Studying Abroad and Homesickness

 

The idea of studying abroad is common in each and every society. There is always this tendency to read, know about and explore other cultures. Easterners keep going westwards to obtain a more detailed and thorough knowledge about westerners and vice versa. “A third of the junior class at Wheaton have been abroad and proportionally fewer sophomores and freshmen have visited foreign countries. Forty-five out of a class of 104 have been to Europe, Asia, or South America” (Highacres Collegian, 1959) My interview, which was held at Foxdale retirement house, with Dr. Arthur Edward Goldschmidt Jr, who happens to be a professor of Middle East History, has tackled the same preceding point too. Dr. Arthur must have also experienced this sense of missing home when he was studying at Cairo. Dr. Goldschmidt has shared me his experience of studying Arabic language abroad and how it felt like to be away from his country. Feelings of missing one’s home is almost applicable to all human beings changing their former place of residence for another, even if temporarily.

No one is to deny how important it is to acquire the knowledge directly from its origin. This prior idea alone is sufficient enough to encourage students to study abroad and even encourages institutions to sponsor those willing students.

Inas Messiha, Penn state lecturer in French and Arabic, agreed with the necessity of study in a foreign language and study abroad. “the best way to get to know someone is to learn their language,” she said. Messiha added that the best way to gain a better understanding of the language was to study abroad. “Speaking the language for one hour, three days a week for French, or five days a week for Arabic, cannot be compared to living in it,” she said (Daily Collegian 2003).

As demonstrated above, the new environment itself has a stronger impact on the process of learning and acquiring the information. This allows a better and a clearer understanding of the language and the information this language tries to convey.

Those feelings of being out of place, not belonging, or even rejected can drive the person to go astray from the main purpose of going abroad. One might end up falling under a huge psychological unease or experiencing what is known as homesickness. “A study from the University of Iowa shows that nearly 65% of new students feel homesick” (Daily Collegian, 1987).  This percentage must have grown since studying abroad have spread widely nowadays.

Since 40’s and 50’s, as la vies show, there were several attempts to lessen this effect of being away from one’s home. Different national and international types of clubs welcomed different types of students. Hubs are designed in a way that allows students to mingle and socialize with one another too. Follows are examples of clubs that were put forward in the selected la vies reviewed (1944-1948).

To conclude, one can say that feelings of homesickness is shared since early days till the current moment. No one is to deny the several attempts to lessen its effect, yet at the same time today’s technological advancement like, Face-time and other socially connecting application, somehow eases the process a little bit.

Response (Ch.15-Ch.20)

Today's part, unlike all proceeding, mirrors the horrible side of having a chronic disease. one can see how the human body is literally degrading against the person's will. In this part, Gus, who was always charming, is no longer able to take care of himself. In different parts of today's reading, one almost feels Hazel's inability to say what ought to be said. Her experience is collectively shared by all human beings who accompanied a sick relative.

generally speaking today's part is really sad and devastating !

foxdale trip !

I am actually speechless ... This trip is indeed one of my favorite tasks ... To be honest, just like everyone else, I was a little bit hesitant and scared at the beginning but this turned out to be just perfect! I went there with an overwhelming burden over my chest not to be rude and thus the idea of being conservative and cautious was lingering at the back of my mind the whole time. This whole issue disappeared once I was assigned to interview Prof. Arthur Edward Goldschmidt Jr. ~ ابو استفان

Not even in my wildest dreams, I have never thought of meeting a professor who knows and speaks Arabic as fluently as myself. Prof Arthur studied at American University at Cairo and obtained a BA degree signing a mastery of Arabic Language. This success was followed by an MA and a PhD in middle-eastern studies form Harvard University. If anyone of you is interested in knowing more about this phenomenal professor I'll be thrilled to tell you all about it ...

I enjoyed how we kept jumping from one subject to another so effortlessly and I even loved how we shared more than one ground. I was amazed when I discovered that he knew two of my former professors who taught me some courses while pursuing my masters degree. The only thing that was challenging to me is how encyclopedic this man is, the mere idea of not knowing as much as he knows kept me on my toes the whole time. other than that everything was just perfect.

