We’re all students of life. But, there’s something about being in foreign countries that forces you to learn a lot, really quickly. More importantly, you learn from mistakes. And, I sure made my share over in Europe. Here are a few things I learned from my six weeks abroad.

  • Cobblestone is pretty but is not your friend. You can trip and fall in sneakers. No one’s safe.
  • Traveling alone is liberating and invigorating. I came into the program only really vaguely knowing a few people. At first, I was a bit apprehensive. I was worried about being alone in a new place where I don’t really speak the language. (Knowing Spanish only gets you so far in Italy.) I met friends and had people to travel with for the most part, but there were plenty of times where I had to explore new places by myself. I didn’t always know where I was going. I didn’t always know what I was doing. I had a few hiccups trying to communicate with the locals. However, I found my way. I figured out what was going on. I got my point across and understood what I needed to. It was so rewarding.
  • When you do travel with others, you don’t have to love the people you travel with. I’ve learned how to work with people I have conflicting ideology with. However, travel seems more intimate. You’re sharing a living space. You’re navigating a new city without knowing the language of the country. There’s no escape until you get back. But, you don’t have to be attached at the hip all the time. Space can be necessary at times. Also, despite differences, you all have the same underlying goal: enjoy the city and get back safely. With that understanding, I learned to look past all of the snafus that arose.
  • Double check everything. There might be a flight going out at the same exact time as yours, going to the same exact airport, that isn’t yours. Additionally, there may be 3 major airports in a city. Telling a taxi driver “go to the airport” may not be enough. Two missed flights later (on the same weekend trip too) and I will always be double checking every little detail.
  • Always carry small change on you. In Italy, most things are cash based. You also have to pay to use some restrooms. I had to essentially beg for money from strangers because I didn’t have enough coins to cover the 1€ bathroom fee.
  • It’s okay to take time to rest. At first, I went non-stop. I wanted to do everything, and I knew I had a very short time to do it. What even is sleep? I’ll sleep when I’m dead. But, my body started shutting down after a few weeks of no sleep. I learned to give myself permission to rest because I could do more when I have a good night’s sleep.
  • Don’t bother trying to stay healthy in Italy. Yes, you will eat too many carbs. And, yes, you will get gelato afterward. But, that is a-okay.