Is It Just Me, Or Is Everyone Studying Abroad This Semester?
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Is It Just Me, Or Is Everyone Studying Abroad This Semester?

We get it, you're in Italy eating pasta and gelato.

63
Is It Just Me, Or Is Everyone Studying Abroad This Semester?
Cassandra Chin

I always heard that “junior year is the year that most people go abroad” and now I know that it feels like everyone goes abroad junior year, especially spring semester. I didn’t think that I would be this jealous but when it’s 25 degrees and cloudy here in Newark, Delaware and my friends are sending me Snapchats of the sunset off of their balcony in Barcelona, Spain where it’s averaging 70 degrees, it’s hard not to be a little envious.

Social media definitely intensifies the jealousy and glorifies their journeys. I don’t know about you but half of my Instagram feed is pictures of handmade pasta in Italy or the beautiful mountain scenery in Ireland. Going abroad almost guarantees your Instagram posts to be more popular, because how could a picture of my friends in a frat basement compare to Machu Picchu? I can’t even go on Facebook without seeing albums full of these amazing pictures. Snapchat is loaded with stories showing everyone how much fun these people are having abroad, and I start to wonder if these people actually go to class.

My friends seem to be experiencing so many different cultures. I love to hear about how friendly the Scottish people are or how good the cheese is in Amsterdam. It’s also a plus that the drinking age is 18 in most places of Europe, and it seems like most people are taking advantage of that. But I miss all of my friends who are abroad so much, and it makes me miss them more when I see that they’re visiting each other. Apparently it’s really easy to travel within Europe, so it’s not difficult to take a cheap flight across the continent. It must be so fun to be with your best friends in a foreign country, especially in Ireland on Saint Patrick’s Day (so jealous of my friends). I wish I could hop on a flight to go visit them but it’s not so simple to travel across the world.


As much as I’m jealous of my friends abroad, it’s easy to forget that they’re doing work over there. We’re all still enrolled in college and dealing with the stress that entails. However, I don’t regret not going abroad. I’m glad that I’m here for another semester at UD because every semester seems to be better than the last and the ones that I have left appear to be dwindling fast. I’m also glad that I’m not oceans away from my family for months or missing out on anything here. With that being sad, I’m happy that my friends are loving studying abroad and hope that they don’t forget about us American folks!

I can’t wait for my friends to come back to America so they can tell me all about their adventures! It might feel like everyone is abroad right now, but they’re not. Get off of Instagram and stop stalking their pictures, then maybe you’ll realize that good ol’ Delaware isn’t as lame as you think. And if you’re that jealous of their experiences, go abroad next year!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

59025
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

38114
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959605
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

196353
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments