If you get the chance to study abroad, then that is definitely an opportunity you shouldn’t pass up. There are plenty of things to worry about before heading overseas, but the most important part is getting there and soaking up every moment of this amazing experience. However, that doesn’t mean that a few stress-inducing thoughts don’t pass through your mind as you are packing your bags. Here are just a few things that might cross your mind as you get ready to head to a foreign country.
1. Oh my gosh! I’m going to a foreign country! This is so exciting!
The wonderful phase of oblivion and thoughtlessness, where the only thing you can think about is how excited you are.
2. I have to get a great shot of throwing what I know/waving the Cougar flag/general envy-inducing Instagrams.
There is no better way to step up your social media game than capturing the scenery of wherever your destination is that will automatically be better than your same boring old hometown. Everything is cooler in another country. Ice cream in Italy? A billion times fancier than ice cream at your local DQ.
3. What am I supposed to pack?
I have absolutely no idea what kind of weather this country has this time of year. Do I need a raincoat or swimsuit? Good thing there’s an app for that.
4. Two words: Language barrier.
Sure, you may have a year or two of this foreign language under your belt. But your conversations can only get so deep when the extent of your lingo reaches its end with “My major is business and I like to hike”.
5. Why didn’t (insert foreign language class here) teach me more useful vocabulary?
I’m never going to need to know how to say Americans love soft cheese. Why didn’t they teach us direction words, travel words, generally helpful words!?
6. Oh. I guess they did. I just forgot all of them because, at the time, it wasn’t relevant to say those things.
It wasn’t practical to practice those in class. Except it was super practical because now I am wildly unprepared. Time to vigorously hit the books for the next few weeks.
7. I wonder what the laws are like over there.
Are they super strict about traffic laws? Will my license even mean anything over there? So many questions, so many Google searches.
8. Oh my gosh I am going to be the next Amanda Knox and get wrongfully thrown in jail and I’ll never see my family again and it’s been nice knowing you, free world.
If I mess up even a little bit in this country, I’ll be imprisoned for the rest of my life and foreign jail does not seem like a walk in the park. Actually, jail in general doesn’t.
9. Wait, oh. This information packet from my program has tips that are actually super helpful.
Why am I just now reading this and paying attention? This answers so many of my questions.
10. OK, so I am moderately prepared now.
I know the best way to exchange currency, and I can have a generally decent conversation. There’s no need to panic.
11. I STILL HAVEN’T PACKED AND I LEAVE TOMORROW. WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE?
Waiting until the last minute to pack was definitely not a prime idea, but here we are and hopefully I remembered everything that I could possibly need. If not, I guess I’ll just buy it over there.
12. OK, I’m all packed. Did I forget something? I have my passport, right?
Wow, maybe if I would have packed earlier I wouldn’t have this panicky feeling that I forgot something. If you wait until the last minute, that’ll happen. Oh well.
13. I hope I don’t get lost at the airport.
The signs will have English on them, right?...Right?
14. Oh my gosh! I’m going to a foreign country! This is so exciting!
Full circle.
