I've been blessed with the opportunity to study in Argentina this upcoming spring semester. Here are many of the things I've been experiencing these past few months leading up to my trip, ones that my other soon-to-be international student friends also talk about.

1. Choking in a tangle of red tape. I'm sure the hassle of college applications is a relatively recent memory that you'd like to forget. Well, try applying to a college halfway around the world! Not only do you have to apply to the college in general, to their international program, and to your school's study abroad program, but you also need to get things straightened out with your passport, any visas needed, and other lovely documents related to international travel. Luckily, in my situation, I don't need to worry about applying for a visa until I arrive, but I've heard some horror stories from other friends who weren't so fortunate.

2. Packing up all of your things at school. While most of my friends were packing a few bags and only having to surface clean their room before Christmas break, I was totally hunkering down. I had to move all of my things out completely and scrub what felt like every inch of my part of the room because it had to be ready for a transfer student to move in at the start of the new semester. Oh, and this happened at the end of finals week when my schedule was already hectic, so I didn't end up cleaning my room and packing my car, all by myself, until 2 AM, just hours before my morning checkout. Look at that, my adventures in independence were starting already.

3. Stalking your future town of residence on Pinterest. I have an entire board labeled "Voy a estudiar en Argentina" (which I don't need to translate because who didn't take Spanish 1 in high school?) and it isn't uncommon for me to spend time wistfully repinning pictures of Buenos Aires, the large city where I will live. The colors, the sights! It all looks so beautiful, and I can't wait to see it all for myself.

4. Travel-induced stress. I've travelled alone to Europe, so the prospect of travelling alone anywhere excites rather than intimidates me. Still, I know how stressful travelling can be, because sometimes, everything that can go wrong, does. Maybe your first flight is late, causing you to miss your connecting one. Maybe Delta suffers a worldwide computer-system crash, leaving your family stranded in Rome after spending 10+ hours running around an airport with no idea what is happening (possibly speaking from experience). The possibilities of things that can go wrong are endless.

5. Being nervous about meeting your host family. I've heard great things about the couple I'll be staying with, and am connected with them on Facebook. Still, adjusting to any new household dynamic and way of living can be sticky!

6. Saying goodbye to friends. I have made some really amazing friends this semester, and it's sad knowing that we will be going our separate ways, making memories apart from each other. Luckily, through social media and technology, we can keep each other up-to-date on each others' happenings.

7. Having to miss out on things back at home. I have a few friends getting married, whose weddings I will have to miss because they'll occur before I get home. This year will be the first one, since sixth grade, that I haven't performed in my school's spring musical. I'm having to forgo up the opportunity for a public accounting internship, and the most ideal time to have one is the spring of your junior year, which is exactly when I'll be gone. There are some pretty big opportunity costs here, all of which I accept but none of which I am thrilled about.

8. Working like crazy to save money! Not only do you want to be able to pay for your trip and have spending money, but you also won't be earning anything while you're gone. That's why I pick up all the extra shifts I can!

9. Freaking out about safety. I still have to go out and buy a plain, boring purse that won't attract attention and cause me to get mugged (which has happened to some of my friends abroad), I've been to enough big cities, domestically and internationally, (heck, I grew up outside Detroit!) to know to be street smart, and have that ethnically ambiguous look that causes me to blend in most places I go, but I still am partially convinced that I'll get kidnapped. I've made all my friends promise that they'll chip in to pay my ransom, and it's cute that they think I'm totally joking.

10. Having absolutely NO IDEA what to pack. What's their style there? What can I bring that would be fashionable? Wait, I don't want to stand out, for safety reasons. What can I bring that will be plain and non-flashy? Will I be able to survive five months in plain, non-flashy clothes that don't stand out? That's contrary to my nature. What's their climate like? Don't forget to account for the gifts you'll bring them, and all the hair/beauty supplies you should bring! Packing has never been my forte. I haven't even completely unpacked my things from college!

11. Worrying about the food there. I don't think the Argentine food will be difficult to adjust to, because they keep it bland (they even consider ketchup to be spicy, I've heard). But they LOVE mayo, and put it on everything. Anyone who knows me knows that I refer to mayo as the "downfall of humanity". I can't stand it, and have even considered telling people I have an "emotional allergy" to it, just so they know that it is very important that I never receive any on a sandwich or burger. *shudders*

12. Trying to account for all the details. Don't forget to bring the correct wall plug converters, and be mindful of watts so you don't fry your flat iron--get a transformer or two. Does your bank know you'll be abroad, and what's the fee for using ATMS? Where are you planning on exchanging money? Have you switched your phone plan? Wait, why can't you find anything on Amazon.com about international Prime shipping? Is Amazon Prime even an international thing? How will you survive without being able to order anything you need and have it show up two days later?

If you feel like you're losing your mind trying to think of every single random thing you'll need, you're not alone. Real talk: you probably won't think of every single random thing you'll need. Welcome to the world of travel, bud.

13. Attempting to do maximize your last few weeks at home. There are so many people I want to see before I leave! There are so many dishes I want to enjoy one last time because I won't get them when I'm gone!

14. Being forced to ignore every Type A tendency you've got. "Laid back" is a term that has never, ever been used to describe me, and if you can relate, then I'm sure the ambiguity surrounding your entire trip is messin' with your head.

15. Wondering if you'll even make it there alive. One of my flights is on a tiny propeller plane; I've heard that they assign your seat when you get on the plane so the weight is evenly distributed. If my claustrophobia doesn't kick into high gear during that flight, I still might die of boredom on the next one, which is ten hours long.

16. Having it "hit" you. For the longest time, I was numb. I was so busy preparing for my trip but hadn't really processed it. My trip has always seemed so far in the future that it never really resonated with me that I'd be gone so long. It wasn't until I bought my ticket last week that it really became real to me: this is really happening. I'm really going to spend a semester of my life in the southern hemisphere, farther than I've ever been before. It still blows my mind!

I'm sure you can relate to most, if not all, of the things I am experiencing. Still, you ultimately should be insanely excited for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you have. I know I am! Best of luck to you on your trips!