A couple months ago, I shakily packed my bags for a summer abroad in Skopje, Macedonia. I landed an internship in a country I knew almost nothing about, and was incredibly excited yet extremely nervous at the prospect of a transformative international adventure. Being the only intern at my organization, I knew I would have to travel and navigate life there alone, a realization that weighed heavily on my mind in the days leading up to my departure. I entertained the general worries such as, “what if I get lonely?”, “how will I stay safe as a young female traveler?”, and “will people understand English?”, while also dwelling on details like catching a ride from the airport to my apartment, and finding a grocery store once I got there.
After returning home from my time in the Balkans, I found that I grew up and matured drastically in those couple of months. I knew that interning in Skopje for the summer would teach me a lot about the work environment of an NGO and the sector of work I was in, but I never expected it to be so personally metamorphic.
Here are the main reasons that I would encourage anyone to go abroad alone.
- You’re going to learn how to cope with making mistakes. It is a 100% guarantee that you’re going to mess up a reservation, a hostel address, or your bus details (or if you’re me, you’ll mess up all three!). This is normal, and will teach you how to think nimbly and pragmatically. You’ll also learn to become flexible and adapt to constantly changing circumstances.
- You’re going to come out of the other end as a more independent person. After learning how to troubleshoot all of your logistical hiccups, manage your physical and mental wellbeing in an unfamiliar land, and establish a healthy and happy routine, you’ll have mastered the art of being independent.
- You’ll realize that your country isn’t all there is. Through a clearer lens, you’ll see that other countries have both similar and different problems as your country. It’s also likely that you’ll become more educated on foreign politics as well as the national issues of a different nation.
- You’ll have a new sense of gratitude for your country and the way it runs. While I was away from the United States, I recognized subtle ways that it’s structurally distinct from other countries I visited throughout my journey. Of course, there are positive and negative qualities of every country, but I was able to identify and appreciate the positive qualities of America more keenly while I was away from it.
- You’re going to have a new heart for others. As you meet people and communicate with them, you might find yourself having a lot of compassion for them and the unique experiences they have. I was surprised and delighted in all of the ways I could connect with people different than myself.
- You might develop lasting relationships. On my first day in Skopje, I went to a nearby cafe before work and chatted with my waitress. Over time and many coffees, we became great friends! She took me to local hotspots, brought me to her yoga studio, introduced me to her friends, and even opened her home and family to me for a traditional Macedonian meal. We have plans to see each other and travel together in the future.
The idea of living and traveling solo in a foreign country can be frightening, but also extremely rewarding if you keep your eyes peeled and your mind open to new viewpoints, cultures, and opportunities to grow. If you’re reading this as a person who is on the fence about going abroad alone, I want to encourage you: go! If you can find a safe and affordable way to do so, challenge yourself to explore the depths of the unknown. You’ll learn about other people and likely yourself, and it’s possible that you’ll have the most stretching yet blissful summer of your life. I know I did!