My study abroad experience in Bologna, Italy, wasn’t anything short of perfect: I have a suitcase full of mistakes I made abroad. Buckle up as I fly you across my mistakes, beginning in August. Every single one came with a consequence. Some were extraordinary, and others totally avoidable; nonetheless, unregrettable!Â
On my first trips to Florence and Cinque Terre, I learned you can get anywhere by train, even the day of! When I went to Monza, I bought general admission tickets for the Formula 1 race, and quickly I discovered that showing up without a hat or a stepping stool would result in a tiresome journey searching for a viewable spot, sweating profusely, but it’s so worth it! On my return train, I booked my ticket from Milan to Bologna for a day later, but this blessing in disguise gave me an excuse to go back to Milan the next day for a day full of shopping! On my trip to Switzerland, I learned to use my student discount for everything and to plan hiking trails in advance. I discovered that Flixbus can be a great way to travel, just book the night bus and sleep through the 9 hours! In Venice, no mistakes occurred other than forgetting the digital camera for date night! We took lots of pics anyways. In Rimini, I learned not to wait until the last minute to buy a postcard, or you’ll sadly leave without one. In Bologna, I learned to wash eggs before you crack them open, and don’t forget to pay the bus fare, or you can end up with a hefty fine (that one stung).Â
I highly recommend last-minute trips. Oktoberfest was one of my favorites, but I highly underestimated the cold temperature of sleeping in a tent! I mistakenly didn’t wear shorts underneath my drindle for warmth, and didn’t charge my portable charger before arriving at the campsite; either way, the whole weekend was unforgettably worth it. Next was Lake Como, where I learned to double-check the tickets. I accidentally confused the arrival time with the departure time, oops! Nothing a little communication with the trainworkers and 5 euros can’t fix! The public bus is a lot faster and cheaper than the ferry, so don’t freak out if your initial plan to get to Bellagio is sold out; there are always options. Barcelona was my all-time favorite trip, and my Spanish proficiency saved me in many situations. First off, service is terrible in the underground train, don’t follow the blue dot on ur Google Maps because it freezes (I ended up in an unknown neighborhood at 12 am and quickly called for an Uber). During Halloweekend, I learned to arrive at the club on time, or they will make you pay to enter, and read the sign before you exit a club because they can be very strict on the “no re-entry rules” (this is where arguing in Spanish helped me out the most).Â
Flying with Ryanair can be unreliable, but so affordable as long as you only bring one small backpack! Life hack: wear a fanny pack underneath your sweater so they don’t count it as an extra personal item! On my Brussels and Amsterdam trip, I made the mistake of only being in Amsterdam for one day; it’s such a beautiful city, and I will be back. Next up in Porto airport: we resorted to taking a Taxi because we couldn’t find our Uber, and we ended up paying more than double what the Uber cost! All we could do was laugh as we watched the price go up by the second, and worst of all, we were cashless. Uber rejected my visa, and my sister ran to the nearest ATM, where she paid a hefty exchange rate and foreign fee. A lesson was learned, and we walked to McDonald’s. The next weekend in Paris, I was jumpscared by the sight of a man sleeping in the bunkbed under mine in a hostel room I thought was all female. Imagine the shock when the bed across from mine was also a man. I quickly searched my booking confirmation and learned that the hostel misleadingly describes itself as ALL FEMALE; it’s an option for specific rooms, not all (read the website carefully). Apart from that, Paris has many tourist traps. Do not cave in as I did at a cute cafe in front of the Eiffel Tower; trust your gut and take the bus to a better place where you get your bang for your buck! Lastly, I mistakenly purchased the cheap flight to London, where I arrived past midnight. Public transportation closes at certain hours, so always try to arrive earlier, especially if you’re traveling alone. England was the perfect bow on top of the many gifts I received from living abroad. Â
Some last things: set up a phone plan ahead of time, don’t overpack, and get an international credit card. Most importantly, live every day like a sponge. Being away from home not only taught me how to adapt to foreign environments and live as an independent adult, but also about living minimally, appreciating the little things, and slowing down from the fast-paced lifestyle. A whole pizza is always a great idea, buy the thrift find, get that haircut, and go to aperitivo hour, you’ll cherish these moments forever. Ciao, Bologna, grazie mille per i bellissimi ricordi.