Study Abroad

[Mayana]

Studying in Germany would obviously be easy for you.[We know why]You are already used to the social norms such as not getting a shopping bag when purchasing milk from a super-market. Getting charged to use a bathroom. Getting charged for asking for another ketchup packet. These were some of the few things that I had found astonishing on my visit to Germany. I bought a fish-filet in Koln, I asked for 2 ketchup packets and I got charged for it! You know how it is in the USA, Afghans even take ketchup home for free,lol.

Little things like this will shock our Laila.

LOL. Getting charged for every bathroom.. it depends, for most it's just a voluntary thing.
And this whole free ketchup and free refill business is capitalism at its best. Nothing is for free!! In Germany, they were even hesitant to get the fountains for free soda refills..

But you're very right, it's a whole different mindset. Europe is astonishing, amazing, breathtaking, beautiful. The mentality, the lifestyle, the scenery, the history, the culture.. everything.

[Laila]

Studying in German would obviously be easy for you. You are already used to the social norms such as not getting a shopping bag when purchasing milk from a super-market. Getting charged to use a bathroom. Getting charged for asking for another ketchup packet.

Little things like this will shock our Laila.

Ha ha thanks...but since i came back from my trip, i really have a different perspective now.....

When i was in Afghanistan, getting water was so difficult. I didnt have water to bathe everyday, and if i had water, it was barely to wash my hair alone. I had to wait an hour after my Fajr prayer for the the amount of water i had to heat up.....I learned how to wash all my clothes by hand every single day. I learned how to use bathrooms

(in Laghman and majority of houses in Kabul, TOILETS do NOT exist. you gotta do your business on the ground in a hole..many times there werent any toilet paper.....i am not kidding). So things that are different in other countries, i am sure i can adapt to it, sure it will be hard, hell i might even want to come back as quickly as i can, but not every country is like the US, which makes me appreciate my life here like crazy.

When i was in Amsterdam, at the McDonalds, ketchup did not exist LOL....they thought i was crazy!

And since i have always had a huge passion for different cultures, i dont doubt my enjoyment at all............


annnnddd it looks good for medical school application :D

[Roshina]

Laila Jaan, if I were in your position, I would do it just like that... and I think I'd choose Italy. I certainly woudln't choose Turkey because, in spite of the many differences between the Turkish and Afghan cultures, they are extremely similar religion-wise and many customs-wise. So, you'd still learn a lot about life and yourself and other people and all, but I am not sure if you'd learn as much and appreciate it as much if you were in a culture you're not that familiar with. Sure, you've grown up in the U.S., so another western culture would be similar to this, but I tell you, Spain and Italy are not like what we're used to.

I'd go for Italy, personally. Spain has too many social issues. Don't bother. And it doesn't seem so tolerant either (blame my opinion of Spain on the media. Thanks). And ROME?! Girrrrrrl, I will be flying there the moment humans get wings. My 11th grade history teacher told me that "Italy is the one country EVERYONE should visit at least once in their lifetime if they can because of its rich history and culture." And I totally agree. I'd do it, too, if I could -- and one day I will, ka khair wee.

I have friends who've gone to Turkey for study abroad, and they say they enjoyed it big time. I've friends who've been to Egypt and Morocco as well -- and others who've gone to European countries, including Italy. I really can't decide who had the best experiences, but I'm sure you know that it all depends on you and yourself only. I've a friend who went to Spain last summer, and she had a miserable experience ... but that was because she didn't have a friend to enjoy it with, and it's no fun roaming around a country you're not so familiar with and everyone around you has friends and you're the only one walking and learning alone. So WHATEVER you do, Laila, be SURE you have someone close to you with you there! Unless, of course, you're like this one other student I know who went to Morocco for study abroad and came back to say, "I made sure to see NO one from our school during my stay there! I wanted to be AS far away from the culture I'd grown up in as I could so that I could immerse myself in a completely new culture and environment. I wanted to speak ONLY in the language, dress like the people I was around, talk like them, behave like them -- I wanted to BE one of them while I was there." And, so, in his case, no friends and no classmate and no teammates were to be with him because they'd have ruined his experience for him, he believed.

Enjoy your time there and when you're there, let us know how EVERYTHING is! Keep a diary and all and write in it often -- an online diary, that is.

Oh, and have fun ... for me and for you I'll be going to Morocco the first chance I get to study its Family Law Reforms (of 2004) But I onno when that shall be. Keeping my fingers crossed till I can decide, though.

