Overwhelming yet exciting, that is how many exchange students would describe their challenges in adapting to a new university, and a new life
AAU emphasizes group work and open discussions, whereas other universities implement a curriculum that relies heavily on lectures and independent study.
“The professors at AAU were all super nice and really loved hearing students’ opinions,” said Taiwanese exchange student Blakely Lin. “They enjoyed interacting with us and often encouraged group discussions to share our thoughts.”
Diverse social norms often make integrating into AAU’s social settings difficult. Experiencing cultural differences, however, is bound to occur when knowingly stepping into an unfamiliar environment.
“I haven’t experienced any big culture shock yet. Rather, I’m enjoying cultural differences like shirtless guys with beer and old men swimming in the river. I think being open-minded is the key to living in a new environment,” said Japanese exchange student Hina Suzuki.
Making new friends is one of the easiest ways to combat the feeling of isolation when studying abroad.
“My roommate gave me this advice. Step one: Spot your target. Step two: Make eye contact. Step three: Say hi. OK, you’ve made a friend,” Blakely said.
