It will move you, consume you, and allow you to question everything you believe in. It will challenge you and your restless mind. It will push you. It will drive you. It will surprise you. And while that initial sense of comfort begins to fade, it is here where you will find your greatest adventures and self.
There are no words to describe how I felt when I moved to a foreign country all on my own and dropped my bags in my new room of a complete stranger’s home. Life had changed as I knew it, but little did I know that this was only the beginning.
I’m talking about the growth of a new set of eyes that now see this world differently.
Before I left the States to head to Barcelona, Spain, for an entire semester, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that I would soon travel to nine countries… or that I’d live by a new culture and learn to find comfort in the unknown. And I definitely wouldn’t have been able to tell you that I had ability in me to take 15 credit hours in Spanish with native teachers who spoke at lightning speed. But that’s the beauty of it. It isn’t until we chase after our dreams that we begin to see the infinite possibilities we are holding in our hands.
If I had to tell you one thing about this kind of experience, it’s that studying abroad takes you beyond places on a map. It has the power to bring you to your best self. While studying abroad overseas, I learned more lessons than I’ll ever be taught in a classroom and I am forever grateful for that. Things became clear to me, and I now see life in a new light:
Go wherever the wind takes you. Leave behind the over-thinking.
Three other girls that I had met on my program and I decided THE DAY BEFORE that we wanted to venture to Paris. Call us crazy, but Beyoncé, Jay Z, and Nicki Minaj would also be in the city of love that Friday. Who in their right mind can deny Beyoncé and Jay Z, in Paris? You can’t. Impossible. Euros are simply, euros. All hail the queen. So when Tina Fey says, “Say yes and you’ll figure it out afterward,” you better listen up because spontaneity is the key to living this beautiful life. Last semester showed me that whether my decisions lead me to something I’ve always dreamed of or a night full of (what feels like) wrong turns, each and every adventure has its purpose.
Slow down. Live the moment you’re in.
Isn’t it crazy how we can find ourselves so wrapped up and captivated by a single moment? It’s a feeling so passionate that runs as deep as the ocean. Then a month passes. You find yourself diving into the bottomless memory – so clear in your mind – in utter disbelief that you aren’t there anymore. But you were just there. JUST there. How could you be here now?
I stood on this mountain, allowing the sun’s rays to soak into my skin. The air was crisp and I was alive. I remember that clearly. I remember becoming conscious of the moment I was in. Take it in, take it in, take it in were my only thoughts. I knew I’d never feel this moment again, at least not like this. I would never find myself in this spot again at 20 years old, gazing into the never-ending river of skies and thinking there are so many possibilities. I would never stand so tall and so young knowing I had become a fighter. I felt free and unattached to everything except the mountain beneath my feet. I think it remains so strong in my mind because I became alert, in that second, of how precious time was. How important it is to slow down and inhale the moment!
There’s no need to rush. I’ve learned to live the moment I find myself in, even if it’s a part of my daily routine, like the café con leche (coffee with milk) stops I made at Café Marti (my favorite coffee house in Barcelona) everyday, or my daily run to the water and port of Barcelona. I’d find myself sitting on the edge of that dock not wanting to move – just to be still. Sometimes I’d lose track of time and end up late to class (sorry Mom).
But these are the little things I miss most. We often take these little memories for granted. Breathe them in, always.
Memories > money, always.
Money will come and go, but all we have is now. You bet I have loans to pay, but we can’t let money stop us from growing. There will be times where I have money and moments where I’m flat out broke. But let’s think… how many times will you be this young again? We think we have all of this time, but we don’t. Life is so short, so live. Whether that’s blowing some money on that vintage thrift-shop scarf in Paris that you just don’t have the money for, or that “classy” wine tour in Portugal… take a breath and do it.
As a person with anxiety, I know how it feels to constantly worry about life, money and just about anything and everything. But we have to learn to live in the moment sometimes. If it helps ease your mind, try making some sort of budget. Did I mention that European flights like Vueling or Ryan Air could cost as low as 50-60 euros ($57-67 USD)? That was my round-trip flight to London. Yes, you heard me right… Round-trip. I’ve learned that money isn’t everything. You’re not here for the money; you’re here to live.
