Jonathan Sebastian Critical Thinking

At home I find that I work best when I have a schedule. Having work to keep my mind occupied, knowing when and where and what I am going to eat, even being able to plan out leisure activities in advance go a long way to helping me feel more comfortable and productive. In Taiwan, this proved to be very challenging. Though I had class and research, they only occupied a few waking hours each day. With the language barrier in place, it was difficult to find my footing and a routine to settle into. I had to change my approach and think critically to make the most of my situation.

              It can be difficult to establish a whole new routine, especially in a completely foreign place. Without being able to talk with locals or read signs and menus, one can never know what might establish itself as a new favorite place to eat, relax, or study. I occasionally became very nervous not knowing where to go or what to do in my spare time since I had so little to start from. Without any frame of reference, I was flying blind. But I did manage to reconcile my unfamiliar surroundings with my desire for structure.

              Exploration became part of my routine. A little time was set aside each day to go walking some place I hadn’t before, or to try a place to eat that was new to me. Slowly, my surroundings became more familiar to me. I was able to know where to go if I was in certain moods instead of blindly wandering around. And at the same time, the notion of trying new things was a part of the schedule I craved. Just by designating some time set aside to it, walking around town felt less frightening and confusing, and more like something I was doing because I wanted to.

              In a new country it can feel like there is a lot of pressure to try new things. And it can be easy to get frustrated with yourself it feels like you are not making the most of your time. I certainly felt that concern frequently. What helped me to put that aside, though, was remembering that it was a matter of taking it in at my own pace. While it can feel scary to be in such an unfamiliar place with so little frame of reference to approach it from, and it might seem more frightening still that you might ‘miss out’ on the experience by being afraid, it will be that much more enjoyable to pursue at your own comfort level. Yes, it is important to explore and experience new things, but it is just as important to do that in a way that feels right. It is fine if you are eager to see all there is to see and take in the new culture, but it is just as fine to set aside a little time each day if that makes you more comfortable. It was definitely a challenge I faced overseas, but it was one I was able to overcome by thinking critically and changing my approach.

---Jonathan Sebastian