Over this past semester, I studied abroad in three countries and visited more than 20 cities across five different countries. On paper, all of this sounds exciting, sometimes even glamorous. However, in January, going into it, I was completely terrified. Throughout this semester, I was more than 3,000 miles away from my family, living on my own for the first time and moving between countries where I didn’t speak the language. I was also placed on a rotation with 11 strangers I would be spending the entire semester with, including a roommate who didn’t even attend my university. They later became some of my closest friends, but starting out, nothing about this felt comfortable, and that was part of the adventure.Â
I had the opportunity to call Limerick, Ireland; Paris, France; and Rome, Italy home, spending five weeks in each city. Each place challenged me in different ways as well. Ireland was my introduction to independence. Paris pushed me out of my comfort zone linguistically and culturally. Rome tested everything I had learned from navigating transportation to fully embrace spontaneity. Of course, I have my regrets. I wish I had traveled more on weekends, especially while in Ireland. I could have visited more countries, like the United Kingdom or Spain. But studying abroad quickly teaches you that you can’t do everything. You have to learn to make compromises, choose what to prioritize and accept that some opportunities will pass you by. I’ve officially gotten a taste of travel like this, and it’s only convinced me to come back one day.Â
What I didn’t expect was how much I would grow simply by learning how to live. I had to figure out how to make plans, manage my time and adjust to constant uncertainty and shifting plans. There were moments when I didn’t have the answers, and no one was there to give them to me. However, I also realized that everyone around me was going through the same thing.Â
There were hard days. Getting sick abroad was one of them. Walking into a pharmacy and trying to explain your symptoms in another language is an experience you don’t forget. There were also moments of exhaustion, juggling classes, travel, friendships and the occasional drama that comes with living closely with others.Â
However, those challenges were only part of the story. I built friendships I would never have formed back home. I connected with people from my university whom I barely knew before, and I became incredibly close with students from completely different schools. My roommate, someone whom I met for the first time when I walked into our dorm in Ireland, is one of my best friends.Â
Studying abroad is often romanticized, and I definitely fell into that mindset before leaving. The reality is definitely more complicated. There were moments of homesickness, culture shock and frustration. But even in those moments, I found myself thinking, “I might be frustrated, but at least I’m frustrated in Paris.” Looking at the opportunity from that perspective reminded me how incredible it was, no matter what happened.Â
Some of my favorite memories were the simple ones, like sitting in cafes and journaling. I became a regular at a small boulangerie in Paris and a sandwich shop in Rome. Additionally, in Ireland, I started cooking my own meals, which is something I had never really done before. I’m still not a great chef or even able to call myself a chef at all, but I can now confidently make steak, pasta and chicken with vegetables, and that feels like a small win.Â
There were also larger, unforgettable experiences that felt almost surreal. Two nights before leaving Paris, a friend and I walked to the Eiffel Tower to watch it sparkle at midnight. Standing there, it finally dawned on me that we had been living and studying in Paris, not just visiting, but actually living there, and that is something we will never be able to do again. Travel also added another layer to everything. For my program, we packed up our lives and moved countries every five weeks, which felt exhausting at times. But there were definitely some memories of my travels that made the rotations worth it.
 I took a gondola ride in Venice, rowed a boat in the lake at Versailles, and rode a horse through Tuscany. I spent 24 hours in Belgium and managed to navigate the bus, tram and metro system all in one day. I even learned how to get around three different cities, my home cities of Rome, Paris, and Limerick, without relying on Google Maps, which might be my biggest accomplishment. There were also solo adventures like flying alone across the world, exploring new cities by myself and learning to enjoy my own company. Those experiences gave me a level of independence I don’t think I could have gained any other way.Â
Study abroad also changed how I think about “home.” I had to adjust to time differences just to stay in touch with family, and there were moments when I thought, “I wish they could see this,” but they were asleep on the other side of the world. At times, I felt completely out of place in my home cities, but there were also moments when I thought, “I could definitely live here.”
Looking back, it’s easy to see everything through rose-colored glasses. It’s just as easy to focus only on the difficult parts. However, the truth is somewhere between where you understand that it’s not always easy or perfect, but it’s how you grow from this experience that matters. So, if you have the opportunity to study abroad, take it. It will not solve all your problems, and you probably won’t fall in love, but it will challenge you in ways you can’t replicate in a classroom or your home campus. Studying abroad forces you to grow, adapt and discover what you’re capable of when you are far outside your comfort zone.Â
This semester pushed me in ways I didn’t expect. It taught me how to navigate unfamiliar places, build meaningful relationships, and find confidence amid uncertainty. While the places I went were beautiful, it was the person I became while I was there that I will carry with me long after the semester ends.Â