I have no advice to give ... Honestly, all what students have to do is to be respectful and enjoy this precious and valuable opportunity to be sitting there in the presence of such accomplished people who managed getting through life with this great deal of knowledge ....

THANK YOU Mrs. RUTH for this opportunity ... This is indeed a day to remember as long as I shall live ...

5th readng response !

What is one emotion you felt while reading today?  Describe how you felt and the specific section of the reading that inspired you to feel that way.

 

Today's part is all about suspense and anticipation. Reading it keeps one on his toes. Green truly succeeded engaging us, as readers, driving us to feel more or less the same feelings of fear Hazel underwent as her trip came closer. One can almost identically identify with Hazel's feelings "imagining all kinds of Amsterdam trip-ruining fates (arrest, injury, mental breakdown) ..."

 

*One more interesting points I loved in today's part is the authors description of Houses and Modern Architecture. "The weird thing about houses is that they almost always look like nothing is happening inside of them, even though they contain most of our lives. I wondered if that was sort of the point of architecture." Green's previous statement, though undeniably beautiful, somehow has multiple meanings. Green referred readers' attention to the modern lifestyle and how it is designed in away that best cuts people off any outer connection. The need of feeling autonomous and independent carried people away in every possible regard. At the same time, this very same line refers to the virtual walls, we tend to build to protect our sense of privacy... To Be Continued !

 

 



4th reading reaction

Which event, fact, or character you read about today was most interesting to you? Why?

The more I go on reading this story, the fonder I grow of the two perfectly fitting characters, i.e. Hazel and Augustus. Augustus, in this part, was a true gentleman. He, unlike many boyfriends, is actually trying to draw a smile on Hazel's face. He wants her to be happy. He even reached up a point of extreme love that he offered her a trip to Amsterdam; a place she dreams to journey.
I honestly love how those cute couple are trying to express their love ((nonverbally)).

outline, summary, and response ~ third reading session

In an attempt to outline and summarize the part read yesterday, I would chunk the whole thing into three main ideas:

I. Hazel and Augustus' second phone call
   1- The anxiety of taking the initiative.
   2- Augustus' discovery of Mr. Peter Van Houten's secretary's email and his reply.
II. Isaac's surgery
   1- Isaac's unexpected reaction
III. Hazel and Augustus' picnic.

Summary:
A feeling of anxiety, fear of being forgotten, and a sense of longing haunted over Hazel as she was waiting for Augustus to call her. Later, as the story goes, Augustus called. He had an exciting news to tell Hazel. He uncovered a way to talk to Hazel's most appreciated and admired writer. Augustus told her his part of the story and how he contacted Mr. Peter Van Houten; and thus by giving her the email address he allowed her to have her story with Mr. Houten too. Isaac, Hazel and Augustus' friend, had an eye-surgery he was said to have in order to get rid of his eye-cancer. Ironically it was described as a procedure that went well though the man went blind ! The focus then shifted to shed some more light on Hazel and Augustus' relation. A picnic was planned ... to be continued

Response:
Hazel's addiction to Augustus is so pronounced in this part. I actually loved how the feeling of suspense of waiting for a phone-call was put. The description of how Hazel was constantly "holding her phone in her sweaty hand all day," and how she kept"staring at it" as she was "waiting for her gentleman caller to live up to his sobriquet" is so catching. "Transmitting items from her plate into her mouth with a speed and ferocity" when she heard the cell-phone rings, is another indication of how strongly addicted she is turning out to be towards her boyfriend, Augustus.

2nd Response !

What really caught my attention in yesterday's reading was the realistic aspect of the story. Isaac's girlfriend's inability to keep her promise, of "always" staying right beside her boyfriend, is somehow an overturning point. This part somehow put an emphasis on how imperfect we, as humans, all are. Isaac's excessive reaction towards Monica's abandonment is so provoking too. It mirrored how desperate a person can be! How one's emotion can really seem to go beyond repair ! I really can't wait to see how would this subplot goes !