I'm really not the person to talk about trying new things and definitely not someone who should tell you to do it. I hate trying out anything beyond my ordinary from food to regular activities. But the most important thing you need to do when studying abroad is trying new things. You're going to have the chance to be apart of things you've never heard of before. As long as it isn't too far past your comfort zone, you need to take risks when you visit different areas. This past summer I was magically able to push my fear of the unknown behind me and do all kinds of different things and it was the best decision I've ever made. These are the areas you should take risks in and also where you should place boundaries to help amp up your travel experiences.

The first thing we need to talk about is the food. If you are going to a country to learn a language or never plan on picking up some new words, picking items on the menu can be terrifying. You don't really know what your meal will be and often waiters will just pick out what they want to share with you. I only had one English menu the whole month I was gone and no experience reading Arabic or French. It was either french fries or big surprise till I got the hang of the language. Letting people surprise me with food (assuming it wouldn't bug my food allergy) made this trip absolutely amazing. Whether it was vendors giving my strange fruit or a meal where the sides are cooked in the same pot as the main dish, not a day goes by that I don't miss tajine or couscous because of biting into new experiences.

When it comes to food, I say I do eat what people in that region recommend, it is probably amazing. If you don't like it, at least you were able to partake in a part of a different traditional life. Also, consider the region you're in when ordering. Shrimp Alfredo will be amazing on the coast where the shrimp was caught that day. But if you eat it in the desert you might get sick.

The next key area of trying new things when studying abroad is the individual adventures and activities you'll be offered. Cooking classes and mountain hikes are easy to say yes to. Communal bathhouses or spending the night in the desert? A little bit scarier. You have to find out how far past your comfort zone you can go without ruining experiences for yourself. Instead of saying no to something you normally wouldn't do, set boundaries for when you want to take a break or even stop the activity. Communal bathhouses can be very fun and relaxing, but you can make it more familiar by wearing a swimsuit or washing yourself.

Often the people who are guiding you through these experiences have alternate ways of doing them. You don't have to say no to something like surfing, say you need help and most likely someone will take the time to ensure you have fun. My lack of swimming skills pushed me away from the idea of surfing, but the instructors spent 30 minutes showing me how to swim out of waves and it turned into a trip highlight. Basically, you don't have to miss out on something you really want to do. And if you absolutely do not want to try something new, that is totally okay.

Now the most important thing to do when preparing for all these new things is research where you are traveling to. Going to certain places might not be the right experience for you. If you don't like so many new things, traveling to a country that is the total opposite of where you live probably isn't a good idea. Before you apply for a program make sure you are going to feel comfortable during the time you're there. I wanted to feel like I was in a different place and have every moment different from my home life, so I chose a program in the Middle East and North African region.

If you are wanting your experience to match up to what you're familer with but still have a great experience, then look for programs that have points of familiarity so you don't constantly feel like you're doing something new. Studying abroad can be the most incredible experience is you're able to do it. You're going to have to try new things and take risks, get a good idea of those before you leave.