This coming year, I will be spending a semester abroad and I cannot wait for what it will bring. I, along with many other students that will be studying abroad, have similar thoughts about our highly anticipated semester abroad!
Here are 10 thought any student studying abroad will relate to:
1. The Countdown
We all have a countdown to the day out plane takes off and takes us to the country we will be spending the next three months at! At the beginning of summer I would check this number maybe once every week, now as the day draws nearer I find myself checking it much more frequently!
2. The packing
I am an over-packer and I'm proud. I struggle fitting everything in a suitcase for a week vacation. I am still not sure how I will fit, not only clothes for different seasons, shoes, but also other stuff to help me survive over there, pictures, books, bags!!!
3. The Pinning
Since I made the decision and handed in my deposit to study abroad,I have been pinning anything and everything to do with studying abroad. Pinterest is really good at getting me super excited to live in another country by showing me pretty pictures of the city. But it also has the best checklists I could find for what to bring and where to visit!
4. The Nerves
Although I don't have many nerves for the coming semester abroad, I do have some. Like needing to cook my meals instead of going to the dining hall and figuring out the train station and booking my own flights when traveling to other countries. But when I feel these nerves, I just remember that it's no use worrying about anything now while still at home.
5. The money
If you're like me, you've been working everyday to try and save as much as you can so that you can travel places and shop! I just keep telling myself "it'll be worth it once I'm over there!" Stay strong!!
6. The sadness
As all of my friends count down the days until they're back on campus, I can't help but feel a little sad about not going back this semester. Again, when I do get sad about this I just remember that I will be right back on campus in the spring and everyone will still be there!
7. Leaving Friends
One of the things I am dreading about studying abroad is saying good-bye to my friends for almost three months. Although I am spending a weekend on campus a few weeks before I leave, it isn't enough time to spend with my friends that I haven't seen much over summer because we're so far away from each other. But, again, I must remember that texting and FaceTime exist for a reason, to make this a little easier.
8. The excitement
I don't know if anyone understand the excitement a student has when they're getting ready to spend a semester abroad unless you have studied abroad. You can be happy and excited for us to, but once that planes takes off, it's all on us to depend and rely on ourselves for our experiences for the semester. This could be scary to think about, but in the end I see it as a great adventure awaiting!
To those students studying abroad, I wish you the best and hope you have an amazing semester!
