Studying abroad is liberating. It’s frustrating. Immersing yourself into a new culture and language has its difficulties, and you must be up to the challenge.
For me, living in a new city in the Haute-Normandie region of France, is a breath of fresh air. Studying in a class where I am a minority is humbling. Classmates who aren’t wrapped up and aware of every thing in American news and politics (“Who is Donald Trump?”) is something new, and actually quite nice. Having to rely on my French language skills to communicate with my classmates puts many things into perspective. Learning about customs in Ukraine, China, Indonesia, Syria, etc. makes me so much more aware of the world I am living in.
Taking public transport—tram, bus, train, coach—when I don’t even have a car in the United States is the best feeling! I can go places without relying on anyone or anything.
Making mistakes can be terrifying. Missing the train by a minute, confusing the pronunciation of two very different words (la bière et le beurre are not to be mistaken), not knowing the most polite way to interact in a new social circumstance; these are all mistakes I have made, with plenty of room to make more.
Here, I am a learner and an observer. I am constantly opening new doors for myself. I am learning how to tell my story in a new language and a new culture. There is nothing in this world quite so exhilarating.
If you’re considering studying abroad, and you’re anything like me, you’re going to be a mix of so many emotions all at once. It will not always be easy. You might find yourself sad on Halloween night because the French don’t celebrate your favorite holiday the way you’d like. You’ll miss your dog. You’ll look through Facebook and Snapchat stories and miss all of your friends and favorite campus events. But then, sometimes you’ll decide to take yourself out on a date, get a takeaway kebab and watch the sunset from a gorgeous spot in town. You’ll find yourself gaining confidence each time you interact with a native speaker. When you go even just a little out of your comfort zone, you will find out so much more about yourself. You will find your home.
This experience, to borrow from a favorite novel, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," makes me feel infinite. It’s moments like wandering through the Chateau in Caen and stumbling on a breath taking view of the city. It’s the freedom to walk into a grocery store and buy a baguette, some Camembert, and cidre for dinner, because why not? It’s the butterflies I got while watching the most gorgeous sunset on the ferry as we were docking in England. It’s a successful interaction with a native while speaking entirely in French. It’s a Sunday morning at the market eating mussels for the first time (they were NOT my favorite, but I’m glad I tried them). It’s a weekend afternoon, skipping rocks against the waves and learning new phrases in Indonesian from your friends. It’s feeling small, standing at the top of the Arc de Triomphe looking down at the busy, beautifully planned streets of Paris below. It’s making new friends who come from all across the globe. It’s dinners with my host family and sharing stories. It's seeing how small your problems are when you begin to look at life from a global perspective. It’s getting ice cream and playing on the rocks at Saint Malo because sometimes I wish I could be a kid again. It’s finding Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in the National Gallery in London and being so happy I could cry. It’s going out to a discotheque with my host mom and her friends and watching people dance to Nicki Minaj remixes on a dance floor made of sand. (Yes, that actually happened). It’s everything I could want it to be and more.
Studying here is the more incredible and exhilarating thing I have ever chosen to do in my life. It has opened my heart to so many people, opportunities, and beautiful sights. This experience evoked the traveller and the dreamer in me. It’s not ever perfect, but always an adventure and I’m so excited to wake up and see what each day may bring.
So this is for you… If you’re considering studying abroad, if you’re hesitant, if you are uncertain… Take the risk. Apply to the program. Book that flight. This is one decision that you will cherish for a lifetime. The world awaits you.
