In my junior year of college, I caught myself scrolling through Instagram from Arizona State University's smaller satellite campus library, living vicariously through my old high school acquaintances whose ambitions were greater than their fear of the unknown.
Sangria in Spain, cobblestone alleys in France, and Castles in Scotland littered my feed and consumed my thoughts. Suddenly, the dreamy photos I saw in magazines and books or the scenic storyline of a movie morphed into an actual possibility, and the once fleeting thought of "Maybe one day" became "Why not today?" I decided once and for all, after a dare from a friend, to take the plunge.
I don't think when I made the decision that I thought I would actually go through with it, more so I expected to do some research, submit an application or two, and then find an excuse that kept me from diving all the way in. I thought to myself, "This is going to be way too expensive." "I could hate the roommates I get." "What if I get sick? What if something happens while I'm gone?" Lucky for me, I was surrounded by pushers, and every doubt that clouded my dreams was wiped clean by a solution, right down to the very morning I boarded the plane. I was left with no excuses and only a decision.
That decision changed my entire life.
When I tell people that, they laugh and give me that look. The one that says "You studied abroad, WE GET IT," but the sad truth is, so many people don't. I won't lie and say there weren't a few hurdles before reaching the finish line of the best semester of my life, but what I gained from it was not only the strength and knowledge that comes from overcoming those hurdles but the freedom that accompanies pure, unadulterated liberation. Too often people overlook studying abroad because they assume it's too expensive, too far, or just not worth the commitment. The hard truth is, it's none of those things.
Think of it in simple steps:
Step 1: GET A PASSPORT
Step 2: Research programs/locations
Step 3: Apply to programs
Step 4: Make a decision
Step 5: Plan to be away
Step 7: Get on the Plane
Step 8: Open yourself up to new experiences
Every program and location is different, so while I could walk you through the specifics of how to best prepare, and what to do when you arrive, those will likely vary from person to person, program to program. What I can tell you is what I learned and how I evolved after completing my program.
Probably the most idealistic thing I learned from my time abroad is that sometimes the most unnerving decision can lead to the greatest experience. As a once categorically glass-half-empty kind of gal, the idea that the worst-case scenario wasn't going to become my reality was far-fetched, and as it turned out, entirely false. I had an incredible program, filled with excursions and group activities that created relationships and memories that I still over-share at dinner parties (and first dates, and blog posts) six years later. It's the kind of feel-good story you can't ever imagine actually happening to you, and maybe romanticizing the fear behind the decision amplifies the vindication of the experience itself. However, I still stand by it being the decision I've ever made.
While in the program I don't think I realized just how much I was changing. I was too blinded by weekend trips with friends, immersing myself in a foreign education system, and dreading my flight home that it wasn't until a month or two of re-acclimating to "home" that I was able to see the growth in myself. At this stage in my life, I'd moved out on my own, but still in my hometown, so relying on others for help was innate. After spending a semester 5,500 miles away from said "others," I quickly realized that those problems were only going to be solved by solutions of my own. If I got lost, or needed to assemble something silly, make an appointment, etc. I couldn't call my entourage for help. It forced me to become a natural thinker, where my first reaction to a minor setback wasn't making a phone call, it was strapping on my boots and embracing the good old-fashioned "Trial and Error" method. One day at a time, I was transforming from dependent to independent, and to this day it is the most profound "life lesson" I have had the pleasure of learning. I'm no longer fazed by a faulty dryer or the daunting task of learning how to properly hang-dry your clothes (yes, there is a better way).
Life lessons mean many things, though, and I think the psycho-social aspect of them is less noticeable; making friends, embracing change, and being open to new experiences. I would have previously described myself as an optimistically closed-off kind of person. I didn't really have any desire to do much outside of my "zone." I moved out of my childhood home to an apartment less than three miles away, and then a year later into a different one one mile closer. I had relatively the same friends, I kept the same job, etc. I was comfortable. Uprooting myself for a semester was a challenge I chose to embrace, and through that, I learned more than I could have imagined about acceptance, on all levels. Learning to appreciate other cultures, backgrounds, cuisines, and traditions forced my mind to expand to a distance greater than three square miles. I realized I didn't really like certain things, and I couldn't imagine living life without others (shoutout Cadbury, Hersheys could NEVER). My political views shifted, my social circle expanded, and my appreciation for the planet that housed so many beautiful landscapes and such a diverse population overflowed. I didn't just think outside of the box, I left the box, and I realized that life outside of it was BIG.
Since my semester abroad, I've traveled even more. I craved the feeling you get when you come across something beautiful, be it people, scenery, or the smell of food that literally leaves you drooling. I've spent more than a collective three months exploring new places, cultures, and regions, including over 10 countries, three continents, and some 35 flights. Much like studying abroad, traveling can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! It's much more affordable and attainable than people presume, and if you leave this blog learning anything I hope it's that.
Take the plunge. Book the flight. Explore. And if you happen to get the opportunity to study while you do, don't second guess it.
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