The opportunity to study in a country that you've always wanted to visit is meant to be the event of a lifetime. But it also requires that you rely on yourself a lot more than most of us are used to doing, and with this newfound responsibility, we find ourselves panicking over situations we didn't anticipate before the plane took off. I am currently studying abroad in the amazing country of Spain, and in discussion with other international students, I've tried to pick the six moments we tend to freak out about the most.
1. You don't speak the language, and someone asks you for directions.
It's not that we enjoy lying to the residents of our temporary home, it's just that we don't want to appear stupid because we don't understand the national language yet. Instead we try not to look like "deer caught in headlights" and point in a direction that we believe will bring them to what they are looking for, praying we are correct, or after the initial moment of panic we apologize for not being able to help and walk away, hoping that we used the right words for "I'm sorry."
2. You're exploring a new place and your phone is about to die.
I strongly recommend that before you decide to travel, you have a basic understanding of how maps work and/or a good buddy to travel with. If your phone will not turn on, Google Maps cannot help you avoid the street where danger awaits, when all you wanted to find was an ancient church or a well-known bar. When you see your battery status turn red and your stomach starts to drop, you quietly look around, hoping the street you are on remains crowded, and then willing fate to take the wheel, you hit the power button. After this you pretend that nothing bad can happen, and normally you find people who can guide you back to your phone charger.
3. You're constantly checking to make sure you have your passport.
A U.S. citizen knows that this is the only thing that will save your butt should you encounter local police, thus making it a highly prized possession. The trouble is there are plenty of experienced pick-pockets that know its worth. I wouldn't recommend carrying it on you if you are heading out for the night with friends, but if you decide you want to visit a different city one weekend, it's usually best to have it with you. Normally it's quite easy to appear like you're not carrying it, but we've all heard the stories so we check our purses or backpacks every five minutes to make sure our trip advisors were just exaggerating how talented robbers can be.
4. When you don't hear from friends at home, and you start to wonder if they have forgotten you.
We all know that for the most part people only put the good things they want to share on Facebook, and while we're excited to see all the fun things that friends and family are up to, it's very easy to feel that we are not missed when the photos pop up of events that we are used to participating in. Obviously, we are having our own adventures, but it's hard to see that people miss us when everyone is smiling for the camera. This is the problem with doing something out of your comfort zone; the life that you consider normal goes on parallel to your own, and watching it go by, you don't feel like you are a vital part. To those on the home front, if you miss someone, say so because even if everything seems fine you never really know. The life of a traveler can be lonely.
5. When you don't know how everything will fit back into your suitcase.
Gifts for everyone! Generosity is a highly-valued trait, but the price of checking luggage on U.S. airlines is also pretty high. It is best to plan ahead and leave space for souvenirs in your luggage, that way it won't be that hard to get everything back in, especially if you plan on leaving things behind. The trouble is if you plan on staying in a place for a while, you'll collect way more than you anticipated. Roll clothes. Breathe. Cram tiny things in corners. Breathe. Sit on your suitcase, grab the zipper, take a deep breath, and force it shut!
6. When you encounter something breathtaking.
You will say, "This is the most amazing thing I've ever seen" about ten times a month, on average, when you study abroad. And you will experience the intense anxiety of never wanting to leave the moment as emotions of pleasure and incredulity flood over you; at the same time, the realization hits that you have to return to your country too soon. Each time this happens, you experience the sadness of knowing you do not have enough time to view all that the world has to offer more profoundly. This sense of panic can be the most heartbreaking, but also the most effective, because then you start to calculate exactly how and when you can come back to see everything you've missed this time around.
