Every college student eagerly awaits the first week of each semester, which really should be formally changed to "syllabus week" since there is the inherent expectation of wasted class time. It is even better though when you walk into your class to find a guest speaker explaining to the class all of the wonderful reasons you should study abroad.
While they can give you a million and one reasons why you should study abroad, the best reasons are the ones you have to experience for yourself. These experiences are the ones that will define you and change you even after you get back and anyone who has studied abroad can attest to them.
1. You become more independent and self-sufficient.
If you had any anxiety about doing things on your own before, those worries are a thing of the past. Once you learn how to make it through the public transportation in a foreign country on your own, you feel like you can do anything.
2. You learn how to go with the flow.
You have to adjust to rolling with the punches once you leave the comfort of your own culture and customs. As frustrating as it can be to learn the norms of a foreign country, you eventually adjust and realize that missing the last train out and sleeping in the station isn't the worst thing that could happen.
3. You learn the true meaning of "packing light."
Sure, they said to pack light in the orientation, but 'light' is relative, right? Wrong. Once you have to carry your luggage around, you realize that you probably didn't actually need 25 different shirts for the four weeks you were going to be there. Eventually, you learn how to pack everything you need into your backpack.
4. You gain your own study abroad family.
No matter how excited you are to travel abroad, you're also at least a little nervous about doing it alone. Everyone is in the same boat, though, figuratively and literally, and you all become closer because of it. No matter how dysfunctional, you form a unique family abroad that only you can understand.
5. You experience some of the best and most authentic food.
It is only once you study abroad that you realize that "Italian food" in America is not actually Italian. If you're not a picky eater, this is your chance to try dozens of new and amazing dishes you may never eat again. However, you definitely planned what you want your first meal back to be.
6. You meet people from all over the world.
Whether it be the newlyweds who watched you get stung by a jellyfish, the cool Australians who allowed you to drunkenly follow them around or the crazy locals in the town you were staying in, you'll always remember them. Studying abroad gives you an amazing opportunity to meet so many people from so many different places that you would never have met otherwise.
7. You get to see the sites you've learned about first hand.
Chances are you get to study somewhere that allows you to see things you've only read about in your history books beforehand. It doesn't even feel real sometimes that the places and art that you've learned about all your life is right in front of you. It also doesn't hurt that now anytime someone mentions these places you can say, "Oh I've been there; it's all right."
8. You learn that post-study abroad depression is a real thing.
Sure you're excited to see your family and friends when you get back, but you just spent your entire summer seeing amazing sites and eating amazing food with some amazing people and now you're just supposed to pick back up where you left off before you left? It is not OK, and you should not be expected to be OK.
9. You'll find any reason to talk about your experience.
You had such a great time that sometimes you forget that other people don't care about every one of your stories. Eventually, you stop waiting for people to ask you about your trip and just bring it up whenever you can. "Yeah dude I'm really sorry your dog just died, but this is actually just like this time in Italy when..."
10. You have become obsessed with traveling abroad now.
As soon as you got back you immediately began planning your next excursion abroad. And if we're being honest you probably looked into planning your future trip before you even got home. Now that you know you can do it and how rewarding it is, you're ready to see the rest of the world.
