This past May I was lucky enough to be able to study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, marking my first adventure Europe. Along with new experiences, new friends, some frustrations, and lots of laughter, there were a few tips and tricks I picked up along the way.
Bring less shoes
You’ll never wear every pair you packed. Bring a few cute and comfortable pairs that go with everything and that way you’ll save room for clothes/shoes you buy.
Stay organized
One thing that I noticed is that whenever my stuff was all over the place or disorganized, I felt all over the place and disorganized. Keeping my clothes, personal items, electronics, etc. all clean and organized helped me feel like my shit was together so that I could focus on other fun things like exploring!
Be open to new things
You’re in a brand-new place! Go out and explore with people or alone (once you get the hang of things) and enjoy the moment. It sounds cheesy, but you may not have another experience like this one, so do all you can.
It’s okay to take a minute for yourself.
it’s easy to get caught up in everything and everyone going nonstop 24/7, and it can get overwhelming. It’s okay and pretty necessary to take a few hours for yourself to gather your thoughts and be alone for a minute.
Don’t live behind your camera
I’m all about the photo mems, but in the beginning I often found myself getting too caught up in making sure I captured everything so that I could go back and remember it. By doing that, I wasn’t really focused on what I was doing and just enjoying being in the beautiful city that is Copenhagen. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about a good insta photo, but once my mindset changed to being more present, I was able to capture what was truly important to me and then just be there to experience it.
Traveling abroad for the first time was overwhelming, exciting, nerve-wracking, fun, and unforgettable, and I can’t wait to go again someday!