For those like me who have never left the good ole US of A, let alone study abroad, then being in another country for months at a time can be a frightening thought. Any new experience can make someone uneasy. Here are a few things that I am nervous about as I embark on a journey across the Pacific Ocean to the land down under.
1. What if I lose something important?
This one has been stuck in my mind since my abroad coordinator mentioned it in a meeting. I am clumsy
2. What if a creature attacks me?
Going to Australia, as most people know, there will be many, MANY things that can kill a human being. The three S's are what frighten me: snakes, spiders, and sharks. Luckily, modern medicine has provided cures for most of what nature throws at it, but it's the idea that something could potentially happen with a creepy crawler that frightens me the most.
3. What if I don't make friends?
This one is a big one for me. For most study abroad students, you choose to go abroad to TRAVEL. It's not as fun, nor as safe if you travel alone. Also, the abroad experience won't nearly be as entertaining in solitude. This fear is irrational, I know. Going abroad is like a second freshman year (so I've been told). Just keep reminding yourself that all of the other international students are in the same situation.
4. What if I get really homesick?
I'm really hoping that FaceTime and phone calls will cure this one. If homesickness is a shared fear of yours, just remember: it's only a semester away, and you'll be home soon.
5. What if I don't want to leave? (Sorry, Mom.)
This one isn't really a fear but more of a thought. I've known people who loved their abroad experience so much that they decided to do their graduate study in the country they visited. I could see myself at Bondi Beach post college graduation.
Some of these fears are irrational, but my questions remain unanswered and my future is unknown. Hopefully, by the time I return from my abroad experience I will have tips and tricks to put future study abroad students' minds at ease.