Learning the Gothic

  In this course the kind of things I am learning are obviously surrounded by the Gothic genre and what it is, why it's so important/popular, but also I am learning about different cultures. When I first started out in this course, I had an understanding of the Gothic genre and what it was, however I did not realize how popular it was and how it is incorporated almost everywhere in everyday life. Once I was taught what was to be considered Gothic, I was able to find it all over. For example, wanting to know if a building is Gothic or not. If it is pointy and old looking or has a black decaying look to it, then it is most likely Gothic. Also when we discussed what kinds of elements made up the typical Gothic novel, again I was better able to point out what is Gothic and what isn't. I also have learned about the different cultures just by being in other countries and experiencing how other people go about their day-to-day lives. I always have said I could probably learn more in one day's worth of being in another country than I could in a classroom. This trip has definitely helped proven that theory. Back home, everything is routine when it comes to learning. I get up, get dressed, eat breakfast and then drive to school and dread the long day ahead and urn to go home. It is different when you are traveling abroad not only because the learning environment is different but because each day I woke up not really knowing what the day had in store for me. I knew what city I was in and what I'd be doing as far as class time was concerned, but after that it was like lets just go with the flow and see where life takes me. Most of the time I was not disappointed with where I wound up and I had a lot of fun. The kind of knowledge I have learned on this study abroad trip is kind of not something you can fully describe to someone who hasn't had the opportunity I have had. It's more along the lines of you kind of have to go out and experience it for yourself to understand how I feel and what knowledge I have gained. There is however, the kind of knowledge that you can gain by reading your textbook or going online and Google-ing it, but its more efficient when you can actually go to that country you are learning about and seeing it or physically being in the same room as say an Empress once stood in.