As a freshman at university, I enrolled in a class titled "Explore Study Abroad" because I had a strong desire to learn about different cultures and live amongst them for as long as I was able. Four semesters later, I am in the final two weeks of my study-abroad experience in England and I cannot believe the ways in which the last few months have shaped me into the person that I aspired to be when I was eighteen years old. There are an infinite number of lessons and skills that I have acquired as a student in another country, but I'll highlight the ones that have changed me the most.
1. How to make time for people back home
For me, the time difference was only six hours, but even still it was sometimes difficult to find the balance between living my life in England and keeping in touch with my friends and family back home. It takes a lot of communication and patience on both ends, but makes the FaceTiming conversations that much more exciting.
2. How to navigate public transportation
As someone that has never had to take public transport (or really had the option to), figuring out bus schedules and metro lines was really daunting at first. But after traveling to dozens of new cities and with Google Maps as a safety net, I finally feel confident finding my way around a new place.
3. How to find the perfect souvenir
No one wants to get something that looks like you forgot about them and picket it up at the airport on your way home, but there isn't enough packing space, or money, to buy everyone a T-shirt. In my experience, people like the heartfelt gifts better than the super touristy ones.
4. How to save money while traveling
My parents might claim that I didn't do a great job of this, but if they knew how many opportunities I passed up to spend money, they might see it my way. The bulk of your money will be spent on food, so I tried to buy snacks in advance and save for one big meal a day. Food is a big part of culture, so experiencing it is important, but you also don't want to miss out on tours and museums because you just had to have that extra large pizza for lunch.
5. How to be a respectful tourist
Sometimes, in foreign countries, I felt like a trespasser in someone else's home or I felt sad because it almost felt like the locals were commercializing their own landmarks just to make money. Obviously, we all have the right to explore as much of the world as possible, but I learned how to be respectful while doing so. Whether that's attempting to speak the language before jumping straight into English or waiting to wear my souvenirs until I've left the city.
6. How to seize the moment
When you're face to face with landmarks that you've seen pictures of your whole life, there's immense pressure to get the right photo, video, Snapchat, Instagram post, and Facebook profile picture. Do all those things, but don't forget to take a minute (or 10) to really just soak up the reality of the situation and the view before you. Besides, no photo ever captures the true beauty of the moment anyway.
7. How to let go and be flexible
Sometimes, you don't get to see everything on your list, sometimes you miss your train or your flight or your bus and you have to sit and wait until it all sorts itself out. There are innumerable factors that go into a trip abroad and it's unavoidable that something will go wrong, but in those moments it's important to remember where you are and how lucky you are to be there.
8. How to ask for help
I will be the first to say that I hate asking people for help of any kind. But when you're in a place unlike anything you're used to, sometimes you simply can't figure it all out alone. Each person that helped me is burned in my memory forever and I'll never be able to tell them exactly how much they helped me, but it's not possible unless you take a step back and put your ego in check.
9. How to be grateful for my support system
I have always been the first to say that my family is amazing and that my friends are better to me than I deserve, but after months of being away from them, I have learned the extent of how much they really do for me. Being abroad is hard because there are days when you feel just completely alone. When I get back home, I'll understand the full extent of what each little favor means even more than I already did.
10. How important travel really is
Before studying abroad, I had barely left the United States. Even though I had always suspected that I would like to travel the world, I couldn't have imagined the way that actually starting it might feel. Today, I can say with absolute certainty that I could not be the person that I am without having seen all that I have seen abroad. Travel is expensive and time consuming and easy to put off for the future, but I can assure you that if you make it a priority in your life, you will not be disappointed at the person you become.
