I spent my first year of college in Milan, Italy and these are a few things that I think could be useful for anyone considering spending some time in Europe.
Europe is one of those awesome places that you cant believe exists because somehow you can get a last minute plane ticket from Italy to England for $80 but flying from Florida to New York costs an arm, a leg, and the soul of your first born child.
The first thing you do when you are studying abroad in Europe is plan as many trips as possible. See everything you can because each country and each city has something special about it that makes it different. Unlike visiting cities in the U.S., which can get very predictable. For example, you can always expect to find a Wal-Mart and a mall. Most American cities fall into this cookie cutter category.
Now, access to travel is amazing in Europe because things are so much cheaper. I honestly don’t know why it is (ask an economist if you really want to know why) but just take advantage of this opportunity and get out there. See the world, people.
Don’t be afraid to be a tourist. Places that are popular are popular cause they’re amazing. Take as many pictures to your heart’s content. I encourage you to shamelessly take a photo that looks like you’re holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Rub Juliet’s boob in Verona, visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, and take a ride in the London Eye. Yes, the locals will hardcore judge you but as long as you are having an good time, it doesn’t matter what Jacques from Paris thinks of you as you take 20 million photos of yourself in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Introduce yourself to people. No matter where you are going to school you will easily make friends. Most Europeans I have met love Americans…unless they are English because they are somehow still a little butt-hurt about the Revolution and whatnot.
Don’t plan on doing anything on Sundays. Most European cities use it as a day of rest, shops will be closed and no one works. Sunday is a day to spend relaxing and enjoying time with family and friends. And no, there is no such thing as a 24 hour convenience store, so be prepared for anything.
Explore where you are staying, there is nothing like discovering little places that make you fall in love with the city. Find a favorite coffee shop, restaurant, or boutique that make you feel at home away from home.
Going off of that, try new foods. Don’t hesitate to try the local cuisine. It will not kill you. Europe was around thousands of years before America was “discovered” and they have been eating their food for just as long. Just take into account that the average European is healthier than the average American. It’s like as Americans we come from this sheltered world of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the crusts cut off and we go over to Europe and instead of expanding our culinary palette we just eat at McDonalds (which is everywhere, by the way). Use the money you save from cheap travelling on nice places for meals.
Where ever you stay and wherever you go, once you return you are going to have a new worldview. You are going to feel homesick but just think, you will have the opportunity to experience more of the earth that we live in and its awesome humans. I appreciate the world I live in so much more now because of my time spent abroad. I learned a lot and I had a blast and I would do it all over again if I could.
