On December 12th, I will be on a plane heading back home to the United States as I wrap up my program in the European Union (EU). As I begin to grapple with this reality, a question buzzes around my head; a burst of energy and activity begins to kick in as I begin to ask, ‘How can I make the most of my last month ahead? With that being asked, my curiosity begins, and my journey to the end can begin. 

Guide to Making the Most of the Last Month

        To make the most of my last month abroad, I need to look back. I need to look back at what I have done to understand what I have not done. The first leg in that journey is making plans, changing habits, and schedules I have grown accustomed to in the months I have been abroad. With 30 days to go, I first looked back at the paths I have taken on an app called Stomped. Stomped is an app that tracks all paths you’ve taken and shades tiles that are ‘undiscovered’; using this, I can see the areas I haven’t visited in the city, and I use this to explore and take walks in between classes to sections of the city I haven’t seen. It can be surprising how close these paths are to my location, and it highlights the paths I take the most. A substitute for this can be just as simple as picking a direction and walking for 10-minutes towards it (of course, make sure it is safe and at a reasonable hour). Small steps like these let me see the beauty of the city in ways I have not gotten to appreciate and give me the opportunity to have time to enjoy walks and improve my overall mood.  

Another step in the right direction is changing my habits. Usually, when walking into the IES Abroad Freiburg Center, I head upstairs to make the most of my time and do extra work. I decided to instead visit the staff in the main office and chat every day or establish a “hi” or “bye” on a regular basis to form that relationship. While obviously strange to do so in the last month of the program, I think a small greeting and leaving can go a long way in forming that relationship abroad. These small conversations also open the door to improving my German and learning words I might not otherwise know. It is helpful and, overall, a kind little gesture that makes you stand out while also making the most of conversations abroad. Speaking of changing habits, another change I will implement is hanging out with people on outings. Going out with friends more often is something I want to improve, as I usually hang out to study, head home, or chill, but to make the most of my time abroad, I should attend further IES Abroad Freiburg events, group hangouts, and evening gatherings instead of focusing only on work. While studying is important, balance is key to enjoying your program abroad, and I intend to make the most of it. 

        Up till now, all the mentioned activities are free of charge and are changing in a way that I have become accustomed to; however, the additional changes do come with a price, so I understand this may not be available to everyone. Solo travel can help make the most; being in the EU, I travel across the Member States on FlixBus and stay at hostels to help with the cost, but they help make the most of my time abroad. Visiting other countries, going to museums, traveling historic routes, and chatting with locals is important and makes the journey more significant. A more economical way of achieving the same is taking public transport to the last stop of your host city, as I found it helpful to see the various aspects of your city, and they give you a more holistic showcase of your city. These versions of solo travel give rise to making the most of it and having many experiences abroad. Bonus points if you travel with friends, as I plan to travel to the Strasbourg Christmas market with friends.  

Best Wishes Making the Most

        In summary, leaving the comfort zone you have established while abroad is important to make the most of your final month abroad. Making the most of the end is important to get the best experience of your time abroad; it allows you to have a better understanding of your host city and allows you to establish a strong footing. I cannot wait to make the most of my time abroad, and I look forward to the end as I put my best foot forward leading to the end. Best wishes and good luck as you approach the end!