I sat between two Spaniards, fastening the buckle of my lap belt, with a dead phone wedged between my legs. Carbonated bubbles clung to the side of a small plastic cup on my lap tray. The monitor popped on with an image of the Atlantic Ocean, a little blue plane on a dashed line outlined our nine-hour flight.
Studying abroad has been one of the most enriching experiences not only of my college career, but of my life thus far.
No one person, guide book, or seminar can truly prepare you for the adventure you are about to embark on. In my opinion, this is a good thing. Regardless of how many times you've been on a plane, boat, etc., you know that the journey will be different. No matter how many times you've packed and unpacked you'll still have that unspoken struggle of either "I know I forgot something" or "I'm taking way too much." And although you've looked at a map more times in the last month than you probably did in any middle school geography course, you'll still forget just how far away you truly are from the land of stars and stripes.
So here's my bit of advice to you, world traveler: Embrace the unknown. Whether you are just south of the States, spending your days in the heart of Aboriginal culture, or backpacking through the living history book that is Europe, expect the unexpected.
Know that the world is not bad. With so many negative news casts, water warnings and natural disasters, it can be hard not to be a bit afraid of your new environment. Cultural differences, language barriers and new layouts are enough to make one feel a bit discouraged. Knowing fewer people, being unable to call home at a normal time and not knowing how to pronounce the words for your dinner might make you feel isolated. The saying "You are not alone" applies quite well here. While there are people who will try to scam you, situations to be aware of and hesitations to have about your new environment, know that it is OK to ask for help.
Help will be given to those who ask for it, whether you are at Hogwarts or not.
Make sure you are always comfortable, to an extent. I lost my group the first morning we were in San Sebastian, Spain. A situation such as this can be a bit overwhelming when you have no Internet access or way to call your instructor. But being in day light, knowing how to get back to home base and having what you need on you will bring you a great deal of security.
Know when to go alone. I won't advise that you abandon your group as I did, or leave your buddy in the bathroom when you hear an ice cream truck a block away or wake up at 4 a.m. and decide to go for a jet-lagged stroll rather than falling back asleep. But I will advise you to be confident in yourself, check out the sights you want to see, take the road less traveled every now and then and always remember to trust your instinct.
Figure out your group and know when you want to spend time with them. It didn't take long for me to see that a majority of the people accompanying me enjoyed going out. That meant that I needed to have something to do when I was the one staying in, I had to know where to grab breakfast when I was the only one awake at a normal hour, and I had to be ready for a good time and a long night when I joined them. Know when to say no, take care of yourself and always have a few sudoku puzzles or a good book on hand.
If I'm going to tell you to know when to say no, I should also encourage you to say yes. Being in a new place brings with it many new experiences. While saying yes might mean you wasted a day, it might also mean having the time of your life, figuring out what the locals enjoy, or discovering something new about yourself.
Most importantly, have fun! Studying abroad truly is a once in a lifetime experience, so get the most out of it that you can. More people will be wanting to hear about your travels than you might expect, so go out and make some memories to share and stories to tell.