It’s more than OK to get lost.
When we get lost, we might feel uncomfortable and end up calling a friend for help, or whip out Maps on our iPhones. Ask anyone who has studied abroad – that’s not so easy to do when you’re without Wi-Fi, a phone plan or a map. (If you’re going abroad, use the “Ulmon” app… I found this lifesaver later on). This is where I started finding comfort in the unknown. This is where I feel most alive. What are we without our mistakes, or the mysteries of life?
I remember a few friends from my program and I were walking through the streets of Granada (a southern city in Spain) after watching the sunset above the city at Mirador De San Nicolás, a lookout spot on the mountains. We continued to talk about life and how we really wanted to find these beautiful markets an instructor recommended to us. We wandered through streets that seemed familiar only to find that we had lost our way. I remember us laughing, running and smiling without a care in the world. Sure, we didn’t have the slightest clue where we were going, but we knew we’d find our way back eventually. It’s that point where you have to trust life.
As the incline of the road began to descend and the path curved, vibrant colors and life came out of nowhere. There in front of our eyes stood the markets – filled with the finest handmade scarves, jewels, candles and more. We just couldn’t believe it. These winding roads and random turns led us here. Isn’t it weird how life works out?
Getting lost WILL happen and it will happen many, many times. This how I grew to be patient with myself. It is like they say: the best way to get to know a city is to get lost. It’s how I found my way around the city that became my second home – Barcelona. Remember, “Not all those who wander are lost.”
You can’t be afraid to try new things.
I’m that girl that orders the same thing over and over again from a restaurant. When I arrived in Spain, I knew I would need to branch out a bit and let go of old habits. Spain’s language, culture, and way of life are completely different than the States. I tried strange tapas, danced in the street and incorporated their “siesta time” (nap time) into my daily routine.
As each day passed, I became more curious. There is so much out there – all kinds of people, dialects, and lifestyles. As it came down to the last few weeks of the semester, I didn’t want to leave. I was so fascinated with the world around me. I was traveling almost every other weekend, and at one point I traveled three weekends in a row. I had adapted to the Spanish culture and traveling lifestyle without realizing it. I discovered parts of myself that I never would have seen without trying new things and pushing myself outside of my natural habitat.
Look up from your phone. Life is waiting.
Not having a phone plan seemed like the worst thing in the world at first. It soon grew to be the biggest blessing. We don’t realize how much we are on our technology because when we look around everyone else is doing it. It’s normal, so it must be right.
I noticed this once I made it to Spain. The first thing my instructor said was, “See how long you can stay off Facebook or Twitter and watch your life change.” Kids in Barcelona play soccer in the streets and go to the local park. Couples on the metro weren’t tuned into their technology; they were tuned into each other. Don’t get me wrong, I love my social media. I love being able to share my passion for photography through Instagram and keeping my loved ones updated with how I’m doing. But I know now that I need to draw the line somewhere. We all do.
I am more independent than I thought, and can handle anything that comes my way.
Life has the tendency to throw a million things into your path that have the ability to push you or hinder you. As I’d travel to each country, there’d be points where I’d think, “It’d be so much easier to just turn around and go home right now. How am I going to figure this out? I don’t know one word in this language…” But the thing is, I always did figure it out. Whether it was managing the hardest course load of my college career and traveling on every other weekend, or navigating tons of international airports, I learned that I am quite resourceful. I am completely dependent upon myself. I learned the way of the metro system, how to get around the city and how to fully live in a foreign country without knowing a single soul.
This made me feel like I really am capable of anything.
Maybe you’ve already been abroad. Maybe you’re going. Maybe it’s something you dream of doing. Hesitant? Ask yourself, what’s holding you back? Money? Apply for a bunch of scholarships and take those loans. A person? You deserve this experience for yourself – trust that. Not in your comfort zone? You can only grow if you’re outside of it.
I believe there is always a way if you want something bad enough. I promise you a thousand times that it’ll be worth every last cent. It’s in your mind for a reason and it will take you far, to places you’ve never imagined for yourself. The world waits for you.
Paris, France
Granada, Spain
Porto, Portugal
Galway, Ireland
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
London, England
Cologne, Germany
OU Oh Yeah!