Studying abroad was one of my favorite parts of college. Hands down! Still to this day, I bring up my semester abroad experience in aaalmost every conversation I have with someone. I cannot wait to go back to Europe some day, or even just have a reunion with my fellow peers from the U.S. that made that trip so special.
First things first, studying abroad for the first time is terrifyingly exciting! The time leading up to the trip will be more stressful than the trip itself, trust me! I’ve been there. You want everything to go absolutely as planned, and you don’t want to forget anything. Things will happen. You will get lost. You will forget to pack your raincoat. It is all part of the experience! Of course, you do not want to be carelessly unprepared, but remember, this is the trip of a lifetime. Enjoy every moment, even the time leading up to your first flight. You will learn so much about the world and yourself. There is so much to look forward to!
I have gathered 7 important things I wish I knew before studying abroad. It is always important to be prepared, and what better way to prepare than getting tips from someone that has already done it?
1) You will have more fun studying abroad than you ever expected.
I was so nervous before studying abroad. I thought that I would be alone and wouldn’t have any fun! Maybe I was exaggerating a little, but I was scared that my experience wasn’t going to live up to my expectations. I was completely wrong. Traveling and living in a new country was one of the greatest learning experiences that I could have ever given myself. I fell in love with Europe and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. Times were rough during certain points, but I would 10000% do it again.
2) A country’s current and past political climate is more important than you think.
You need to always be prepared to keep your safety your top priority when studying abroad. When you are in a new country, you may not know about certain tensions or previous political events. It can definitely be startling if you are unaware of what goes on in the country.
For example, I was in Paris when they had a scheduled protest in the streets. I forgot that they had some tensions regarding employment. All of a sudden, while my friends and I were at an outdoor cafe, police officers stormed the streets and stopped all traffic to watch the protestors. We couldn’t leave for a while. It was definitely startling!
Other countries are not this organized or safe when it comes to political action. And, there have been much larger protests as of late. Protests can turn to riots quicker than you ‘d expect. Always be educated on each destination you are traveling to!
3) Alcohol responsibility (or ignorance) and safety in a new country go hand in hand.
Luckily, I turned 21 before leaving for my semester abroad, and I am very cautious when it comes to alcohol safety. I had no idea, however, that my fellow peers would be the exact opposite! I have so many stories… One of my peers was too drunk to get home and threw up on a metro train. Another one of my peers left her passport at a bar! There is one thing that I cannot stress the most: be safe with your alcohol when studying abroad.
It is exciting to be 19 or 20 in a country where the drinking age is under 21. However, you do not want to be walking the streets in a new place extremely drunk, especially when you are past your limits (or you didn’t even know your limits beforehand). You can put yourself in a dangerous situation! Have fun, experience new things, and meet new people, but please, know your limits and be SMART.
4) Your living situation may not have a ‘normal’ washer or dryer.
My little apartment had a washing machine, but it did not have a dryer! We had a drying rack that hung out the window of our smallllll bathroom. It looked like a large umbrella with clothes lines. This was probably one of the biggest learning curves for me. It definitely took me a couple weeks to get used to using this thing. I was TERRIFIED of dropping my underwear on the ground floor below us (we were on the third floor). Make sure you know where the closest laundromat is in your host city.
5) You will walk a LOT and wear out your shoes.
Chances are, you’re not bringing a car with you to study abroad. Let’s just say, I wore out my shoes so quickly that I had to throw them out two months in!
6) Learning the language and culture of the city you are studying abroad in is more important than you think.
When I was in Spain, I spoke Spanish as much as I possibly could, even if I didn’t feel confident. Of course, most everyone there knew English… (and they could tell that I’m not a native speaker). However, I never really knew when someone couldn’t speak English. It made me feel more confident to speak and practice Spanish because using the language in a native setting is the absolute best way to learn.
7) You won’t want to leave when your trip is over!
I cannot wait to return to Spain when I get the chance! I had the most amazing experience, and I am grateful for the people I met and the places I saw. If you are doubting your own capabilities to study abroad, this is your sign. You are smart and capable, and you CAN do this. I promise.
Those were my top 7 things I wish I knew before studying abroad! What are you looking forward to most before your trip?
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