Keep an Open Mind

This point stays at the top of the list, because it is by far the absolute most important advice I can give. Having an open mind includes many things, but the most common example which comes to mind is letting yourself get close to people from around the world. The idea of solely meeting, spending time, and traveling with other Americans is a sure-fire way to sabotage your entire experience entirely- and so many people make this mistake! If your program offers courses with foreign (non-American) students, don't think twice before signing up and joining teams in class with students from around the world. In my case, most of my classes were like this and while intimidating at first, I can say that I have gained a more wholesome and worldly experience even from the inside of my classroom! If your program or school only hosts students from their own university in America, try to make friends or interact with people at the grocery store, wine bars, clubs, libraries, or even just the nearby park! I know this can sound scary, especially for those of you who are more introverted, but understanding and interacting with another culture can really only be done through talking to people!

Things will go wrong, unplanned, and unexpected, but through keeping an open mind everything will work itself out, I promise. So go ahead, meet those other students, try new foods, do something you've never done before, and just roll with the tide!

Stay Positive

No one ever talks about their struggles, hardships, or emotional rollercoasters in life- especially not online. If anyone tells you that studying abroad was the best time of their life and they were never lonely or sad, it is a total and utter lie. Don't get me wrong, studying abroad will forever be one of the highlights of my life and allowed me to experience other cultures from around the world, but there's no way you can live in a foreign country for four months and not have mixed emotions at times.

The best advice I can give for this inevitable situation is to STAY POSITIVE! I've seen so many people make one mistake, have a few things go wrong, or simply get into a four-month long funk, and miss out on an amazing opportunity. One of my favorite stories of studying abroad was on my trip to Berlin, Germany, where my best friend and I were robbed by our roommate in a hostel. I'm not mentioning this unfortunately-exciting time in my experience to scare you away from staying in hostels or not to go to Berlin (please do, they have the best food and nightlife!), but I am recommending that you try your best to stay positive and make light of the difficult situations that come your way.

Budget!!

Hopefully you've been saving up for at least a few months before going abroad, because every dollar counts. Sure, airfare between European countries may be cheap, especially in the Schengen region, but you want to have enough saved up to try different foods, local activities, pay for transportation passes (please don't uber), and to go on all the trips you planned before. In Prague, one US dollar is equivalent to 23 "crowns", but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a wealthy tourist by any chance!

Make sure to write a list of places or things to do abroad before your trip starts so that you can budget accordingly. Group trips may be unplanned and last-minute, but if you cook at home regularly and don't make consistent stops to the local mall, you should be fine to go with everyone to Croatia or Munich for a short weekend!

Travel As Much As You Can, But Don't Feel Pressured

Flights, trains, and busses can be incredibly cheap between cities and countries throughout Europe- if that's where you're going. While some people go to a different country every weekend, I suggest trying to limit it to every-other weekend for a couple reasons.

Firstly, you want to experience the most out of the country you chose to study in. There is so much more to do and see than the daily tram ride home or study spot! For example, try botanical gardens, historic landmarks, museums, galleries, national theaters, and more! While you learn so much about different cultures while abroad, I guarantee you'll wish you knew more about where you studied when you leave!

Secondly, while it's incredible to visit places you never may have gone before with you friends, some places are better to visit as an adult. Places like Nice, Santorini, Monte Carlo, and Switzerland might be better to visit when you have more money, a longer period of time to stay there, and a more dedicated group. One of the worst feelings is going somewhere where you can't afford to have the signature experience, or having a messy trip. It's never bad to save money and time!

Make An Itinerary For Every Trip, It's Worth The Research

Some people are simply bad travelers- but everyone can use the help of an itinerary. This doesn't have to be strict with reservations or hour-by-hour plans! Most people travel for a weekend at a time while studying abroad, and having some sort of a plan is invaluable and SO easy! Simply do your research on the place you decided to go, including:

-historical landmarks

-must-see museums, parks, sites

-transportation methods available and where to purchase

-national foods and desserts

-anything you have in mind (trendy cafes, famous markets, cool parks, fancy bars, best clubs, etc)

If you want to go even farther, you can plan your itinerary day by day to make sure you aren't going in circles and wasting valuable time with transportation! This tip came incredibly handy on my 36-hour trip to London on an ultimate budget, where there is so much to see!

Keep Momentos

Some people collect postcards, some collect mugs, some collect flags, and some simply take pictures from each trip, but whatever you choose-make sure it is meaningful to you. You don't necessarily have to turn your memento into a pinterest-worthy art board, but little things from each place you go are bittersweet to look back on. I personally like small souvenirs because it forces me to remember to enjoy the little moments in life, and helps remind me of my feelings when I bought or took the item. Not to be dramatic, but one day you will be old and your memories will be fleeting, so things like these become essential and heartwarming.

Think About Your Presence

While this is an important reminder to keep throughout life wherever you are, it is even more important while living and traveling in another country. This can mean a variety of things, but thinking about your Americanism is incredibly important. To other countries, we are sometimes seen as loud, annoying, full-of-ourselves, and impossible to deal with- not including the common remarks about our current political climate. While the study abroad program most likely will warn you of this, is ultimately adds to your own experience more than the local's annoyance with us. So please, try not to be obnoxious on the tram and make sure to mind the gap!

This idea also connects to your daily life as well, and I feel as if we don't stress it enough. Through keeping a positive energy and understanding your part in this world, you can make the world a happier and healthier place.

Don't be Scared to Ask Questions

I know it can be difficult, but this is essential to getting the most out of your experience! From asking program staff about events, directions, or suggestions, to asking friends or family who have been to your chosen country before you, it is well worth it to learn as much as you can! So many people are afraid to ask questions that they end up missing out on once in a lifetime experiences, and this is no way to live your life! So go on and ask the teacher about fun upcoming local events, do your research, ask kids in your classes, and make the most out of every day!

Try Your Best To Not Be Picky

I touched on this earlier, but food is an amazing and low-cost way to experience different cultures! While many people have dietary restrictions, there are more restaurants than you think which will try to work a way around it! And if you just have never liked cheese? Please try the Greek feta cheese anyways, at least just to say yo've done it. From Italian pasta and pizza, Czech goulash, Hungarian chicken paprikash, Mediterranean kebabs, or Polish kapienkanka, each iconic meal has some national value and history behind it, while being delicious!

Live Day By Day

Easier said than done, yet such an essential part of traveling and life as a whole. Maybe you're three months into the program and start to think "Well I've seen everything I need to, guess I'm ready to go home", and I can guarantee that you haven't. Instead of living by a tight schedule and constantly thinking about the next box to mark off your to-do list, take time in the day to truly look around and feel the foreign air hit your face. Notice the small things, like the different engraved art above doors, beautiful rivers, picturesque early mornings, smell of your fresh coffee, and the starry nights which you'll never see from that same view again. Take just a few moments out of each day to enjoy your surroundings and do something spontaneous. It's always worth it.