Aero: Dallas Zebrowski – France 2018 – Epilogue

Posted by LEAF Architect on Sunday, September 16, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Aero: Dallas Zebrowski – France 2018 – Epilogue

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Dallas Zebrowski

When boiled down, all of the information I received and processed, the critical thoughts I pondered, and the personal revelations I reflected upon left me with one unambiguous, concrete notion about myself and the world that I live in. Before I reveal this realization, let me first give warning that the notion in question is a complete antithesis to the intended objective of the trip. However, with that said, it is truly my single, absolute, and clearest take-away from the Study Abroad opportunity. More than anything else, [Study Abroad: France] made me “more American.”

I do not write this to be obtuse and contrary. For the first time in my life, I went to a foreign country and tried to absorb as much of their culture as possible. But, through this, I discovered a certain pride, previously unknown, for my country. For clarification, I am not asserting that America is better than France, or that we are normal and they are not. Rather, the two countries are just different. The peoples, the cultures, and the virtues are both different, nothing more. But in discovering this difference, I discovered my own country.

One specific discovery I would like to touch upon, and how it affected my appreciation for America, is the notion of American self-centeredness. The use of the term “self-centeredness”, and not “selfishness” is intentional, as I now see Americans as ignorant to the world around them. This ignorance is not necessarily malicious, but it exists nonetheless. A prime example of this notion in play is politics, and political debate. Around the fine establishment of higher learn which I frequent, the phrase “we should be like Europe” is uttered so often, that to use to cliché “if I had a nickel for every time I heard that,” I could pay off my student loan debt in one transaction. But, in a strange way, the idea that “America should be more like Europe” is an extremely self-centered one, as it implicitly asserts that America is the only place on Earth with social issues. By going to France, I could see that the same issues of immigration, discrimination, and racism we face in America are present in France and, oddly, made me realize that America is a much better place than its citizens make it out to be. With that said, the French nightlife is astronomically better than the American version—a bit of a tangent, I am aware.

Now, to move on to the global citizen question, I do not believe the concept of the global citizen exists. Before I am judged for being obtuse and contrary yet again, let me clarify. I believe the term “global citizen” is a misnomer. Rather, I believe the term “cognizant person” is more accurate. Being a global citizen implies that you, not only understand the culture and customs of a region but have a vested interest in it—a personal interest, being cultivated over years of experiences. Personally, while I know understand a silver of what it is to be French, I have no real interest vested in the country. Yes, I hope things such as war and economic collapse do not occur there, but I do not personally feel any negative emotions when I watch the Parisian riots on the news. I feel for my new French friends and their families, and would help them in a time of crisis, but I am certainly not a community member with them. Instead of becoming a global citizen, I believe I am now a cognizant person; cognizant to the trial, tribulations, and triumphs of France; cognizant to the issues, social and political; cognizant to the culture and customs. But, at least not yet, I would not go as far to say that I am a citizen of the country, as I am not a vested community member.

To conclude this reflection with the ratings, I felt everything I did on the trip was fantastic. Every day was an adventure—something new, fun, and exciting. With that said, the best way to improve the trip involves a demand and a suggestion. First, the demand. The trip NEEDS to go to Versailles. Second, the suggestion. Before each day, especially in Paris, the group should meet and discuss which sites they want to see, how interested they are, and how long they want to stay there. I say this, not to be obtuse and contrary for a third consecutive time, but because everything I did on the trip I enjoyed and would do again. I believe the sites are not an issue, but rather how they are visited could be slightly improved.

For the record, I did try to think of a rating system, and I could not develop one.

Thank you for an amazing opportunity. It was an absolute blast, and I will remember it for the rest of my life.

Dallas Zebrowski
Study Abroad – France 2018 @ FLCC

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