Going away on a fun trip can be so exciting, leaving the country? Even better. Seeing different parts of the world and different cultures will be a priceless adventure that you cannot miss out on. For most people my age, this will be the first time they are leaving the country without their parents, which means lots of confusion and possibly some worry. Don't worry, you will have the time of your life and meet some of your closest friends. While there are a lot of different emotions, here are ten stages summarized by the cast of Grey’s Anatomy.
1. The moment you find out you and your bestie both got accepted into the same program and will be traveling together.
2. When you see how much the trip will cost and how many extra classes you have to take to fit it into your four year plan to graduate.
3.The nonstop emails you get from the study abroad office asking you questions that you have no idea how to answer, while also reminding you how much this trip will cost.
4. Realizing you are not alone, and all of your friends need the help of their parents to answer these emails.
5. You get so excited for your trip, you start figuratively (or literally, whichever you prefer) talking to your destination about how excited you are.
6. The day, or even week before the trip may seem like the longest wait there is. Also the last minute packing will cause moderate amounts of stress. As long as you have you and your passport, you're golden (maybe some other essentials too).
7. Realizing you are going to be on a plane ride nonstop for seventeen hours. Since it is summertime, you don't even have any work to catch up on.
8. When you finally arrive to your destination, whether you are sleep deprived or wide awake, you will be ready to take on the adventure that lies ahead.
9. Whether you are with your bestie, or some new friends, this should be you living it up in a different country.
10. At the end of your stay, no matter the length, leaving will always be the hardest part. What gets you through it is finally returning to your dog at home, and your Mom too.
All jokes aside, being able to leave the country and visit other places in the world is a huge opportunity. Memories, friendships, and lessons learned will be priceless on this trip. I urge anyone who is given any opportunity to see a different part of the world, country, or culture, to go and go with an open mind and heart. Wherever you go, when you go, or with whoever you go, make sure you have the time of your life, these trips can be a once in a lifetime kind of experience. Happy traveling!