When you move overseas for school, you expect to be introduced to new people, customs, food and languages. Something you might not expect however is how studying abroad can change the way you see your own country.<\/p>\n
When I moved to the South of France two years ago to study abroad, I had no idea that it would change the way I view the United States. I grew up having very firm beliefs and viewpoints on how I saw my home country. <\/p>\n
Born and raised in the U.S., I always had a strong belief that this was the best country for work, life, and opportunity. Through living abroad I was able to experience meeting people from many different countries and nationalities. This has made me see and understand their ways of living, shifting my perspective.<\/p>\n
What made me change my viewpoint, living in France, was the accessibility of healthcare and the social benefits built into everyone\u2019s daily life. <\/p>\n
Healthcare in France isn\u2019t considered a privilege, but is considered a basic right for everyone. For the first time in years, thinking about a doctor\u2019s visit didn\u2019t come with a wave of financial worry. Seeing that firsthand made me question the systems I had always accepted back home in the U.S. <\/p>\n
There are many beautiful aspects about living in the United States, and this did not make me love the country any less, but it reshaped my understanding of what a country can and should provide for its people.<\/p>\n
Living in the South of France hasn\u2019t erased my American identity \u2014 it\u2019s expanded it. I no longer see \u201cthe best\u201d as a fixed title for one country, but as something shaped by values, priorities, and the future you imagine for yourself.<\/p>\n
Andrea Camayo is a student at the University of Monaco and a native of Harrisburg, Pa. She participated in the summer internship program sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg and PennLive.<\/b><\/p>\n
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