Over the summer of 2017, I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Mexico. During my time there, I learned a lot about not only Mexico, but myself. Each study abroad trip is a little bit different, but I think that my thoughts are universally applicable, so without further ado, here's 5 pieces of advice I'd give to anyone who's studying abroad.
1. Be Flexible!
When you’re in another country, you’ve got to roll with the punches. You can have an air-tight, fool-proof plan, but that won’t stop you from sleeping in the airport overnight or puking on Mayan ruins (sorry Makenzie, hope that the ancient curse hasn’t been too rough on you.) It doesn’t matter what happens, it’s about adapting. The experience as a whole will be much more enjoyable if you’re able to shrug off the inconveniences and trust the process.
2. Take advantage of the time that you have with people.
You’ll meet a lot of cool people in whatever country you visit. You’ll also bond a lot with the people that you travel with. Even when you and your friends return to the States, it won’t be the same as living together. So take advantage of the time you have with them, you may not see them around super often back on campus.
3. Try New Things.
This sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s really true! You don’t have to do everything--I politely declined eating fried grasshoppers--but studying abroad is the perfect time to get out of your comfort zone! Aslong as you're safe and smart, there's no harm in trying out something that you wouldn't usually do at home!
4. Get Off Of Your Phone!!
Take pictures, but don't live off of social media. Instagram and Facebook will be waiting for you to post when you get home. On a similar note, I’m sure that your parents, best friend, and significant other will miss you dearly. They'll want to keep and touch and hear everything about your adventures. No matter your cell phone coverage, you should really make an effort to limit your call time. I think that study abroad programs offer a lot of growth, but in order to grow, you have to have space.
5. Don't miss out, but do take a breather.
If all of your friends are going out for karaoke but you’re just too dang tired, don’t beat yourself up. You won’t be able to appreciate how cool the stuff that you’re doing is if you’re exhausted that whole time.
I remember climbing the steps of Bonampak and thinking to myself, “I’m so glad that I’m doing this at nineteen and not forty." If you have the chance to study abroad, go for it. You’ve got time, energy, and money (if you can snag a scholarship or two!) So don't hold back, and enjoy!
