I began this post just as I began this journey, unable to put into words how I felt. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), that remained the case for longer than I would have liked. As I spent my weeks in Europe, I began to understand just why I always hear the classic tale, “nobody has ever regretted studying abroad”. It is only with what I know now that I can say they were right. There is truly no better time to go abroad, being able to accomplish so much in such little time. Monday through Thursday, I go to class. Thursday to Sunday, I go abroad, crafting new and unforgettable experiences wherever I go.
The first few weeks, as always, are the most stressful. Not only are you on a new continent, at a new school, with new people, things move fast, and the ability to adjust and adapt is essential. Your normal, consistent schedule will be thrown out the window, and you have to rebuild your daily routine from square one. It can be a frightening time for some, but once that hurdle is cleared, you will find it that much easier to do the same in other countries.
Those first few trips might just be the most rewarding part of the whole semester! Everything is so new and exciting, and you just can’t get enough. I think I can certainly speak for other STEM students when I saw that it was a welcome respite from the constant deluge of assignments and endless hurdles waiting to throw you off your game at every turn. If I had one piece of advice, it would be to take those first few experiences slowly, and truly savor the time that you spend. Trust me, you’ll have plenty of time to do everything later.
That’s all for now. Below you’ll find a few images from my first trip of the semester, a solo trip to Oslo! More to come soon!
