I don’t think I have been as afraid as I am now to travel. This summer, I am spending about three weeks in France. I have never been too far from my hometown, much less out of the country. When I first decided to try studying abroad I didn’t understand the blood, sweat, and tears it took to be allowed to participate. While there are moments of pride for going out of my comfort zone and trying something new, I couldn’t shake the anxiety that I have felt as the time to leave home approaches. Family and friends around me don’t have much experience traveling abroad, so having to figure out the correct course of action has been a trial to say the least. People that are more experienced travelers forget (simple things they don’t even think about anymore) that people like myself have no experience whatsoever, therefore leaving me to spiral from uncertainty. I feel bad at their frustrations with the multitude of questions I have to ask. There were multiple days and nights of breathlessness and headaches caused by the stress of overthinking. Before I officially start my journey, I am trying to calm down and not ruin this for myself. This is one of the most exciting things I have ever done in my life and who knows if I will ever have a chance to go out of the country again. My trip being relatively short is perfect for me; knowing I have to put myself in the headspace of soaking every minute of it. I won’t have time to dwell on my fears. I am trying to combat severe anxiety by making sure I am prepared and understanding that if I forget anything, it is most likely easily accessible in France. Preparedness is keeping me sane, and asking questions no matter the level of frustration someone might feel towards me. But, no matter what happens, I know that I have survived stressful situations before, and this is no different. I trust that I can figure out any problem that may arise, not to mention, I won’t be alone.