What I learned through studying
abroad is that you just have to roll with the punches! The flight ended up not
being so bad because they had all kinds of movies to watch on board and I
purchased one of those fancy neck pillows (which are a must). The fear of not
knowing anyone is a real fear, but just remember that studying abroad brings
together people who naturally have things in common. For example, you may have your major in
common (or other academic, personal, or professional interests). My major is
Public Health Administration and I went on my program with nursing majors,
pre-med students, and a communication disorders major. Having all the different
aspects of healthcare knowledge in one group really helped us learn and grow
from each other. You will make so many friends, even best friends. Now, I have
to be honest, dorms are dorms no matter what country you go to. They are not
glamorous and they are not the most comfortable beds, but they start to become
your home, a safe space, and a resting place. Studying abroad can be exhausting
just due to the fact that you are going to want to see so many things in a
short amount of time.
When preparing to leave, people are
going to be telling you things they have heard about the place you’re going and
most of it is going to have to do with the food. Everyone told me, “don’t
expect to drink coffee” or “Irish food is so bland.” I let everyone else’s
comments get in my head and it became a fear that I would starve while
overseas. But that was not the case. Ireland had some of the best coffee and
best food that I have ever eaten. So my advice is to keep an open mind, not
just about food, but about everything abroad.
I had the time of
my life while conquering some of my biggest fears. I learned so much about
myself, others, and healthcare. Studying abroad made me a stronger person and I
feel like I got to experience a side of myself I did not even know was there. I
am an explorer and a traveler! I love it! I loved it so much that I have now decided
to study abroad again.
Preparing to
study abroad a second time I have a whole new mentality! I want to go more places,
see more things, and go even further out of my comfort zone. I am fearless now.
So for my next trip I will be traveling around Europe for two weeks over my
winter break and this time I will be studying business. Health administration
takes a lot more than knowledge about healthcare. Business knowledge is equally
important, if not more. Never in my life did I think I would be studying
international business, but here I am! There is no limit to where you can go in
life, so why not keep learning new skills and seeing new places? STUDY ABROAD.
Slider Photo Credit: Katharine
Denius