Preparing to travel abroad can be one of the most exciting yet stressful experiences for any collegiette—there just always seems like there’s too much to do. However, once you get those pesky logistics out of the way (passports, visas, vaccinations, etc.), the real fun can begin. From planning all the places you’ll see to learning more about the culture and the language, before you know it, you’ll be feeling stress-free and too eager for words about your adventures to come. We’ve laid out a list things you must do before you jet off that’ll have you feeling ready to rumble the moment you land in your destination.
Make a Bucket List
Whether you’re in Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, or Australia, there will no doubt be hundreds of different things for you to try, eat, hike, or take a goofy Facebook picture in front of (the debate is still up if this applies to Antarctica—I heard the penguins are really friendly, though). However, when it comes down to it, it’s impossible to see absolutely everything—but there’s no harm in trying!
But how can you possibly go about this without feeling completely and totally overwhelmed? Simple—plan it out with a bucket list! “Before I left for Europe, I sat down with a map and a list of the countries I wanted to visit, and then I divided the list based on how much I wanted to visit each place,” says Lauren Biscaldi, a graduate of Emerson College.
Like Lauren, you too should figure out what your top places to travel are before you leave. It’s not only one less thing to worry about once you’re there, but also, with your list already created, you can start tackling it ASAP.
Marissa Marano, a graduate from UNH, took her bucket list one step further. Before leaving for Barcelona, she planned out the sights she wanted to see, such as the Trevi Fountain in Rome, instead of just the cities. “It was fun and we made the most out of everything because we loved crossing off things! The last one we did [was] on our last day and it was just really meaningful,” Marissa says.
Not sure of your destination’s must-sees? Not a problem—we’ve got you covered. From TripAdvisor to guide books to plain old Google searches (“best things to do in X” or “bucket list ideas for X”), it’s easy to come by lists—and lists and lists and lists—of every hot spot. But your research shouldn’t stop there. Ask your friends and family about places they’ve traveled to and their recommendations. Their firsthand experiences are sure to be helpful and just about everyone loves talking about their travel stories, so don’t be nervous asking.
Bonjour, Hola, Shalom, Ciao: Learn the Language
It’s obviously impossible to become fluent in a foreign language in a month before jetting off overseas. While no one will ask you to translate War and Peace while you’re gallivanting through another country, knowing a few words and phrases here and there will definitely be beneficial no matter where you are.
“Before I left for Israel, I learned how to say ‘thank you’ and ‘excuse me’ in Hebrew,” says Mallory Korol, a graduate from University of Arizona. “I didn’t think much of it at the time because I knew most Israelis spoke English, but I figured a few basic words would be good to know. All I can say is thank goodness I learned to say ‘slicha,’ which means ‘excuse me’ or ‘sorry’ in Hebrew. I’m pretty sure I said it at least 50 times a day trying to navigate through a crowd. Knowing a few words definitely made adapting to a new place that much easier.”
Knowing a few simple words and phrases is also respectful to the natives and helps when it comes to mixing with the locals. Even if your accent isn’t perfect, they’ll appreciate your effort.
“I went [to Jordan] not knowing any Arabic and that was a huge mistake,” Melanie Dostis from Northeastern University said. “I would definitely recommend at least knowing how to say ‘thank you.’ ‘please,’ and ‘hi’ or else you risk being looked at as disrespectful.”
Here are some common words that you may want to consider learning:
- Hello
- Goodbye
- Please
- Thank you
- You’re welcome
- How much?
- Bathroom
- Where is…?
- One, two, three, etc.
- Do you speak English?
- I’m sorry, I don’t speak (language) fluently
(Side note: If you have any food allergies, learn how to say those, too. One of my friends from my study abroad program had Celiac disease, so she figured out how to say “no gluten” before we got to Tel Aviv. I’d say it saved her from a lot of allergic reactions.)
I’m a huge fan of Googling how to say certain words in another language with Google Translate, Bing, or FreeTranslation.com, but if you prefer something a little more instructional, there are tons of pocket translators that you can buy at almost any bookstore or electronics store. Best Buy sells some of the best rated electronic dictionaries from $10 to more than $200, depending on what exactly you’re looking for. For the tech-savvy, smartphone-obsessed collegiette, there are plenty of iPhone and iPad translation apps. For no charge, you can download the Google Translate app, and for just 99 cents, there’s the iTranslate Voice app.
