Declassified Abroad Survival Guide
Dear Witches,
During my time studying abroad this semester, I have come to realize the incredible amount of growth a person can go through. Depending on where you go, you are pushed outside of your comfort zone and are forced to push yourself and try new things. You might be meeting new people for the first time. You might be taking classes at a big university after spending the past couple of years at a small institution. Or you might be experiencing the converse. You might be in a big bustling city with different attractions every single day or studying in a rural part of the world. You might be living with other international students, whether domestically from the United States or from other parts of the world, or you might be doing a homestay, integrating yourself into a household setting. All of these changes can be jarring, scary, and overwhelming. Or, maybe you are ready for the change and the challenge. Here are five (plus two extra just for you) tips that I found to be the most valuable during my time abroad:
Tip #1: Be open to change.
Getting on the plane is the hardest part of abroad. I waited to pack my suitcase until last minute in hopes that if I didn’t pack them, I wouldn’t have to leave the comforts and familiarity of home. I dragged my feet through TSA. I hoped my flight would be cancelled. But, when none of these fantasies came to life and the plane descended into the Dublin Airport, my heart swelled with adrenaline and excitement. I conquered a fear, and I was proud of myself for it. I felt incredibly hopeful for the future, one obstacle under my belt.
Tip #2: Extroversion is hard and does not always come naturally…and that’s totally okay.
As a self-identified introvert, making friends can be difficult for me. It takes a lot of self-reassurance and confidence to push myself out of my comfort zone and strike up a conversation. This made my orientation week was definitely disheartening when my peers began to pair off and make connections right away. I felt alone and wondered if I would ever find “my people” during my time away. But, by mid-semester with several weeks of class under my belt, talking became much easier. I had actual interesting things to talk to other students about rather than just ice breakers like “What’s your home university?” and “What are you studying?” [as the talking became easier, the friendships followed or something like that]
Tip #3: Travel if you can!
This is probably the coolest opportunity that abroad grants you, so if you have the resources to do so, take full charge and do it all. As someone studying in Europe, all of the surrounding countries became my playground. During my midterm break, I visited and caught up with three different friends who I hadn’t seen in several months over an eight-day period in Edinburgh, London, and Oslo. Getting out and exploring new parts of the world gives you the opportunity to experience different cultures for yourself. It is always so curious learning about all the differences between the customs you are used to and the country you are in, even for things as trivial as which side of the escalator to stand on. And I’ve learned larger cultural differences, too, such as residents in Catholic areas of Belfast flying Palestinian flags as a way to sympathize with their struggle against the Israelis, equating it to Northern Ireland’s own fragile relationship between Catholics and Protestants.
Tip #3a: Financial budgeting and planning
Traveling requires a lot of money, time, and effort to plan…plus you have to be incredibly proactive and not procrastinate. I know that can be hard, but as time ticks by flights don’t get any cheaper. And pro tip: double check that you booked the right date! I made the mistake of booking a flight for a day later than I meant to and had to buy a new ticket at the airport. Not fun (or cheap). Find hostels, Airbnb’s, or even hotels, and transportation to and from airports before you arrive. During my time in London, I felt incredibly overwhelmed with all my options of places to visit and couldn’t narrow it down to a few specific locations – I definitely wish I had planned an itinerary beforehand. Also, create a spreadsheet for each place you visit so you can keep track of how much money you are spending and on what. Unfortunately for all of us, closing your eyes won’t make your expenses disappear!
Tip #3b: Don’t forget about your new “home” base
Take the time to find what your home country has to offer! Studying in Ireland, I was able to take several day trips and explore parts of the country I wouldn’t have if I had stayed inside of Dublin. Visiting the rural countryside was such a wonderful change of pace from bustling cities full of tourists. I reveled in the opportunity to look at the relaxing scenery of cows grazing on grass, rolling green hills that stretched for miles, and the occasional remnants of a building from the 1500s.
Tip #4: Keep in touch with home.
While study abroad can be exciting, it is important to stay in contact with friends and family from home. Something I found out while still back at school back in the States, I found it best to have some sort of consistent schedule. On Sunday evenings, I can count on Skyping my parents and talking about our weeks (of course also to see my dogs lying lazily across my bed). While staying in touch with friends is fairly easy because of all the social media platforms our generation uses, I still carve out time in my day to talk to my friends over the phone. Consistently staying in touch with to two of my closest friends makes it feel like my support system never went away, despite the six hour time difference between us.
Tip #5: Have fun and make the most of your experience.
Homesickness is real. Trust me, I had an arduous time adjusting. It took about a month before I felt just somewhat settled in my new home. And by then, I only had another six weeks left before returning home. But I stand to tell the tale and encourage you to do your best in pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone to try new things that you might not have the opportunity to again. But, also know that taking time for yourself is okay. Don’t feel guilty for spending a Friday night in your apartment eating ice cream and binging-watching on Netflix. It is unrealistic to expect yourself to be on the move 24/7. Study abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it goes fast, so make the most of the time that you have but also know (and learn more about) yourself. It is one of the best opportunities to grow unlike you have been able to before.
All of the love in the world,
xx Anna
By Anna Billy
Music snob, over-protective mom-friend, and avocado toast connoisseur.