After having several friends ask me recently for advice or tips I learned from my study abroad experience in Florence, Italy, I wanted to compile a list of some helpful hints and things to know about studying abroad.   

1. If you don’t speak the language there, it’s okay! Most Europeans speak a good amount of English– enough to communicate, anyway. You’ll also pick up common words and phrases during your time there. I did not know a single word of Italian prior to my trip, but it worked out fine.

2.Bring a credit or debit card to withdraw money out of ATMs. You can go to places to exchange your American cash, but there is a fee that they charge you to switch out your money– so you’re losing money.

3. If you’re studying abroad in a big city, be prepared for the nightlife. If there are a lot of other American students studying there too, you’ll all be able to meet each other and connect over being able to speak the same language. Bring clothes for going out. 

4. Bring a large cross-body purse that has a zipper to close it. The pickpockets over there are skilled, so I’ve heard (though I never had any issues with that). These pickpockets dress in suits and look like professional businessmen, so don’t trust just anyone. 

5. European men are much more expressive and passionate than American men. Girls, be prepared to hear catcalls and have local men shouting at you about how beautiful you are. Is it creepy, or flattering? You decide. 

6. Bring a reusable water bottle to carry with you. Water bottles there are not always as easy to find as in America and they are more expensive, too. And most places do not serve or give out tap water. 

7. Obviously the food in Europe is different than in America. If you’re ridiculously picky like me, you might just have to be adventurous and be willing to try new things. After all, you’re going to be there for a while! 

8. No matter where you’re going, you’ll need a voltage converter and/or adapter plug. These devices are required for any electronic item you bring, from laptop and cell phone chargers to hair dryers. You can buy these at places like Best Buy, Brookstone, REI and Walmart. 

9. It may also be a smart idea to invest in an inexpensive hair straightener while you are there (since you’ll be there for awhile). You can bring your own from home, but you risk overheating or frying it (and who wants to ruin their nice Chi?). I got one while I was away and it was definitely a good decision.

10.Splitting checks is not customary in Europe. Even if you ask them to split it, they won’t do it. Many places also add a service charge to the cost of your meal. Tipping is also less important abroad. You can either leave a small tip or leave no tip at all, if there is a service charge. 

11.Since you obviously won’t have your car with you, what do you do in terms of transportation? In general, you can just walk– just like how New York or LA or any other big city is designed for pedestrians. When I was abroad, we usually walked between three and seven miles a day– our legs were so sore for the first week, but you’ll get used to it quickly! You can also call a taxi if you are traveling a farther distance or if you just get tired of walking. If you want to take a weekend trip somewhere, trains or inexpensive flights are the best options. These are very common in Europe. 

12. Here’s the truth about hostels: they are (generally) not like what you see in the Liam Neeson movie "Taken." Now I wouldn’t recommend staying there alone if you are a girl, but if you’re in a big group, hostels are not bad. They can even be fun! 

13.I’m not totally sure about other countries, but Italy certainly does meal time differently than America. Dinners at restaurants can be hours long as they want you to take time to enjoy every part of the meal and spend time conversing with your friends. Because of this, the waiters don’t automatically bring you the check when you finish eating. You have to call over to your waiter and request it. 

14. Many countries have this magical time of day known as “siesta hours.” This time gives workers and employees a chance to go home and rest, take a nap or enjoy a long lunch. For a few hours every afternoon, businesses, shops and restaurants close. Personally, I think this is a routine that America needs to adopt as well. 

15.Keep in mind that there are no Chipotles, Chick-fil-As or Dr Pepper in (most parts of) Europe. Get ready to try new things and adapt to the new culture you are in. 

16. Air conditioningis a luxury. If it’s summertime and sweltering outside, you will be praising the Lord if you happen to find a place that has air conditioning. Most nights (before we finally got about five fans), our apartment was literally 95-100 degrees. That part is miserable, but hey, if you have to be AC-less somewhere, at least you’re in Europe. 

17.It is unfortunately true that in many places abroad you have to pay to use the restroom. Most places also require that you pay for bottles of water at restaurants, rather than getting free tap water. And FYI, there’s no ice in the drinks either. 

18.It’s basically a fact that European drivers are horrible. They swerve constantly, speed excessively and do not pay attention, similar to New York drivers. This is not really a tip, just something to be aware of. 

19. Packingis definitely a daunting task when preparing to study abroad. With suitcase weight limits on airplanes and the fees to bring multiple bags, it’s hard to figure out what to bring, what to leave behind and how to pack it most efficiently.

• Suitcase: take a large suitcase with those wheels that can spin and turn in any direction. If your suitcase is black, tie a colored ribbon or tape some colored duct tape to the handle.
• Carry-on bag: pack more items into a duffel bag, backpack or small suitcase with wheels. This will be what you use if you take short trips. Put an extra outfit in this bag, along with things like contacts and toiletries (in case your luggage is lost).
• Personal item: bring a purse, tote bag or backpack. In here you can put things you will use on the airplane (books, magazines, snacks, earbuds or anything else).
• Make sure to leave room somewhere for any souvenirs you might bring back!
• General items to pack: multiple pairs of jeans, dresses or skirts (modest), versatile shirts and tops that can go with many outfits, rain jacket, light sweater, many pairs of socks and underwear (since you can only wear these things once), sturdy and comfortable shoes such as tennis shoes or Ked’s, a pair or two of sandals (unless you’re going somewhere cold or during the winter), jewelry that matches with anything.
• Random items to pack: an umbrella, mini packets of laundry detergent, scissors, a towel, sunglasses, dry shampoo, portable phone charger, reusable water bottle.

I hope this list will be a help to you if you are planning to study abroad sometime soon! If you have any other questions about studying abroad (or, more specifically, about the Baylor in Florence trip), feel free to email me at Emilie_Sims@baylor.edu.