If you’ve ever studied abroad, you completely understand the excitement of getting to study somewhere you’ve always dreamed about! You spend weeks imagining the sights you’ll see, the people you’ll meet, and the countless memories you’re bound to make. For those of you who haven’t experienced studying abroad just yet, here’s what it all looks like in a nutshell:
The realization
That moment when you realize you’re actually going to the place of your dreams and you can barely contain your excitement!
The packing dilemma
Trying to fit your whole life in one suitcase only fails miserably the first 14 times.
The arrival
Two years of high school Spanish didn’t prepare you for full language immersion, so you just sit there and try to look friendly.
The discovery of new foods
Everything looks and tastes so good, you can’t help but try everything you lay eyes on!
The feeling of homesickness
You may start to feel overwhelmed by the language, you don’t know anyone, you miss your friends, and you just want to go home.
The halfway point
Homesickness has passed and you’ve made some friends. You’re settling in just fine, but the language…well, let’s just say you’re getting there.
The “I’m broke” phase
You really want street food but forgot that you spent your last 30 euros on a train ticket to who knows where.
The moment when everything makes sense
You finally understand the language and can hold conversations and you feel extremely accomplished.
The goodbye
You’ve met so many new amazing people but now you have to say goodbye and you don’t know when you’ll see them again, but promise yourself that you will!
Studying abroad is an amazing and, sometimes, a once in a lifetime experience! Enjoy it to the fullest extent, even when times are a little tough. It only gets better and you’ll have so many lasting memories!
*All images courtesy of Giphy and Pinterest