And while some countries do speak English as their native language, there are always different slang words to discover. Because, honestly, is there anything more awkward than thinking the loo is just a nickname for your building’s handyman named Louis?
“I tried to brush up on my British slang before I left so I wouldn’t say the wrong thing, and so that I would know what everyone else was saying,” Hannah Anderson, a collegiette at the University of St. Andrews, said.
[pagebreak]
Watch Hollywood Go Abroad
What better way to learn everything there is to know about traveling abroad than from our favorite (and most trusted) movie characters? From EuroTrip to Midnight in Paris to Eat, Pray, Love, there’s a never-ending list of movies that can teach you a thing or two about almost every country under the sun. This is especially true if you’re a fan of Mary-Kate and Ashley flicks: When in Rome, Passport to Paris, Our Lips Are Sealed, and Winning London will for sure get you excited for your upcoming abroad adventures!
I’ll be the first to admit that I studied up for my spring break in Paris and Monaco by watching Passport to Paris and Monte Carlo. And I must say, it was time well spent (although they did give me false hope that I’d meet Parisian guys riding around on Mopeds handing me roses). Seeing footage of France and Monaco before I visited made me even more excited for my trip. I had a general idea of the layout of the cities and the overall fashion. As Mary-Kate and Ashley, Selena Gomez, and Leighton Meester ran around Paris, I took note, making a list of all the historic sites that some of my favorite celebs visited.
But don’t forget that sometimes Hollywood can be overdramatic. Movies like EuroTrip, Taken, and Hostel go a little overboard when trying to get their point across. Don’t expect to end up ruling Bratislava with the flip of an American coin, and while hostels don’t typically have the highest form of security, there aren’t serial killers lurking in the hallways of every one you stay at—just be careful! “For the record, I never had anything sketchy happen at hostels. They’re a great, cheap way to travel,” Rachel Lytle, a student at Penn State, said.
Stock Up On Guidebooks
When it comes to guidebooks, you can really never have too many, unless they’re really heavy and take up too much space—then it’s time to turn to iPhone apps like HearPlanet, which tells you just what attractions are near you, and LonelyPlanet.
The more input, advice, and knowledge you have about the country you’re traveling to, the better off you’ll be. The last thing anyone wants is to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off in a foreign country. Not only will guides help you literally guide yourself throughout a city or country if they come with maps, but they will also help you discover some of the lesser-known, but still just as incredible, sights. Being abroad is about experiencing everything a country has to offer, so learning about the smaller attractions can really help you immerse yourself further into the culture.
“I bought tons of travel guides… more travel guides than one person actually needs,” Lauren says. “However, it paid off because I often ended up becoming the group leader on our weekend getaways which was a great opportunity to learn about the city I was in.”
Speaking from personal experience, I highly recommend you buy travel guidebooks while you’re still in America. I went to buy an English-language book in Israel, and after looking at the hefty $80 price tag, I decided that Google would have to become my new best friend.
While the crew in EuroTrip relies solely on Frommer’s Travel Guides to plan their travels, there are a ton of different options for every collegiette. Not only can you buy guides that are specifically for students, but also there are guides that focus solely on certain cities, countries, or, if you feel like going big, continents. “To this day, I swear by Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door guidebook,” Lauren says.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
Traveling abroad is one of the best excuses to go shopping. You simply can’t leave America without a proper wardrobe to flaunt while overseas. That being said, it’s even more important to make sure you have appropriate clothing to show off.
While the U.S. can be more liberal with its fashion sense, other countries aren’t so welcoming of crop tops, miniskirts, and platform heels (I know, I don’t get it either).
“Women are much more conservative [in Jordan] so I had to buy many maxi dresses, long skirts, and scarves to cover my head,” Melanie said. “It’s good to look into the culture and make sure you’re not doing anything to stand out or be seen as disrespectful.”
Whether you’re traveling for a few weeks or few months, there’s always a laundry list of things to do to prepare. But by getting these five activities out of the way, you’ll be ready to see the world, make memories, and have a stress-free, life-changing time. Safe travels!