5.1

Unit 5. Travel. Unit 5. See. Reading. Read and listen to the blog entry and do the following exercises.

Hello. I am glad to welcome you on my travel blog. My name is Irina. I was born in Kiev, Ukraine, in 1996.

Now I am studying advertising and public relations at the University of Barcelona in Spain as an Erasmus exchange student.

Please leave a comment to my posts. I hope you enjoy them. Blog entry. Studying abroad.

I think studying abroad as an exchange student is an exciting experience. I came to Barcelona four months ago.

At first, I had some difficulties, but now I am so glad that I have come here.

I have had various experiences and learned many new things so far. Firstly, I have discovered a new culture.

Experiencing a different culture is a lot different than reading books or watching programs about it.

When you meet new people, you learn about their customs and traditions.

Moreover, you taste their local food and learn about their cuisine.

You observe their everyday lifestyle and beliefs. All these experiences help you to understand the similarities and differences between your own culture and the host culture.

As a result, you become more understanding and tolerant to differences.

Secondly, you can learn or practice a foreign language easily.

When you are studying abroad, you have to interact with local people, your friends and teachers.

While you are communicating with them, you improve your language skills.

For example, when I first came to Spain, my Spanish was poor, but now I can understand most things and express myself quite well.

In addition to gaining cultural and educational experience, studying abroad enhances your CV.

When you become an Erasmus student and have an international experience, you have more employment chances after graduation.

So hopefully, I will find a good job in an international company after I graduate.

In short, this Erasmus experience has been a lifetime experience for me. I am so happy to be a part of it.