Lessons from Study Abroad

As I wrap up my final week in Santiago, I have a couple of lessons that I think would be helpful to anyone who's studying abroad or preparing to study abroad. I had a great past couple of month, and I'm really sad to go, but I'm very happy with the outcome of this journey. I think I was really nervous waiting up to my departure date, but looking back, I had nothing to worry about. The main things I was worried about were making friends and getting along with my host family, and if I could handle the academics abroad. All of these turned out not to be a problem, and I didn't need to worry.

I've compiled a short list of advice for anybody studying abroad. They are in no particular order, but I think they're all pretty helpful. 

1. Pack a suitcase half empty. You will collect a lot of souvenirs while abroad. I had to sit on my suitcase for it to close.
2. Plan out your trips as early as possible. It may seem like you have a lot of time, but the time flies by, so it's good to have trips already planned.
3. Don't be afraid to get to know your cohort members. I remember being terrified waiting for my program, but everyone in my cohort was super nice and we all got along great.
4. Open up about any feelings of homesickness or being overwhelmed. A lot of other students are in the same situation, and it always helps to talk to somebody else about how you're feeling.
5. The professors and staff at IES Abroad are super kind and will work with you. If you're feeling behind in academics in general or just overwhelmed, they will do whatever they can to help you succeed. You just need to reach out.
6. Try out the hobbies and crafts that are popular in the country that you are studying in. It's a great way to connect with new people and gain a new skill.
7. If you are in a language immersion program, please do your best to really commit and use the opportunity to improve your target language. At least in Chile, everyone who found out that I was a Spanish learner was super supportive and non-judgmental. This is a chance to really improve in your target language.
8. Before you leave, please pack DayQuil, it is so difficult trying to find an equivalent. By the end of my trip, I was still not able to find something that worked as well for me as the medicines I was used to.

I'm going to miss hanging out in the IES Abroad patio, working at my favorite cafe, La Odisea, shopping in Sky Costanera, having once with my host mom, celebrating birthdays with my new friends, weekend trips to nearby towns, and exploring the nature of Chile. I'm really sad to leave, but I can confidently say that it has changed my life for the better in so many ways. 

From career to overall maturity, my experience abroad has helped me grow as a person. If I could do it all over again, I definitely would. If you’re reading this blog and you're preparing to study abroad, the most important thing I can tell you is that everything will be okay. And if you are deciding if studying abroad is for you, just give it a shot. I was fortunate to have a lot of people in my life who were supportive and pushing me to go abroad and explore different places, and I'm so grateful for everyone who did that, because I’m proud of the person I've become today because of studying abroad.