Studying abroad is one of those things that unless you actually do it, it's difficult to completely understand. Yes, you possess a vague and dreamy mental image: traveling every weekend, learning new cultures, and experiencing some huge personal revelation. You have seen the montage of beautiful abroad pics, heard the gushing recaps of how amazing and life changing it is, and perhaps you thought to yourself, “Wow, I would really love to do that." At least, that's how my train of thought went.
The truth is, studying abroad is just as much real life as anywhere else. While it's absolutely and truly amazing to be able to travel and see so many amazing places, it isn't always pure rainbows and sunshine. You never hear about homesickness or any of the other downsides that come along with studying abroad; you only ever hear about how amazing it is. No one is going to come back from Europe after four months and tell you they had an awful time, because how absurd does that sound? That just makes you sound ungrateful and spoiled, after spending four months in Europe.
I have met people so in love with their program they look like they are on cloud nine, talking about Sevilla like it's the absolute abroad dream and planning their future move to Spain. I have also met people who feel the pangs of homesickness so much so that it affects them every day. I have met others just cruising along, loving some moments and loathing others, but taking it as it goes each day. It's different for everyone, and I think that that the popular ideal of “abroad" kind of sets you up for disappointment. Because while studying abroad can be pretty magical, it's not some fairytale four months that changes you the instant you step on foreign soil.
That being said, Sevilla and study abroad is everything I need in my life right now. I love Michigan, but this semester I needed to not be at Michigan. So, yes, studying abroad is jaw-dropping historical monuments, weekend trips to fabulous places, and nights out at insane four-floored clubs. But it's also quiet afternoons, reading and napping at the park with nowhere to be. It's heading out the door on a Saturday morning and wandering in and out of cute, tucked-away shops on narrow winding streets until dusk. It's striking up a conversation with a stranger and then meeting up with them again in another country. It's having nothing to do, but being able to do anything and everything you want to -- whether that's watch six episodes of Friends and fall asleep at 10 p.m., or hop on a bus to Portugal because Portugal seems like a pretty cool place to go.
Studying abroad can be anything you want it to be, but it isn't on its own. It's your ability to make of it what you wish that's so special.