[Laila]

Laila Jaan, if I were in your position, I would do it just like that... and I think I'd choose Italy. I certainly woudln't choose Turkey because, in spite of the many differences between the Turkish and Afghan cultures, they are extremely similar religion-wise and many customs-wise. So, you'd still learn a lot about life and yourself and other people and all, but I am not sure if you'd learn as much and appreciate it as much if you were in a culture you're not that familiar with. Sure, you've grown up in the U.S., so another western culture would be similar to this, but I tell you, Spain and Italy are not like what we're used to.

I'd go for Italy, personally. Spain has too many social issues. Don't bother. And it doesn't seem so tolerant either (blame my opinion of Spain on the media. Thanks). And ROME?! Girrrrrrl, I will be flying there the moment humans get wings. My 11th grade history teacher told me that "Italy is the one country EVERYONE should visit at least once in their lifetime if they can because of its rich history and culture." And I totally agree. I'd do it, too, if I could -- and one day I will, ka khair wee.

I have friends who've gone to Turkey for study abroad, and they say they enjoyed it big time. I've friends who've been to Egypt and Morocco as well -- and others who've gone to European countries, including Italy. I really can't decide who had the best experiences, but I'm sure you know that it all depends on you and yourself only. I've a friend who went to Spain last summer, and she had a miserable experience ... but that was because she didn't have a friend to enjoy it with, and it's no fun roaming around a country you're not so familiar with and everyone around you has friends and you're the only one walking and learning alone. So WHATEVER you do, Laila, be SURE you have someone close to you with you there! Unless, of course, you're like this one other student I know who went to Morocco for study abroad and came back to say, "I made sure to see NO one from our school during my stay there! I wanted to be AS far away from the culture I'd grown up in as I could so that I could immerse myself in a completely new culture and environment. I wanted to speak ONLY in the language, dress like the people I was around, talk like them, behave like them -- I wanted to BE one of them while I was there." And, so, in his case, no friends and no classmate and no teammates were to be with him because they'd have ruined his experience for him, he believed.

Enjoy your time there and when you're there, let us know how EVERYTHING is! Keep a diary and all and write in it often -- an online diary, that is.

Oh, and have fun ... for me and for you I'll be going to Morocco the first chance I get to study its Family Law Reforms (of 2003) But I onno when that shall be. Keeping my fingers crossed till I can decide, though.

Thanks Que Yeah Italy is definitely the place to go, i have been wanting to go for a year now. So i have looked at the program details a thousand times already :D

Everyone whom i know that went abroad to Finland, Turkey, Germany, Thailand, said they loved it and enjoyed everything about it.

I mean i got the chance to go, why not take it? LOL

Ohhhhh Morocco.....Que, you gotta go!

[Admin Khan]

LOL. Getting charged for every bathroom.. it depends, for most it's just a voluntary thing.

Lol. Nearly every restaurant I went too there was a fee. I found that to be ridiculous though. I mean seriously? A fee to wash my hands?

And this whole free ketchup and free refill business is capitalism at its best. Nothing is for free!! In Germany, they were even hesitant to get the fountains for free soda refills..

But in America you do not even have to buy anything. You walk in, grab your ketchup and walk out. In Koln, the ketchup is behind the counter and he make sure he rings up that ketchup. I had this confused face when he said I will charge you. Even Afghan restaurants give you free ketchup.

But you're very right, it's a whole different mindset. Europe is astonishing, amazing, breathtaking, beautiful. The mentality, the lifestyle, the scenery, the history, the culture.. everything.

Europe is Great, but when it comes to customer support, I don't think any nation can compete with Americans in that field. I work for a company that the minute they complain about our product, the same second it gets replaced. Yes, no ketchup fee either.

I like Germany though. Its a cool and relaxing nation. Although they are a bit Anti-English as I noticed the hard way.

[Roshina]

Europe is Great, but when it comes to customer support, I don't think any nation can compete with Americans in that field. I work for a company that the minute they complain about our product, the same second it gets replaced. Yes, no ketchup fee either.

I've heard the same thing about Europe's (lack of) customer service and customer support. I had a teacher from France, and she said that when she first came to the U.S., she was shocked that the customer service was so great here, lol. She was like, "I expected the people at the restaurant to be all rude when a customer addressed them rudely, but they responded very nicely and patiently instead." She also said that Americans are too nice and too generous to waiters, cooks, janitors, etc., because in France, people generally don't respect them.

