to know my origin.
Challenges for the international students in USA:
The USA is the home of top universities and research academies. They offer
international student aids that deal with cultural differences and find solutions for academic
problems that the international students face during study in the USA.
Cultural challenges: I know that when I shall arrive in the USA I will be facing initial
cultural shock that every student from different country face. It is the intense feeling of
homesickness and irritability that every student experiences when they travel to new
countries and comes across different languages and cultures (Kinginger 2013). In my country,
there are various customs and behavioural traits that will be highly irregular if I apply them,
in the USA. In the USA, people maintain personal spaces and do not touch in busy areas

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either by familiar or strangers. Therefore, I need to speed up in understanding the
communication style before I stepped in to that country.
Financial challenges: I know that the colleges and universities in the USA is
expensive. out-of-state tuition in the public university is difficult and private schools are more
expensive. Therefore, I need to plan how will I pay tuitions and other expenses before
reaching there. The most important financial challenge that all my friends studying in the
USA faced was the cost of health insurance. It is a problem that international students do not
get opportunity for automatic and universal healthcare facilities so I have ensured that my
university provide good insurance. I can also access the international student health care
insurance for avoiding huge medical bills.
Social challenges: students and teachers interact differently in the USA. They are
more personal yet maintain personal spaces. They also interact differently in the social
situations. For me starting as a new student in abroad may be lonely and irritating. Getting
known to other students and involvement may be a big question foe me like all the
international students but I am fortunate that I have some friends living there and studying in
the same college.
Academic challenges: the academic background is the most important component in
my visiting t the USA. Therefore, it will be easier for me to focus on my study. It is a
challenge for the international students that they find US language difficult to decipher
initially (Tarrant, Rubin and Stoner 2014). The classroom expectations are also different from
that of Australia. Therefore, collaborative studies and interaction with the professors will help
me to understand the traits easily.
Expectations:

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Being and energetic Australian I am looking forward new adventures in my life. in
Australia I am not able to pursue my study on my own preferred subject. I will be taking
advantages of studying in one of the top colleges in the USA only because of my good
academic background. The study abroad programs will be helping me to learn all the features
that will help me in my future job. I believe it is the best time to explore the most diverse
place where I will be connecting with new people, understand their language, culture, values
and perspectives. On the other hand, I can also be a representative of Australian culture and
ethnicity. I can make others interested about my history and native art, music, and literature.
As we live in an age of globalization, it is important for us to build an inclusive
worldview instead of thinking about my own ethos. A student whether study politics,
literature or science, need to be capable of thinking from the multi-national perspectives. I
believe this will help me facing modern challenges and forming creative solutions. This will
teach me to to view things from different point of view, therefore, I shall also learn new
things about my own culture.
For many international students, it is not about visiting USA for few days and coming
back home but it is living there and fitting in the country’s culture. I will be staying there for
several months and years among locals, eating cuisines, riding public transport. The foreign
will be soon become familiar to me. I will be reaping all the benefits of the scholarships and
international student programs and representing my culture. These stories of studying abroad
will be there in my memory lane.
Among many expectations, I want get an experience of a new and different education
system. Depending on my program, my classes will obviously be different that I am used to
in Australia. I want to embrace that difference once I am there and take advantages of the
strength and resources of the university.

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Other activities:
My study abroad will expand my perspectives. First of all, I want to know the place
where I shall live from a residents’ point of view. I shall visit all tourist sites and eventually
go beyond them. Exploring new town will make me more comfortable in the foreign land.
Tasting the local food has always been attractive to me. I believe every place or town has its
own delicacy. the culture approves the food habits as well as cuisines. Therefore, to know the
culture, I need to be open minded and I believe I shall return home with a new favourite dish.
Studying in USA will give me opportunities to know new culture, history, customs, language
and ideas that I shall be surrounded by and immerse myself in a new way of life.
Influence of TV and movies in concept building:
Now America is the dominant superpower of the world. They have both hard power
as well as soft power the soft power is the dominance of its culture that are transmitted
through their music, literature, media, films art and television shows. In Australia we have
popular music that are sourced heavily from America and our youth fell under the spell of
American music, movies and dance style. We, the young generation of Australia are hugely
influenced with the language whether it is choosing the words and phrases or style of
speaking. The term Hollywood conjures up visions of movie stars and Oscar nights and
Western gunslingers getting ready for the shootout. Therefore, most of the concept that we
form about the country is purely based on their movies and TV shows.
Perspectives:
As an international student studying in a foreign university I guess by perspective will
change largely. It will create opportunity for me to use my skills as well as abilities that I
have learnt in my native country. It will help me in learning variety of language and culture,
challenges and benefits and how to be a leader from a commoner. Among diversity I shall

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start to think big far from my comfort zone. Meeting and overcoming challenges will develop
confidence and boost my future chances in job market. Getting a new perspective is different
from our preconceived notions and teaches to be open minded.
Impact of choices:
Study says that international students are each other’s advocate. Becoming an
ambassador will provide a valuable work experience in my C.V as well as give opportunity to
meet and work with people from various backgrounds. I will be able to share my experiences
to other prospective students. The international students coming from Australia as well as
other countries for studying in the USA will connect with me. Prospective international
students can ask me about university life or about housing. I will be providing them practical
tips about the problems I faced. Advising them to plan properly and expand social circles will
keep the away from gravitate towards the native peers. My job will also include in identifying
and reflecting on the skills and strength and provide employers evidence of my learning as
well as experience.

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References:
Kinginger, C., 2013. Identity and language learning in study abroad. Foreign Language
Annals, 46(3), pp.339-358.
Salisbury, M.H., An, B.P. and Pascarella, E.T., 2013. The effect of study abroad on
intercultural competence among undergraduate college students. Journal of Student Affairs
Research and Practice, 50(1), pp.1-20.
Tarrant, M.A., Rubin, D.L. and Stoner, L., 2014. The added value of study abroad: Fostering
a global citizenry. Journal of Studies in International Education, 18(2), pp.141-161.