On August 29th, I had my first experience flying completely alone. I remember that flight feeling like a huge deal, but now, just a little over three months later, I can barely remember it. Just like any other semester, this one has flown by and yet been absolutely packed. But, unlike any other semester, it’s been packed with a lot more adventures and a lot less work.
As a Latin nerd and a human, the phrase “carpe diem” often haunts me. I’ve had the common Barnard experience of making sure I get out but never striking a perfect balance between work and fun. When I hear people saying, “seize the day” and “live every day like it’s your last,” I feel like I just don’t have enough time for that. To say that this situation got flipped on its head abroad is an understatement. For the first time since basically third grade, I’ve had these things called weekends and free time, which I totally recommend. They’re fantastic.
How I’ve spent these times has been what’s defined my abroad experience. Now, you don’t have to take a third foreign language solely for study abroad purposes like I did (slightly insane, I’m aware), but study abroad somewhere you’re truly curious about. While I’ve spent weekends in typical cities like Venice, Rome, and Florence (where I’m living), I’ve equally enjoyed my day trips to explore more off-the-beaten-path towns like Lucca, Perugia, San Gimignano, Verona, and Orvieto. Getting a fuller picture of the country you’re living in is such a rewarding and rare experience that I hope everyone abroad takes advantage of.
Of course, I’ve been on a few trips out of the country as well. I went to Budapest with my suitemates where we almost adopted a dog and had too much fun at the baths. I also went to Switzerland, which was one of the most beautiful and different places I’ve ever seen (Instagram is not lying). For fall break, I went to Spain, where I did all of the typical things in Barcelona and Madrid, explored a bit of the south in Córdoba, ate plenty of churros, and caught up with some friends from Barnard and high school. It’s nice to have a few friends who are also abroad, but being so far from the majority of your friends and family makes you better at communicating with them and appreciating them.
Anyways, life, while perhaps more exciting, isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I’ve found that life still requires naps and errands and groceries, even in another country. It still involves homework and down days and a healthy dose of stress. But taking advantage of where you are makes a huge difference, and that’s a lesson I will be taking back with me to New York. To those soon embarking on their abroad adventures: Bring cute sneakers. Try new food. Order that glass of wine. Go out. Explore. Take advantage of free time. And carpe diem.