I like Germany though. Its a cool and relaxing nation. Although they are a bit Anti-English as I noticed the hard way.

I hear dinner time in Germany is veeeeeeeeeery long. Is this true? A friend of mine went there for study abroad and told me this.

[Mayana]

Yeah, they have a different concept of customer service over there, I'll agree with you. They aren't after customers the way they are after them over here. They'll be like, ok you're not satisfied withit, go leave. Go find it somewhere else and find it at a better price. Maybe a more dignified approach for the companies/employees lol
But I think that goes deep into the roots of the socialist society as opposed to the capitalist society over here.

LOL the American idea of customer service already is getting to me. The other day I went to Taco Bell and the employees were walking around aimlessly instead of helping me. I didn't wait a whole minute and left.

[Admin Khan]

I've heard the same thing about Europe's (lack of) customer service and customer support.
I had a teacher from France, and she said that when she first came to the U.S., she was shocked that the customer service was so great here, lol. She was like, "I expected the people at the restaurant to be all rude when a customer addressed them rudely, but they responded very nicely and patiently instead." She also said that Americans are too nice and too generous to waiters, cooks, janitors, etc., because in France, people generally don't respect them.

Yes that is very true. I had a French professor who said similar things. He said he left France for the USA due to the kindness and generosity by an average American. We have Europeans visiting our company to learn about American customer service skills all the time. The USA believes in "customer is always right". You could be a complete jerk but the minute you step in a retail store, the ball is in your court. I had traveled to Europe on a paid vacation. In short, I was taking a look at their customer service in various technological companies and It was horrible. I went to Belgium, Holland and Germany. Qrratugai, you have no clue how much authority you have in your hands as a customer in the USA.

Put it this way, I am employed for one of the largest American technological companies. We are trained that the minute a customer "complains" you must do nearly anything[possible]to make him happy. You just have to know how to complain oh and the "Call your manager right now" works all the time like a charm doesn't it?

I hear dinner time in Germany is veeeeeeeeeery long. Is this true? A friend of mine went there for study abroad and told me this.

I think Mayana or someone else could answer this one. I mostly ate with my family during my trips. We don't take that long in consuming our food.

Dodhai khro bala zo.

[Admin Khan]

Yeah, they have a different concept of customer service over there, I'll agree with you. They aren't after customers the way they are after them over here. They'll be like, ok you're not satisfied withit, go leave. Go find it somewhere else and find it at a better price. Maybe a more dignified approach for the companies/employees lol
But I think that goes deep into the roots of the socialist society as opposed to the capitalist society over here.

LOL the American idea of customer service already is getting to me. The other day I went to Taco Bell and the employees were walking around aimlessly instead of helping me. I didn't wait a whole minute and left.

Taco bell. What do you usually order at Taco bell? I love Taco bell.


Laila,
when you study abroad, you might not find a Taco bell restaurant, that's a huge con.

[Mayana]

I hate Taco Bell. I can't STAND Mexican food. Ugh! =/

It's next to our Masjid so we go there sometimes after Iftaar time and I order a Caramel Mocha Shake

[Laila]

Laila,
when you study abroad, you might not find a Taco bell restaurant, that's a huge con.

LOL! i know right....that is going to be hard. No Fiesta Nachos for a whole semester

[Roshina]

OMG! Tell me about it! I couldn't live without Taco Bell even if I tried! Just the thought eats me alive :S

[Laila]

OMG! Tell me about it! I couldn't live without Taco Bell even if I tried! Just the thought eats me alive :S

LOL! sooooo true....have you tried their new fruit smoothies?


well not technically new :D its new for me, i try to stay away from fast food

[Roshina]

^ Na... I don't think so. I love, love, LOVE their strawberry and mango fruitista, though.
And grilled stuft burrito and chalupa and crunchwrap and nacho bell grande -- any of these with cheesy fiesta potatoes! Yummy!

[Laila]

^ Na... I don't think so. I love, love, LOVE their strawberry and mango fruitista, though.
And grilled stuft burrito and chalupa and crunchwrap and nacho bell grande -- any of these with cheesy fiesta potatoes! Yummy!

LOL that is what i meant :D

ohhhh my goodness, supreme chalupas are zeee best! oh and *high five* on grilled stuffed burrito. They have really good soft tacos too.....ahhh i want some now