I like to think that I am made for adventure, that at any given moment, I can spontaneously hop aboard a plane to anywhere and see the world. This need for adventure started when I was young and has only grown over time. Many of you, I’m sure, feel the same longing for distant places and the opportunity to discover hidden treasures, like the cozy little coffee shop on a dreary day in London, or that perfectly hidden beach on the coast of Italy. The charm will sweep you off your feet, only to return you to the cracked sidewalks of your less charming college town.
To anyone who is pondering whether or not to take a semester off to see the world, the answer is yes. Seeing the world changes you. I left last semester to spend three months in Cape Town, South Africa, and it changed me. It’s hard to put into words the feelings of returning to the States, but I’ll do my best to try.
It's reverse culture shock. This is what happens when a place that used to be home doesn’t feel like home anymore. Circumstances, experiences, and transformation leave you confused and unsettled in places that were once a haven to you. The place you’ve been living with sets off your “home-a-meter,” for lack of a better (or legitimate) term. South Africa did its magic and worked its way deep into my heart. Ask anyone who has left to go abroad, and they’ll assure you that when they returned, a part of them was missing.
Here’s the truth to invalidate some misconceptions about study abroad:
Misconception: You'll experience serious FOMO, also known as fear of missing out, and also known as not experiencing the trip of a lifetime because you don’t want to miss out on all the good things going down in your college town.
Truth: You get to have the time of your life while your friends back home are studying harder and having less fun than you are.
Misconception: Traveling alone is scary and dangerous.
Truth: Traveling alone builds independence, teaches you legitimate skills (like what to do when you miss your flight), and is more fun than you would think.
Misconception: I can’t afford study abroad.
Truth: It’s actually not as expensive as you may think if you do it right. Ask people who have gone before you for advice. Buy the good travel books. Avoid being a tourist and try to find the hidden places and the local hot spots. Befriending locals always makes for a lot of interesting conversations.
Misconception: It won’t work with my major.
Truth: It probably will. If it doesn’t, change your major. (Just kidding, kind of).
To be honest, studying abroad was the best and worst thing I could have done. Best, because I had the time of my life, and worst, because it turned my world upside down. Putting myself out there wrecked me, in a good way. I began to see people in a different way, watching as a melting pot of cultures made its way as a society. After watching a broad spectrum of people from every walk of life, I feel confident that I can overcome any obstacle, dodge every hurdle, and make it the best way I know how. Seeing real people out and about in the world doing real things and solving real problems, you will get a better picture of what the world is and how you can best be a part of shaping it.
Take a few months, get outside your bubble, and watch as all you thought you knew turns into the vast opportunity of who you can become. I promise, it'll be worth it.
