Though this has always been a problem for me, dealing with CHANGE is currently my biggest management problem. Three weeks ago I came back from Paris after spending 6 months studying abroad. When first arriving to Paris I struggled to deal with the many changes I'd be facing, and now after having returned, there is more change to adjust to.
This "change" falls into many different categories:
1)SCHOOL
In France, the school system was COMPLETELY different. Classes were held once a week (which meant 3 and a half hour long classes!) and professors didn't use textbooks OR a syllabus. They had very little interest in the students, as individuals. Grades were purely determined based on ONE final exam or paper. I struggled to adjust to this change, and my school work/grades suffered tremendously.I was confused and stressed out about it, and tried to shut out the school aspect of my time in France. If any students read this, please realize how spoiled we are with the American school system!
Now that I am back in NY, I've had to re-adjust to the way things used to be. I'm back to having a syllabus and a textbook to read/study regularly. It feels like more work than it used to be, but only because I did so little work while abroad.
2)TIME-MANAGEMENT
Since I completely shut myself off from school, I had hours of free time, to explore Paris and enjoy myself. Now that I'm back to regular schooling, I struggle to manage my time, since for 6 months, I simply didn't need to (notice, this blog is being written at 11pm on Feb 16th =] ). I'm already backed up with my readings...
3)LIVING SITUATION
In Paris I lived in my own apartment, and now am back to living at home with my family. Its odd to go BACKWARDS and suddenly become LESS independent.
4)RELATIONSHIPS
When leaving NY, I did not work hard enough to keep in touch with my friends. There was just too much going on in Paris. New people, new things. Now that I've returned, I am distant from the people who used to be my friends. On the other side, I also need to find room in my old NY life for the new friends I made in Paris (some of which are back in NY, while others remain in Paris.)
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You definitely have a lot of going on. For now all I can say is... TAKE A DEEP BREATH. Its not as bad as it sounds. I think the friendship you left here in NY before you left to Paris are still there for you and you will start talking to them again someday if they were true friends. Apart from that, living at home with the parents, you don't have that freedom but everything else is much easier. In regards to school and time management, it is hard but not impossible. Overall, I think you're doing a fine job. Although you're procrastinating, you're still getting it done.
ReplyDeleteYou have gone through an extra ordinary experience. Look at the experience as an eye opener. I bet we will all meet hurdles in our daily life. It is the manner of how we pick ourselves up and tackle these hurdles face on. You can than look back and say "I am proud of myself for what I have achieved from this experience" Nothing is late, if your grades were affected in Paris, there is no other place like Baruch to bring it back up.
ReplyDeleteAdjusting to change is always difficult but yet change is the only constant in life so it always will be a battle we face.
ReplyDeleteFirst try and relax and not get too overwhelmed...easier said than done, but trying to break each aspect down and deal with each one seperate might make you feel less stressed.
Don't worry about the moving "backwards" by being home...you had an amazing experience being able to be in Paris all that time so concentrate on that and everything will eventually fall back into place. Hang in there!
Welcome back Ruth!
ReplyDeleteI think its important to realize that change can be GOOD. Its natural, and change can also be synonymous with improvement. so the first thing that i would say to you is "cheer up" :)
i would also recommend getting a planner and start organizing your life- with your school obligations and to remind yourself of all the different things that need to be done that you may not of had to take care of when you were away.
Change is a tricky business...It's hard to move from a city like New York City to any other city on earth without experiencing major changes and different standards in living, socializing or school system. I had a similar experience, i was born in Morocco, went to school in France for a year. now the French and Moroccan education systems are very similar, the professors are very strick, don't smile and they think they are gods.The way people socialize is the same too, i mean the gathering of friends every day around the same time after work for coffee or cappuccino, watching soccer games...
ReplyDeleteThe big change for me was when i came to New York City. now let's start with education system, in the begginning i thought it was a joke, you get to decide certain classes you like, when you like, day or night, professors actually smile...great i love it.
Anyway, i do agree with you. Change to me is something that makes it hard to go back to the starting point and you just can't be independent of it, so you learn from it and Keep on going.
" Le temps souriant sur l'homme mais les pyramids souriant sur le temps"
Change can be a good thing. Now that you are starting all over you may discover new interests. Soon enough you will be back to the same old routine.
ReplyDeleteIn the mean time you can start a blogg and tell us all about the new thoughts! ;)