Study abroad experiences are weird, mystical things. The idea alone is fairly exhilarating; just imagine being let loose for weeks or semesters at a time in a new city or country to learn, all while you pick up school credit.

“Studying” in a new city creates this unique pit in your stomach as there is this grand allure to being away from campus and experiencing a new place but you’re also torn up about missing friends, events, chess club meetings, whatever strikes your fancy.

Despite this internal confliction, you must ultimately realize how seriously incredible the opportunity is in a lot of ways.

I’m currently taking part in my third experience away from campus while “attending” school and now, being over halfway into this program, I feel like there has been three consistent themes I’ve picked up on. Unfortunately though, I can’t remember any program coordinator talking to me about these…although……I have a terrible memory……and I’m not a great listener.

Jeremy’s Study Abroad Tips For Whomever Decided To Make It This Far Into The Article

1. Pick the right place for you.

If you’re about to take this plunge into the unknown for the first time or the 5th time, don’t necessarily pick the place all of your friends are going. While that might be fun for a while, when your honeymoon phase with a new city expires, a lot of truth will be placed right before your eyes. So long as you choose to explore and discover the area around you, you’ll know if it is a place you actually genuinely enjoy. If you are choosing places you might actually want to possibly end up, that becomes an incredibly rewarding addition to the experience. In perspective, you are being rewarded by your school for testing your own perceived “wants.” Beyond the place you’re in, you’ll discover a lot about whoever you’re with (even if it’s just you and yourself), and in a way that’s one of the biggest rewards you can have. Which leads me to my next point…

2. The city or country you choose to visit will change you, and that’s okay

There’s a clear difference between cultures in different countries and cities. You’ll likely have some sort of idea as to what you’re getting into. My “abroad” (off-campus) experiences have taken place in Atlanta, London, and San Francisco. Needless to say, there are definitely differences and similarities between these cultures and the same could be said for my preparation for each of these programs. When you sign up for these experiences, they might be described a little bit in some meeting or posting, but after you have resided in one of these places for over a month, you’ll start to try and adapt, if you haven’t already. It’s important to know that changing is okay. It’s human nature. We try to adapt and find comfort in new and uncomfortable situations. What’s more important is to reflect and decide if this is good or bad for you. The beautiful part is once the program is over, you’ll either miss the place so much that you will do anything to find your way back or you’ll be back at home or school and realize that you don’t have to go back.

[insert quick remedy/analogy about “Choose Your Adventure” books]

3. There’s no way to prepare for what you’re about to experience, so, just give into it

No matter who you may talk to, what anybody might say, or the preparation the general college speakers provide, there is not a chance in hell you could ever predict what will happen. In just one day, I crashed a wedding and fed a lemur, not at the same time, but still crazy random things. Both I did while seeing a new city. Not to mention, during the same abroad trip, for five weeks, I was with my ex-girlfriend along with all of her friends (not an ex- when I signed on to go, I’m stupid but not that stupid) while it was perceived that I was seeing someone else on the trip that was living in her house that was not only already living with my ex- and being pumped full of biased nonsense, but had a boyfriend at home…………..(talk about studying “a broad”) [rim shot]

Needless to say, little goes to plan. The sooner you can accept it, go with it, and be yourself. The better your time will be.

If you can do that while taking serious advantage of the place you’re in, you will come home having learned something and with stories to tell.