This summer, I had the unique opportunity to spend six weeks in Havana, Cuba as part of the Pitt in Cuba Panther Program. Despite the fact that my experience was shorter than the typical semester or year long study abroad trip, it was still jam-packed with adventures and important lessons.
1. Donât forget the âstudyâ in study abroad
Studying abroad is a great way to explore a new place and have fun while doing so, but study abroad programs are primarily academic programs. For summer programs like mine that only last a few weeks, it may be difficult to take your classes seriously because of the time frame. The key to being successful in your study abroad classes, just like any other class, is balance. Make time to get to know your city and have fun, but also set aside some time to make sure your schoolwork is being done well. My classes involved some bigger projects which counted for a significant part of my final grades and I found that getting started as early as possible was helpful. Finding the right balance will allow you to have fun while also making sure your study abroad experience doesnât lower your GPA.
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2. Say Yes to new experiences
An important lesson I learned during my trip to Cuba was that I needed to say âyesâ more often. Being open to new experiences and adventures led me to some of the most memorable moments of my time abroad. I am someone who typically never goes out on a school night, but when my friends suggested we go out Salsa dancing on a Tuesday night, I had to break my own rule â and I didnât regret it! The whole evening took me out of my comfort zone: from going out on a week night to salsa dancing with strangers, but it was a once in a lifetime experience that was well worth it.
3. Immerse yourself in the culture
Study abroad is above all else meant to be an immersive experience in a culture different from your own, so take advantage of it! Donât be afraid to order something off the menu even though youâre not sure what it is, like a smoothie made from a fruit that youâve never heard of (itâs called mamey and itâs delicious, by the way). Talk to your taxi driver even though you might make mistakes. Go to the ballet. Take Salsa lessons. Embrace the unfamiliar to make the most of your study abroad trip.
4. Plan things outside of the program schedule
While your study abroad program may include some exciting trips and activities, try to plan your own activities with other students in your program as well. These could end up being some of the most memorable events of your trip! For example, some students in my group reached out to our Spanish professor to ask if he knew anyone who could teach us how to Salsa. He put us in touch with people he knew and we took several lessons with them. Learning how to Salsa was one of my favorite experiences that I might have missed out on had I stuck strictly with the program schedule. Similarly, a few of my friends and IÂ also planned a trip to go on a hike that was not part of the program. We arranged our own transportation and had a great day out in nature, despite struggling a bit during a hike that was more difficult than we anticipated. These experiences, among others, made my study abroad experience richer than it would have been if I had simply stuck to the schedule.
To summarize, my study abroad experience was unforgettable, and I owe it mainly to the fact that I stepped out of my comfort zone, while still keeping my academics in mind.
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Photo credit: Authorâs own