Abroad in Bloomington

Today marks the beginning of the greatest study abroad experience of many freshman’s lives.

That’s right, matriculating is like going to Europe for a semester. And just like studying abroad, you will go through several phases:

The honeymoon period

Everything is wonderful. You’re loving trying new things, meeting new people and being exposed to new thoughts and opinions. You’re excited, and it shows.

Culture shock

You may feel alienated and helpless. Perhaps your work will start to pile up, and it seems impossible that you will ever figure out this “college” thing. If home is close, you’ll be tempted to visit frequently.

Assimilation

Slowly but surely, you’ll work your way out of that feeling. You’ll start calling your dorm room “home,” and you’ll have weekly “family dinners” with the kids down the hall. The campus starts to become yours, and you feel justified as a true Indiana Hoosier. You’ve got a handle on the culture and traditions. You blend in with the native population.

Reverse culture shock

When you go home for Thanksgiving, what was once familiar and comfortable is foreign and awkward. Your family dynamic feels weird. Your old room doesn’t feel like home anymore, even though all of your old posters are still on the walls. It’s like you’re driving on the wrong side of the road.

As you work your way through these stages, you will be tempted to do everything just because it’s new. Even if you know you will hate it and be angry at yourself later.  

For example, in Japan they sell a bright green drink called melon soda.

I know, it sounds delicious and fun. While I was there, I quickly figured out that I hate melon soda, but I kept ordering it anyway. I would see the words “melon soda” and my brain immediately registered that this is something new, unique and unavailable in the United States. So of course, my next thought was, “I must drink this immediately!”  
Certain things about college life will feel the same way, especially for your first couple of months.

Like my melon soda, you should try new things. But unlike my melon soda, don’t keep doing new things just because you can’t do them at home.  

Be aware of your motivations. Are you doing something because you genuinely enjoy it, or are you doing it just because you can? If your answer is the latter, then maybe you should stop doing it.  

And remember, you have at least four years to try new things. You don’t have to knock everything out in your first week.

— casefarr@indiana.edu.
Follow columnist Casey Farrington on Twiter @casefarr.