If you’re planning to study abroad, people will overwhelm you with words of wisdom before you leave. They’ll hit you with the same cliches about how studying abroad will change your life, and how you’ll never be the same. It’s all so repetitive and it sounds obvious—of course living in a new country will be life-changing. But for me, it wasn’t long after I set foot on my flight to Sydney when I realized how profound the experience was going to be.
Last spring, I spent four months doing a study abroad program in Australia where I knew absolutely no one. During that semester, I learned so much about myself, about other people, and about life in general—things that would never have clicked for me had I stayed in my little New England bubble. Here are a few things I learned:
1. Everything about friendships
During my time away, I met so many people with different perspectives from so many different places. I faced the challenge of making new friends while trying to stay connected long-distance with my friends at home. Throughout my time abroad, I learned what it means to be a good friend. I also learned what it means to be a bad friend. Early in the semester, a spontaneous trip to Melbourne sparked the friendships that would change my life. From surprise birthday brunches at the beach, to our dinner table conversations, to writing good-bye letters at the end of the semester, I owe it to the group of girls I met for making my experience abroad so positive. In terms of friendships, these girls set the bar so high that I went home after four months rethinking some of my relationships at home—as well as learning things I can do to become a better friend in return. I now have so much clarity on what I want in my relationships going forward—and what I don’t want. My study abroad friendships were so fulfilling and genuine, and I don’t know what I did to deserve having those girls in my life.
2. Money comes back, but opportunities don’t
One of the biggest challenges I faced abroad was money management. I had to figure out how to stretch a set amount of money for four whole months. I don’t like using the word “regret” because I genuinely had the best time in Australia, but if I had to change anything about my study abroad experience I would’ve traveled more. Some of my study abroad friends traveled to New Zealand, Bali, and even hopped around different countries in Asia. I splurged on a trip to Thailand for spring break and visited different Australian cities, but that’s it. It’s obviously a good thing to have self-control when it comes to money, but I think I held back a little too much. Looking back, I wish I didn’t let myself get intimidated by the pricey plane tickets. The experience of traveling is worth so much more than any wad of cash.
3. Adulting isn’t so scary
Something about my lifestyle in Sydney made me feel so grown up. To be fair, I didn’t have a job, but I was a full time student and had to manage my money during that time. This was my first time living in an apartment and having to meal prep and cook for myself every day. I also increased my street smarts being forced to navigate airports, public transportation, and so much more on my own.
One of my favorite days in Sydney was when I went into the city for a pilates class after a full day of school work, and then met my friends for cheap tacos and margaritas afterwards. I feel like my life at college in the US is very safe and structured but being in Sydney I had more freedom over how I spent my time. It was so cool having the luxury to hop on a train by myself and be in the city harbor 20 minutes later. I felt like I had the world at my fingertips. My time in abroad made me excited for the future and to have more choice on where I live. Living in Sydney, I got to know the city like the back of my hand, and I’m looking forward to living in a city post-grad and having a new place to explore again.
4. You can do anything you set your mind to
I’ve always been curious about new places, and I would generally describe myself as a bit of a restless person with an urge to travel. I grew up in a family that rarely went on trips, so I chose to study abroad as a way of taking matters into my own hands. Studying abroad was a goal I had for a while, and I was surprised by how overwhelmingly stressful it was to prepare for it during my last few months in the US. Not only was I stressed about all the tasks I had to do before leaving, it was also an isolating time for me. I didn’t know anyone in my program, and I felt left out knowing everyone in my circle would carry on with their lives without me, so I didn’t really have anyone who understood what I was feeling.
It took me about two days of being in Australia to realize how all of that struggle was  SO worth it, and I would go through it a million times again. Within a few short months, I watched some of my biggest dreams come true. Not only did I finally get to do the traveling I’d been craving, but I also had some incredible bucket-list opportunities. I went skydiving, snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, and surfing at Bondi Beach. I met life-changing people, I could see Sydney’s city skyline from my balcony, and I lived a short walk away from a world-famous coastline. If I told 10-year-old me about the things I’ve done, I’d be in disbelief. But the truth is that anyone can have an experience like this, as long as they have a goal and the drive to see it through. It’s easy to forget how much power we have over our lives, but we are SO capable of doing anything we want.
My takeaway is this: if you ever have the opportunity to live in a new country, do it! It’s normal for new things to be scary, especially when you’re doing them alone, but don’t let that stop you. Do it, scared! Preparing to leave was so overwhelming and isolating, and it felt like I was jumping through hoops. Now, I can confidently say that I would do it all over again just to have another experience like that.
I hope that I can inspire someone to study abroad too. It really does change your life :)