Friends from my study abroad have already been back since we came home in July or are going back this summer. It will change your life and your life plans. So any plans you have made post study abroad, hold on to loosely because they will most likely change by the time you step off the plan back home in the states.

1) For better of for worse, your study abroad family is your family

When you went for your first orientation before leaving to go abroad, you sat in a room full of strangers you knew nothing about. Hopefully, this was the case. I strongly believe it’s best to go alone when you study abroad. Friends are great, but the ties you make while abroad with the strangers who go to, are stronger than any bond you’ll ever have. Did you ever hear the phrase, “you don’t get to pick your family,” this holds true with your study abroad family. You will fall in love with some people and you will want to make others disappear. This is all normal and part of the experience.

2) You will question everything you once believed to be true

As a non-freshman college student studying abroad, you will surely have some of your own opinions about the world, people and even food before you leave. At this point you (should) have began the journey of finding out who you are. All preconceived notions about whatever country you’re going to and who you think you are should be left in the airport terminal.

3) You will fall in love with someone else.. yourself.

It’s so important to be completely open to new things when you’re in a culture you are unfamiliar with. Don’t hold back on any opportunity to explore something new. You will make some questionable choices, but when you look back on them you’ll be much happier you took a risk then stayed in at the hostel that weekend.

I first studied abroad with a boyfriend, and there was some concern that I would meet someone else. I think that’s 100% fair and a valid concern. Of course a S.O. will wonder if you’re going to have a Lizzie McGuire and Paulo moment. Maybe you are an Italian pop star doppelgänger and will meet your Paulo. But, the person you will fall in love with more than anything is yourself.

I learned so much about myself by quite literally throwing myself into a foreign culture(s) and having to figure it out for myself. It was the biggest learning experience I ever had, and all the lessons I’ve learned I’ve carried with me back here in the states. My friends, family and anyone else who knows me can attest that I came back a different person. I thought I knew what I wanted in life and was ready to settle down after college. That all changed for me, my plan is completely different, the word “settle” isn’t even in my vocabulary anymore and I’m beyond thankful for Munich, Germany for teaching me that.

4) You can live without cell service/wifi

There was a big debate in my household whether or not we should dish out the cash (aka more loan money) for an international plan. A few kids on my study abroad had it, and it was beneficial to them. However, I opted to not get the plan. Despite having a S.O. at home and a mother who I can barely go twenty minutes without talking to, I thought it was best to go without it.

I will warn you, wifi is not as available as your study abroad leader will make it out to be and when you find it in a restaurant you will sit there for a ridiculous amount of time catching up on your world at home (shout out to all of Venice, Italy for putting up with me ordering more sangria and cheap appetizers to explore the internet!!)

My advice is to not get the plan. It’s such a liberating feeling being detatched from your phone. I’ve found to that I’m off my phone a lot more back at home. Off the grid is the way to go, allow yourself to separate and really experience your time aboard.

5) Long distance relationships can work abroad

It’s not easy, but it’s totally possible with the right person. With a six hour time difference, the short Facetime’s and Whatsapp conversations will be held closer to your heart than you thought possible. Bring pictures and write letters. We wrote a weekly letter that we both got to open during our weeks a part. Once a week was more than enough. It really helped and reminded me that there was someone over a thousand miles away that loved me. There’s a really cool app called “Couples” that can allow you to talk, share pictures and send thumb kisses (trust me it’s cute).

Bottom line is, it’s no different than being next door to the person, if you want to make it work you can.

6) You will get homesick, but in a good way

Coming from Small Town America, U.S.A. I could not wait to get away. I laughed at anyone who said I would miss hearing a horse and buggy, that I would miss seeing familiar faces all the time or even farmland.

Turns out they were right (did you read this Mom?).

You will miss home, but now in a sad way. You will appreciate the little nuisances of your hometown and college town, the little things that make it unique. The sound of wind chimes on a rainy chilly morning next door, the sound of your dog walking down the hallway to wake you up and the smell of coffee you Dad makes on a summer morning. This is healthy, this is good. When you come back you will appreciate it all so much more. Take mental pictures before you leave and store them in your home file located in your mind.

7) You will catch the travel bug

I just finished applying and put the deposit down for my second study abroad this summer. I’m graduating in May, but you bet your bottom dollar that I will be going on the Spain summer study abroad. I’m soaking in as much as the study abroad experiences as I can before graduate school.