Cultural Exchange Rate When Moving Abroad: Are We at a Loss or a Gain?

We may have arrived in Menton with suitcases full of clothes, snacks and little pieces of home, but somewhere along the way, we started collecting things we never packed: new words, new habits and little pieces of other cultures. In a campus where 99.9 percent of Sciences Pistes come from outside the little town of Menton, we find ourselves slowly carrying a little piece of the lemon town and of everyone else’s culture — tucked inside us, too.

Whether coming from an hour or thousands of miles away, we all bring along a piece of home: habits, thoughts, humor, routines and experiences. As time passes in what is now our new home, we start noticing how the way we talk, walk, joke and see the world changes. You probably won’t notice these new habits yourself until someone points them out. Most adaptations to our surroundings occur subconsciously, especially through repetitive exposure. Every place we visit, scenery we see, conversation we have and hardship we surpass eventually breaks an old pattern and builds a new one. Soon enough, you will probably catch yourself spontaneously saying “pardon” when someone bumps into you, despite your A1 French level. You will probably incorporate “wesh” and “mais non!” into your daily conversations and scream to “Charger” louder than any French native.  

You also start to notice changes in your sleep patterns, eating habits and even what you normally pack in your bag – items like a handfan, sunglasses, and beach mat have become new staples. For most of us, taking a snack — even a small one — before heading out to campus for a long day of classes has become a reflex, even if that wasn’t necessarily the case in high school.

Our campus is especially diverse in culture, currently representing 73 nationalities. Chances are you won’t just start adapting to French culture, but also start incorporating the habits of your international friends, classmates or professors into your own routine. “Ciao” is going to be your official way of  greeting friends, and your Spotify will barely resemble your original music taste. Other people — especially friends — often have a greater impact on our individual lives than we’d like to admit. Since starting at Sciences Po, you have most definitely learned a few words in languages you haven’t heard spoken before, and soon enough, the filler words of your favorite lecturer will begin to shape your own sentences. 

Menton itself is a town with its own little quirks, even outside the Sciences Po campus. Different places aren’t just accompanied by different traditions but also different concepts and philosophies, like siestas or goûter. “Menton time” is a perfect example of this! Showing up five minutes late only to discover that you are the first person there is probably something that only happens in the Mediterranean region. Formal procedures and business practices will also have an impact on your daily routine. Waking up earlier to visit the bank or staying up later to complete work after 9 pm classes will completely alter your schedule. 

Another factor that should definitely be accounted for is the weather. The Mediterranean climate and its higher temperatures will gradually leave its mark on your wardrobe: more flip-flops, more bathing suits and significantly fewer sweaters. 

Another key shift can be seen in your eating habits. If the issue is not just living off of the universal university-student meal (variations of pasta & chicken breasts), it is also that your weekly menu changes depending on what foods are common — or cheaper — in a specific area, what’s quicker to make, and what cooking equipment your landlord was kind enough to leave in your “collocation.” Genuine question: have you noticed more lemons in your diet since arriving in Menton?

Ultimately, the more cultures we surround ourselves with, the more we have to share. However, being in completely new surroundings can sometimes make us miss what we left behind. Despite enjoying the multitude of cultures around us, that feeling of homesickness might just creep up on us when we least expect it. Moving across the globe isn’t easy, especially for the first time; sometimes we just want a little piece of home with us. For some special habits that we hold close to our hearts, an effort will be made to hold on to them as tightly as we can – like going on a long walk on the first of every month even if you are swamped with assignments. 

But perhaps the best way to preserve the things we care about is to share them. Peaking someone’s interest with a unique tradition of yours will probably result in a meaningful cultural exchange . Even if initially forgotten, these traditions may come back to you just like a boomerang through the people to whom you once told an embarrassing story from when you were little.

My sincerest piece of advice is to enjoy the vibrant community here in Menton and don’t hesitate to share a little part of your own culture along the way. 

Photo Source: Ananya Singh