Study Abroad: Communicating Across Cultures in Poland and the Czech Republic

Weaving through the medieval streets of Krosno, Poland, ECU Honors student Lillie Rhodes and her classmates beamed ear-to-ear in stark contrast to the fourteenth century gothic architecture. “Our homework was to go around and smile at everyone. It isn’t typical for the locals we would see in Poland and the Czech Republic to smile at strangers and wear their emotions on their sleeves like we do in America. Many of the locals thought we were weird, but it was normal in our culture!” After a while, the smiles that spread from person to person warmed entire city streets—showing Lillie the most impactful but basic key to communicating across cultures: the power of a smile.

Knowing the importance of these kinds of intercultural connections, the East Carolina University Honors College fosters a “global mindset” in Honors students early on. Lillie, now a senior Political Science major and Communications minor, wanted to study abroad in order to push herself outside of her comfort zone and to see the world—and her own culture—from a new lens. “I chose Poland and the Czech Republic because I never thought of seeing them on my own, and I knew I might not get that experience again outside of a study abroad experience. I also was really interested in the classes that I took!”

The Communications Across Borders program allowed Lillie to engage with Czech and Polish students and faculty across three historic Central European cities: Krosno, Krakow, and Prague. Over three weeks from May 19^th to June 9^th, Dr. Lida Cope and Dr. Deborah Thomson brought the study of culture to life with Lillie and her peers through immersive historic experiences across centuries of global culture. Classes in intercultural communication and English as a world language made cross-cultural interaction a personal experience for Lillie and fellow Pirates as they learned with students at Krosno State College.

During their time in Krosno and Krakow, Lillie’s group had a morning lecture by one of their ECU professors or a Polish guest professor. “We focused on the differences between Polish and Czech cultures compared to American culture. This included things such as power distance, individualistic/collectivistic cultures, and culture shock,” Lillie says. Like anyone living abroad, Lillie felt her own fair share of culture shock. “It was definitely intimidating the first week because we were in a smaller town (Krosno) and not many people spoke fluent English. I was able to learn a few words or phrases in Polish, but Czech is way harder! In Krakow and Prague, it wasn’t too hard to communicate because a vast majority spoke English very well,” Lillie says.

Despite the adjustments, Lillie took a few points from her classes to ease into the local culture and share her own with Krosno State College students.

“We once sat in on a class while they watched rap battle videos on YouTube in order to learn English and understand the different meanings behind words. It was cool to be able to help them learn as well as answer any questions they had. They helped us too by letting us in on certain cultural differences we were not aware of yet!” Even once students get a hang of their surroundings, it’s always comforting to get a taste of home every now and then in a foreign environment. Lillie laughs. “The amount of McDonalds I ate while in Krakow was crazy. It was funny to all of us because we were Americans abroad and we were eating McDonalds! But we promise it was only when we needed a super quick meal or a late-night snack. The local food is different—and way better!”

However, once their classes finished for the afternoon, there was so much to do and see that adjusting was second fiddle to throwing themselves into the new and exciting. They embarked a guided tour or other program in the afternoons. “While we were in Prague, we had a lot of nice free time! Most afternoons were free for us to explore the city on our own. There were a few guided tours during the trip, like to the salt mines in Krakow and to Auschwitz.” These opportunities to travel are key for students to look inwards and reflect and refine their own perspective. Lillie describes the impact one of these moments can have to even enrich prior experiences. “Touring the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau camps were indescribable. The experience was a mix of emotions but heartbreaking overall. It’s one thing to remember read and learn about the Holocaust, but you can’t really imagine what it was like until you’re really there. It was especially emotional because a girl on my trip was Jewish, and hearing her perspective was illuminating,” Lillie says.

Being far from home also brought unique beauty and adventure that Lillie remembers vividly, even half a world away. “My favorite place in Poland was ‘Zamek w Krasiczynie,’ which is a castle about an hour away from Krosno. It was just so beautiful, something totally different than I could see in America! The John Lennon wall in Prague was amazing as well!” Once Lillie got started, she smiles and everything welled to the surface. “I also now have a newfound love for Ice Pubs. We went to one in Prague, and though it was very cold, it was an experience I’ll never forget. My new bucket list item is to travel to all the Ice Pubs around Europe!”

Now that she’s back on campus, Lillie is looking forward to translating her experience with intercultural communication into opportunities to broaden her horizons. The impact her experience will bring on campus and the community will be especially effective since she got to share her time in Central Europe with fellow ECU students. Whether it be shared experiences like summer camp, training, or classes, those close bonds can last for years—or even a lifetime. “It was nice to be able to explore Prague with the group of friends I made on my trip—we still talk almost every day!”

Studying abroad is an entirely unique and perspective-shifting experience, and although ECU’s International House and the Honors College offer plentiful support resources, friends and others that have lived abroad are often the tight-knit community that allow homecoming students to reflect and readjust. “I felt a bit of reverse culture shock when I originally came back but I quickly jumped into SGA activities and studying for the LSAT. Since I studied abroad with an ECU program, it’s been nice to still have friends from my group once I got back to joke around about our shared experience. It also helped that ECU did a great job of preparing us for culture shock and reverse culture shock. We received many emails and an orientation session before we left about travel tips and what it may be like while we were there!”

Although there are many things that Lillie misses from her time in the Czech Republic and Poland (“THE FOOD! I came to love pierogis, but the boxed ones from the grocery store just aren’t the same”), Central Europe and the rest of the globe certainly hasn’t seen the last of her. “I definitely plan on going back to Prague because I still missed exploring somethings while I was there! It would be nice to take family and friends to Krakow and to explore Warsaw in Poland next time. I loved the feeling of adventure that I had while abroad, and I really do miss that. Although this was my first study abroad experience, I would love to go somewhere again! I am looking at traveling to Australia after graduation but hopefully still through ECU,” Lillie says.

The ECU Honors College’s ability to afford students plenty of opportunity to discover profound experiences abroad makes it a special kind of support network where students returning from abroad and those booking their next flight to reach out for encouragement and advice from students like Lillie. “I think doing a program in a field that I was interested in—and related to my minor—helped me enjoy the experience more! I suggest doing your research on not only the place you are visiting but also learn more about your professors since you will be with them during the trip!”

To learn more about study abroad opportunities, you can contact us at 252.328.6373, email us at honorscollege@ecu.edu or visit us on ECU’s campus at the Mamie Jenkins Building. To keep up to date on Honors College events and student stories like Lillie’s, follow us on social media.