I had the opportunity to embrace myself within another culture and, let me tell you, I was very unprepared. I constantly researched daily, reading every article titled “what to pack on your trip” or “what to expect abroad” but none of them truly helped me once I got there. It was as if all these articles were written by people who haven’t even experienced a study abroad trip. Well I have and I am going to tell you what really to expect.
Every trip is different based on the individual and the actual place you are planning to visit. I had the pleasure of spending a month and some change in Barcelona, Spain, my new favorite place on Earth! I spent the whole months of May and June over in Barcelona, therefore a summer wardrobe was definitely needed. As said before, each trip will be different depending on the location and what time of year you go, so do your research on the weather and plan accordingly.
Your advisors and every article you read on studying abroad say you will experience what is known as culture shock. You will understand this by definition due to the unfamiliarity in a different part of the world, but you truly don’t understand what this means until you are over there, and sometimes not even until you arrive back home. I know when I first arrived, I was almost numb to any emotion because it just felt so surreal. I would catch myself saying “I am really just half way across the world right now … in Spain … IN EUROPE!” I know, at least for myself, I was just amazed at every inch of scenery I saw. From the mass amounts of people, all kinds of different cafés on every corner with foods you’ve never even heard of, the large crowds of people surrounding you while speaking an unfamiliar language because surprisingly enough, they don’t speak Spanish in Barcelona. The people of Barcelona speak Catalan, which is another dialect of Spanish that is only spoken in Barcelona, how crazy?! I guess my three years of high school Spanish did absolutely nothing for me. Another culture shock was the metro station… that took some getting used to. I had to take many, many, many metro trains the whole time I was there, even on my way to class. When you think of going to class you usually imagine just walking across campus or driving. NOPE. Here, the metro is everyone’s way of transport which is very common in European countries.
You may find yourself comparing every single daily task that you would do back home to your new routine, and this is okay. Just try not to get flustered that you might have to switch up and do things differently. With such unfamiliarity comes frustration. Additionally, expect to expand your food palette because you will not find chicken tenders and french fries at every restaurant. And please, please avoid restaurants that are considered “American cuisine.” For one, I don’t know what you would even consider “American” and two, you may be pleasantly surprised on how much better local food will taste, which is how it was for me in Spain. Seeking out familiar foods is a comfort mechanism, but you are in a whole new country, a new culture, so this mind-sight is just going to hinder your experience and stop you from fully embracing the various amazing cultures of the world. Not that many people will get this opportunity!
However, It is also okay to have a few “comfort activities” that remind you of home, which is okay to do because you may be homesick at most points. My comfort activity was to try McDonalds and Taco Bell in every country I visited. First off, these two “fast foods” restaurants are considered regular dining in Europe, and boy does their menu and food live up to it. Barcelona had some of the best specialty items at McDonalds that I did not ever expect: macaroons. Alongside a nice refreshing glass of white wine or sangria. At McDonalds?! I cannot stress it enough; I was truly amazed.
Now, let’s get to the real point of this conversation: academics and how to manage them. Yes, with studying abroad comes fun, but you are there for your education too. I was blessed and only had to take one class when I was there, but the longer you are abroad, usually the more credits you will have to take. It can range anywhere from 2-4 classes. Here is how you manage them. You absolutely must take time from the fun and set aside organized and focused time to work on your assignments. Usually, your professors understand that you are going to try to experience as much as possible , so they may not be very strict on schoolwork outside the classroom. Also, they may sometimes be lenient on attendance and allow you to miss a certain number of days, but most of your grade will come from in-school classwork. Just get it done in class, form study groups with your classmates, and participate. It is so intriguing to learn history or topics from such a different perspective compared to how we learn it here in the US. Another tip I abided by was doing my homework in various cool locations around the city, whether it be at a café or public plaza. This way, I was able to travel to new parts while still getting my assignments completed. Another thing to keep in mind, depending on your program, the course might be taught in that host language. Luckily enough, my professor taught the course in English, so do your research beforehand!
The last piece of advice I would like to give is to make friends with your classmates because they are going through the same experience you are! Most of the time your classmates are also exchange students just like you! I understand it can be hard to break out of your shell, but believe me, if I didn’t force myself to talk to these people, I wouldn’t have gone on tours every day, went to museums, fancy restaurants, and obviously, who would take my pictures for Instagram?! Pictures are definitely a main goal! Your classmates will be experiencing the same emotions you are. Plus, it is so much more fun and you will experience more with the others around you. Another added plus, traveling with friends is much safer, and safety is key in an unfamiliar place.
So, for anyone thinking about studying abroad but have any doubts, just do it. Don’t question it. Sign up and dive right in. I do not regret it one bit. This world is just too large for us not to explore it. Embrace it and just go for it!