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From USC to the UK: Navigating Culture Shock While Studying Abroad
Studying abroad is often described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience filled with adventure, personal growth, and unforgettable memories. But what people don’t always talk about is the culture shock that can come with it.
My Julymester in Greece
My experience studying mythology, ancestry, and oral traditions in Greece through the USC Julymester program was a profound and unforgettable journey. In preparation for the trip, we had a number of meetings to discuss course content and class materials. We were assigned various readings and podcasts to complete ahead of time to prepare for the course and the trip. Having previously taken a Greek mythology class, this opportunity allowed me to deepen my prior knowledge while immersing myself in the culture and surroundings of where these myths were formed.
Want to Study Abroad Without Leaving for a Whole Semester? USC Alternative Study Abroad Options
While a traditional study abroad program might not fit into your course plan, especially if you’re a transfer student or decided on a major late, there are still a number of paths USC offers to learning outside of LA in the US or abroad. These course options that only account for one class from your fall or spring semester have less of an impact on your regular semester schedules, or if it’s an internship pathway, it might have no impact at all on your course plan. If you have the travel itch, don’t let university bureaucracy get in the way.
USC Honors Nisei Students
By: Kelsey Cheng ‘25
USC dedicates Tribute Rock Garden and posthumously awards degrees to Japanese American students who were forced into internment camps.
Outside Your Comfort Zone: Fully Experiencing Study Abroad
By: Talia Walters ‘20
I want to make it clear that the “standard” study abroad options aren’t bad. The key is that your comfort zone is something that only you are able to measure, and decisions based off of that are yours alone. I just don’t think the image of a great, vast world filled with billions of people who aren’t the cookie-cutter USC student is well-presented to students traveling abroad.