We’re past the application honeymoon phase. We applied and got accepted and jumped for joy and cried happy tears. We’re actually studying abroad.
I received my acceptance letter in the middle of October to go to South Africa next semester and was immediately more ecstatic than words can describe.
…about 5 minutes later, I panicked.
Did I make the right choice? (Yes.) Did I pick the right location? (Of course.) Will I be happy? (Duh.) How am I going to support myself over there since my bank account balance is plummeting? (Uhhhh…)
Along with study abroad preparation comes an undeniable amount of stress, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. Of course, it’s exciting and new and fresh and we’re ready for this amazing adventure in a new country and culture, but the process to get there is overwhelming, to say the least. But that doesn’t mean don’t do it, it just means we have to deal with it.
We know it will all be worth it; it will be the best four-or-so months of our lives, but we also must conquer the obstacles to get there in order to have a smooth ride once we arrive.
Here’s a list of my current freak-out-worthy stresses (and I’m sure all of you study abroad students can agree)…and how to deal with them:
1. Visas – a tiny four letter word with all of the study abroad power in the world. It’s our Willy Wonka golden ticket equivalent. Without it, we’re stuck. No leaving the airport, no landing in a beautiful new setting, no crazy adventures hiking mountains or seeing ancient ruins or shopping along Europe’s most sought-after shopping hotspots. Without this little piece of paper with a whole lot of power, you’ve got nowhere to go but home. And to make it even worse, this simple piece of paper could potentially take over a month to process, after filling out forms upon forms and taking medical exams and sending in identification and whatnot. Maybe some of you are lucky enough to not have as lengthy of a process (all countries differ), but nonetheless, we all understand the stress of paperwork by now…
Deal with it: Get on it ASAP. Don’t procrastinate, which is the ultimate struggle. Yes, it’s a pain in the ass to fill out form after form and get them all notarized (which I didn’t even know was a thing until now), make appointments for medical exams, and whatever other crazy hoops your destination country is making you jump through…but if you do it all right away, the process will be over before you know it.
2. Flights – you might be flying halfway (or all the way) around the world. This is not the time to be scared of flying, my friend. Also, plane ticket prices? Now THAT’s terrifying. Can we just skip the flying part and apparate there or something? Floo powder? Port key? Ok, I’m done with Harry Potter references now.
Deal with it: I promise you, there is not going to be a colonial woman churning butter on the wing of the plane (Bridesmaids, anyone?)…and although we may often say “help me, I’m poor,” there are often deals on flights, or your study abroad program may include the price in their package. The bottom line? Do a bit of research before buying a ticket…well, two tickets, considering we’ll need to come back eventually. #Crying.
3. Money – ugh. This is the reason why I shouldn’t possess a debit card. Summer savings? Gone. Money spent while abroad? Apparently, a ton. Learn from my mistake (and maybe it’s yours too), save up as much as you can before leaving.
Deal with it: If you’re in my situation, maybe try to work during the month break before we leave, or even sell some of that crap that’s been piling up over the years. Or, there’s always Christmas/the holidays to ask for money as a present. (My plan, obviously). Also, budget your money wisely while abroad..it’ll last much longer!
4. Packing – I’m an over packer. There, I admitted it. I’ll go away for a week and have enough bags to look like I’m moving out. This just can’t happen for study abroad, which is just terrible because it’s FOUR MONTHS as opposed to just a week long vacation.
Deal with it: Bring the essentials and nothing more. If you’re going somewhere like Paris or London, sure, bring a nice coat or dressy heels, but keep it to a minimum. Doing a volunteer-based study abroad in Africa? Shorts, people. Shorts and casual skirts and t-shirts. The basics.
5. Adjusting – we’ve gotten used to our environment. Most of us study abroad folks are in our 3rd year at St. Mike’s, and we’ve gotten the way of life here down to a science. Going abroad for an entire semester is exciting, but also we have to factor in that there will be an adjustment phase, just like anything else.
Deal with it: Remember, this is the most amazing opportunity ever! Your friends, family, etc. will all be there when you return. Make the most of every day that you’re abroad. If you have access to Wi-Fi, Facetime them once a week! Send a quick Facebook message every couple days if that’s more your style – keep in contact to have some familiarity if the transition is not super smooth, but don’t overdo it either.
Have an amazing time abroad, collegiettes!
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