Adventure, in the dictionary, is described as, “an unusual and exciting, typically, hazardous, experience or activity.” My study abroad experience, I must say, can fit into this definition. Well, besides the hazardous part. They say if you ever have the opportunity to have an adventure of a lifetime, to take it. So I did.

For the whole month of May, I traveled to Asia and Australia with 19 strangers and 1 of my best friends. From the countless number of airplane rides, sleeping in the airport, to hanging out with everyone a little too much, it was safe to say that after the trip, everyone had made their way into my heart and claimed a special place within it. Of course, my best friend and I’s friendship now had this bond that could never be replaced for anything.

If you get the chance to take a friend along with you on your adventure, do it. You will get to experience so many new and exciting things together that only a great friendship could ever really appreciate. From the random laughs to the random crying, I don’t think my study abroad experience could have been the same without her.

When you study abroad, no one ever tells you how much you will truly bond with everyone else on the trip. They say things like, “Oh, you guys will become so close,” or “You will have such a great experience.” But, I don’t think even they truly know how accurate they are or the true power behind their words. The bus drivers and tour guides even became apart of our weird little family.

Everyday is a new experience when you study aboard. There is always a new adventure to tackle, a new temple to climb. Embracing so many new cultures at once can be overwhelming. At times it can even become irritating. Some things are never the same as they are back home. The foods may seem strange and quite weird to you, especially if you are a picky eater, but no fear; McDonalds seems to be in every part of the world.

At those times when you feel irritated or home sick, you have to sit back and realize the adventure you have been given, and the opportunities you are able to experience while studying abroad. You must embrace the new and exiting culture that surrounds you. Once you do that, your experience and appreciation will be taken to a whole new level that even you will not be able to explain.

While studying aboard, I learned a lot of things. Not just from a student’s perspective, but from a general overall perspective. I gained a new appreciation for my life back home, the opportunities I am given while in the States. I gained a whole new appreciation for my family, friends and my schooling. Studying abroad is one of the greatest adventures you could have in your life.

In the short month I was gone, although it seemed like a lifetime, I changed in so many different ways. Studying abroad may seem scary or intimidating at first but Psychologists say, always go with the choice that scares you the most, because that’s the one that is going to help you grow.

If you ever get the chance to take the adventure of a lifetime, do it and take a friend with you along the way.