This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to spend a month in Spain through a study abroad program. In addition to taking a Spanish literature class, the program gave me the opportunity to explore Spain and absorb some of its fascinating history and culture. Now that I’m home again, everyone is asking me, “So how was Spain?”
I want to answer this question by telling them everything about my trip, but I find myself feeling completely overwhelmed by just how much there is to tell. There’s so much to say that I don’t know where to begin. I’m afraid of rambling on about things that the folks here at home won’t find interesting, of focusing on aspects of my trip that they won’t care about or don’t, of talking for hours when all they wanted to hear was a brief summary of my experience. So my standard response to the “How was Spain?” question has become simply, “It was great.” It’s an utterly boring answer, and it fails to communicate anything about my trip. It’s not the answer that I truly want to give, and doubt that it’s the answer that my family and friends want to hear, but it's easier than trying to cram a month's worth of memories and adventures into a single conversation.
I'm sure I'm not the only student who faces this conundrum. Thankfully, it's easy for family and friends to help!
If you know someone who has recently returned from studying abroad (or from any other adventure!), avoid asking them “How was it?” It’s a well-meaning question, and we genuinely appreciate your interest, but it’s very difficult to answer. Instead, try asking more specific questions. Not only is this less overwhelming, but it also helps newly-returned travelers to recall certain details and aspects of their trip that they might not immediately think of on their own. The result is that you get an interesting, engaging answer to your questions, and they have the satisfaction of sharing about their trip in a meaningful way.
If you need some ideas to get you started, just check out this list of five specific questions geared towards people returning from traveling abroad. They’re a great way to show that you genuinely care about a traveler’s experiences, and they’re also fantastic conversation starters that can easily open the door to more in-depth conversations if you want them to.
1. What is your favorite memory from your trip?
Okay, this question is a little bit open-ended, but it’s so fun for a traveler to think about all of their favorite memories and try to narrow them down to one (or two or three!) that they cherish the most. A favorite memory often encapsulates the essence of what made the trip meaningful for that individual. Asking this question will probably spark the type of conversation that you wanted to have when you asked “So how was it?”
2. What did you learn while you were away?
This is a great question because there are so many different types of lessons to learn when you study abroad—there are the ones you learn in the classroom, but also the ones you learn by living in a different culture, and then there are just the ones you learn by being away from the familiarity and comfort of home. Asking this question is a great way to get a glimpse of how the traveler has grown as an individual while they were away.
3. What was the most challenging part of your trip?
This question acknowledges that studying abroad—just like any adventure—isn’t easy. Sure, it’s an incredible experience, but it’s also hard. Travel, jet lag, culture shock, language barriers, homesickness…these are all challenges that must be faced and overcome throughout the course of studying abroad.
4. What were some major differences between the culture here and the culture there?
Immersing yourself in a new culture is one of the most fascinating aspects of studying abroad. Asking about how the culture that the student lived in during their time abroad differs from the culture that they’re used to is sure to spark some interesting conversations, and it will probably teach you a lot about the lifestyles and values of people in other parts of the world as well!
5. What did you miss about the US while you were away? Now that you’re home, what do you miss about the place that you left?
This is technically two separate questions, but they complement each other. Asking a traveler what they missed about home and what they miss now that they’re back will give you insight into what the trip meant for them and what they appreciate about life. It’s an excellent way to delve deep into the things that matter to them—both about their adventure and about their life here at home!
These five questions are just the tip of the iceberg—there are hundreds more things that you can ask someone who’s just returned from traveling. There are no “wrong” questions—just ask about whatever interests you or sparks your curiosity, and they’re sure to have stories to tell and memories to share! Happy listening!
