It was raining sideways in Seattle the morning I left on my study abroad program to Australia and New Zealand. When my brother dropped me off at the airport, I wanted to high tail it back to his car and beg him to drive me back to school. The minute I stepped off the plane, the Australian summer sun greeted me, and I basically forgot Washington ever existed.
My decision to study abroad was one of the best I’ve ever made, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. For anyone considering going abroad, find a way to make it work and get out of here! But keep a few of these tips in mind along the way.
1. Secure a Support System
When I went to the program orientation a few months before leaving, I remember talking to the group who had done the trip a year before, and rolling my eyes when they said they had all become a family. At the time is sounded so cliché, but that’s exactly what happened with my group, many of whom are now lifelong friends. When you’re 8,000 miles away from home, it’s crucial to create a support system. Not only is it considerably safer to travel with others, but they’ll also help to keep you grounded in stressful situations abroad.
2. Talk to Locals (Especially cab drivers)
In a new city, websites and guidebooks can only offer so much advice. Locals are the best resource for advice on dining, lodging, and cool sightseeing recommendations. I found it was surprisingly easy to strike up a conversation with waiters, grocers, people on the street, and even fellow commuters on the bus. Ask cab drivers about how their day is going. It’s the most fascinating thing to speak with people from other cultures, their perspectives will be unlike any at home, not to mention enhance your time abroad.
3. Embrace the Negatives
In retrospect, I love every minute of my study abroad experience. Correction- nearly every minute. One distinct incident comes to mind of waiting weeks to take a sailing trip out to the Great Barrier Reef, only to get violently seasick the entire time. I was tossing up my breakfast over the side, while rain soaked my head, and all I could do was laugh at the hilarity of how miserable the situation was. Needless to say, not all my travel moments were magical. You will learn as I did that the rough patches will only make your overall experience all the richer.
4. You are your souvenir
Despite what I had anticipated, the process of adjusting to life back home is as tough, if not tougher, than settling into a new country. The unfortunate reality of coming home is that the people there have no idea what you’ve experienced. You’ve changed in incredible ways, but life for them went on as usual. When you get back from your study abroad, it’s natural to want to share the incredible adventure you’ve just had with everyone, but the hard truth is, most of your friends and family will be interested in your stories, but after ten minutes, their eyes will begin to glaze over. It’s “the look”; every study abroad veteran has seen it at some point. They weren’t there, so the stories seem distant and not as meaningful.
When home, without your friends from your time abroad by your side, how can you remember your experiences in a meaningful and lasting way? For many people, memories from a trip may take the form of souvenir they’ve brought home. However, you’ll find that the most meaningful souvenir won’t be a CD or postcard, but the personal growth you’ve undergone while abroad. Finding ways to incorporate the lessons you learned abroad into your daily life back home is an amazing way to keep your time abroad close to you.
However your adventures abroad may go, stay positive, and be proud of yourself for taking a huge risk! After all, it’s about the journey, not the destination, the time you spent abroad will shape you into a confident, mature adult. Happy traveling!