That feeling of regret. I know it all too well.
I had planned to study abroad in Madrid for the past 6 months. I was so excited to have a break from my regular courses and experience an entirely new culture. How refreshing that would be!
But, when my plane touched ground in Spain, I felt the opposite of refreshed.
What have I done.
I know nobody here. I speak zero Spanish.
These were all thoughts flying through my head.
They call it culture shock or being homesick…and it’s way more common than you think.
It happens at different times for different people, and for the lucky few it may not happen at all. But, for most people that I know, there comes a time when the need to be back home is so strong that it’s disabling. It may be that you miss your family, friends, or that you can’t find a good cheeseburger abroad. There comes a time when all you want is to be back home where things are familiar.
I know because this is how I felt. This is coming from someone who wanted nothing more in the world to study abroad and meet new people. This comes from someone who was up for a challenge and usually does well with large changes in life.
And trust me, that tiny voice saying “what have I done. I’ve made a mistake” is hard to push through. But, if you aren’t scared, you aren’t doing something right. That is how you know that things are changing! And you can either view that as extremely scary and unwelcomed…or as an adventure.
While going abroad sounds like it’s full of highs and no lows, this is 100% not the case. Many people think it’s simply a “vacation for six months.” And while this has a ring of truth, changing your entire surroundings as a young adult is NOT an easy task.
All this to say, if you are reading this you are probably filled with hope and excitement for what will be one of the best semesters of your life. I imagine almost ALL of these blogs ring of nothing but positivity about the experience.
But bear this reminder: if there comes a time where it feels too much, keep going. That is how you know you are on the edge of something amazing.
And you are definitely not alone in the feeling.
