Going abroad is undoubtedly a stressful experience no matter how many times you have left the country before. Whether it’s your first time or tenth time, there is always an element of anxiety as you are going to acclimate to a new culture. As redundant as it may sound, the number one thing I can recommend to someone going abroad for the first time is to say yes to anything and everything you can, within reason of course. No matter what type of study abroad experience you are entering into, you will have dozens of opportunities to try new things, meet new people, go to new places, and experience new wonders. Whenever you find yourself confronted with one of these opportunities, if you are able to, say yes. As I have spent my summer abroad in Spain, I made it my goal to say yes to as much as I could. When I ran into a new person in class, I tried to get to know them and set something up outside of school. When a new friend asked if I would be interested in taking a trip to Switzerland last minute, I said yes. When offered a collaborative experience outside of class where I was able to meet locals and speak Spanish with them, I said yes. Each time I said yes, my experience was even more enriched than before. I find it difficult to push myself out of my comfort zone much of the time, but I cannot stress enough how much better your experience can be when you say yes and try new things and meet new people. Along with a plethora of different lessons that I will take home with me after this summer, saying yes would most certainly be up near the top of the list. I would not trade these experiences for the world, but I never would have had them if I had not said yes at the beginning. Good luck on your travels, and always keep an open mind!
