I may only be at the end of my second week abroad, but I’ve already learned so many things about myself and about living in another country.
1. Everyone experiences culture shock differently.
The biggest thing they warn you about before you study abroad is culture shock. It’s a dreaded experience that seems inevitable, seeing as you are surrounded by a culture that isn’t your own. And I think it’s good that they warn you about it so you can be prepared, but until you experience it for yourself, you have no idea what it’s going to be like, because we are not carbon copies of each other. There are also some people who will never even experience it. So until you feel it coming on, don’t worry about it too much.
2. You become more and more independent very fast because you HAVE to.
Before my trip started, I knew this experience was going to cause me to become more independent. I just didn’t realize how quickly it would actually happen. My program didn’t hold my hand once we arrived in Salzburg, Austria. They put you in a taxi to get you to your living accommodation and that was it. From there on out you had to figure out how to get around by yourself, and while this was daunting at first, I’m now very glad for it. By the second day I wasn’t worried about learning the bus system because I already knew how to get places. And figuring out where your destination in the city was definitely wasn’t a nerve-wracking task at all. You also start to learn how to plan trips, transportation, and excursions once you reach your destination. There is no hand holding, and I promise this is a good thing!
3. Every excursion, big or small, is worth going on.
From traveling to a different city/country to walking around in your town for a day, every excursion you do is rewarding. It could be something as small as walking up a hill with some friends to get an amazing view of your city, or something as big as traveling to Paris for a weekend. You don’t have to do extravagant things all the time to enjoy your time abroad. Everything you do will become a memory, and don’t just miss out on something because you don’t think you’ll have any fun. It might be the best thing you do!
4. Living in a different country is both scary and magnificent.
Not understanding everything is daunting, but it’s also pretty great. You have to learn about the new culture you’re living in, and while it sucks making mistakes, you learn how to adapt. You also discover that you really like some of the differences in lifestyle, such as not being rushed out of a restaurant as soon as you finish eating, or having amazing public transportation to help you get everywhere. No, you won’t like all of the differences, and that’s okay. But don’t just write them off. You have to learn to accept things and become more open to the idea of living differently.
5. You learn a lot about yourself in a very short amount of time.
You learn that you can survive in a country that’s not your own, even when English isn’t the main language. You may learn that you’re much better at adapting to change than you thought you’d be. You learn that you will continue to grow the longer you’re abroad, and when you come back home you’ll know more about yourself than when you left.
6. It’s okay to ask for directions and follow the crowd.
Do not be afraid to ask the locals how to get places. Most of them are happy to help. It’s much easier than being lost in a foreign city’s bus station wandering around trying to figure out how to get to the train so you don’t miss the soccer match you’re going to see. Or how to get to your university so you don’t miss your first day of class. And if you see people obviously heading to the place you need to be, do not be afraid to follow them (unless they look sketch; then DO NOT follow them). You can even ask them where they’re going and see if you can tag along. You might even make some new friends.
7. It’s VERY hard to budget.
Food in Europe is amazing. Traveling through Europe is amazing. What’s not amazing is setting a budget. I’ve started out many days telling myself I wasn’t going to spend money, just to buy a pastry or a plane ticket later that day. You don’t want to miss out on anything, though learning how to budget in the beginning will give you more money to travel with later. So keep that in mind if you ever study abroad!
8. You will miss your parents.
Sure, when you’re home you can’t wait to get away from your parents and be independent. But when you go abroad you find yourself wishing it was easier to communicate with them. Sometimes you just want to talk to them. Other times you wish they were there to help you figure out how to get to the train station or to help you plan your first trip to a different country. Mom and Dad always seem to know what to do, and soon you will, too, because you can’t rely on them anymore. But definitely give them a big hug before you leave, and you’ll want to thank them for all the times they helped you avoid stressful situations when you get home.
9. You don’t have to do something every day.
No, you don’t want to spend your time abroad just sitting around watching Netflix, but you should give yourself a break or two occasionally. Sitting around for a day won’t hurt you in the long run, and sometimes it’s good to relax, especially if you feel yourself starting to get sick. Give your body a break sometimes, because then you’ll have more energy for later adventures.
10. You’ll realize you made a great decision studying abroad.
The first day abroad is definitely a little scary, but soon you’ll know that you made the right decision leaving the United States. You make tons of memories in the first two weeks alone, with many more to come. So if you’re on the fence about study abroad, I say go for it! Adventure awaits.