Traveling abroad is one of the greatest decisions I have made in my undergraduate studies. Over this last J-Term, I traveled to Germany and saw some incredible things. I didn't screw up on packing and my airport experience went extremely smoothly. Coming back, however, left me longing for more. Having been back for a few days, I realized that there was a lot about Europe that I didn't know, going into the trip, and this made it much harder to fully appreciate where I was until later on in the trip. So for those of you who have yet to study abroad, here is a helpful list of some things you need to know before traveling to Europe.
1. Water isn't free.
This is the big one. However much money you bring with you on your trip, make sure that you have enough to keep yourself hydrated. Not only is water not free at restaurants, it is typically rather expensive. If you have a fear of tap water, get over it.
Your personal water bottle is going to be your best friend by the time you return to America.
2. Don't be afraid to be a tourist.
Europe has a rich and storied history, and as a tourist, basically the only thing you're responsible for is experiencing it. During my time in Germany, I walked through cathedrals that are three times older than the United States. I stood where historical figures that lived lifetimes ago stood. I took more pictures than I know what to do with and I did all of it without knowing a lick of German.
Yes, you're going to stick out like a sore thumb and you're going to get weird looks almost everywhere you go, but the sooner you come to accept that, the more fun you'll have. If you let this stop you from doing something fun, seeing a landmark or experiencing the culture of the country you're in, you'll only regret it. Do as much as you can, who knows when you'll be back.
3. Leave your comfort zone in America.
My second night in Germany, I was offered pickled pig's foot at a restaurant by our hostel. I almost declined, but in the end, I ordered it. it was one of the best foods I ate for the entire two weeks. When studying abroad in Europe or anywhere, you will be confronted with many things that put you way outside of your comfort zone, but these are the times when you have the opportunity to have the most fun.
Later on in the trip, I tried a calf's liver in a restaurant that was 700 feet up a tower. These types of things are experiences that I might never have again, so when presented with something that would normally make me cringe, I powered through and had a ton of fun doing it.
4. Hostels aren't scary.
Ever since Eli Roth released the horror film "Hostel" back in 2005, the very idea of staying in one terrifies most Americans. However, there are really very few differences between a European hostel and an American hotel. In the end, you get what you pay for. If you select a cheap and sketchy hostel, expect a cheap and sketchy stay.
We ended up staying in a nicer hostel, and everyone in my group absolutely loved it. The lounge and lobby were constantly filled with people from all walks of life and from a dozen different countries. The melting pot of different cultures that the hostel provided was one of my favorite parts of the trip.
5. You're going to want to go back, and nothing is stopping you.
Europe is an incredible place, and each country is vastly different. Coming back to America, you're almost definitely going to want to return. If you can swing it monetarily, don't let anything stop you. As college students, we're at a point where these opportunities are practically thrown at us. These kinds of experiences will not continue to arise for much longer, so it's important that we snap them up as soon as possible.
