Staying Present

Something I have been struggling with recently is giving my undivided attention to life in Freiburg. Maybe it’s because the initial high of studying abroad is wearing off, but I often find myself thinking about what I’m missing at home.

On the one hand, it’s easy to get trapped in the “study abroad bubble.” I saw an Instagram Reel a few days ago that said studying abroad is basically a simulation. You travel to a new country every weekend, your bags are never unpacked, and you spend every day with your friends who you met barely one month ago. This is definitely an exaggeration, but I do think since studying abroad I’ve adopted a fast-paced lifestyle that has prevented me from taking time for reflection.

And when I have a moment to spare in Freiburg, I feel like I can never fully enjoy it, because part of my brain is constantly dwelling on my responsibilities back home. What am I missing at school? At my job? What are my friends and family doing right now? It’s overwhelming to try and balance my attention between two separate continents.

While it’s natural to feel homesick, I’ve also come to consider Freiburg as a second home, and I haven’t been giving it the attention that it deserves. Today, I wanted to share some strategies I’m using to bring my focus back to Freiburg and to be grateful for every opportunity that I’m presented with on my study abroad journey.

My first tactic is journaling. I have a notebook that I bring with me on long train rides, and when I’m bored I’ll take out a pencil and just word-dump. This is actually a strategy I used to help me fall asleep when I was younger. On nights when I would toss and turn in bed, it felt like my brain had no off-switch. Every subconscious idea pushed its way to the surface and required immediate consideration, whether it was a serious worry (I hope I don’t fail my exam tomorrow) or the most random, useless thought (I wonder what the Paw Patrol ice cream flavor tastes like?). Journaling relieves the pressure of those thoughts and concerns by pinning them down with pen and paper. Whenever I journal, I feel more relaxed and clear-minded. Even if my journal isn’t readily available, writing something quickly in my Notes app helps me stay connected to the present moment.

Recently, I put together a research poster and presentation for my lab at Penn State. Collaborating with my research team overseas has been a challenge due to the 6 hour time difference and the limitations of meeting over Zoom. To make sure this project didn’t distract me from my responsibilities in Freiburg, I established a weekly meeting schedule with my mentor at Penn State. Meeting regularly has been extremely helpful to prevent me from constantly thinking about the end product, because I have designated deadlines for every small task. If you are responsible for research or any other large project for your home school while studying abroad, I highly recommend splitting the work into chunks so as to not get overwhelmed. Another thing I love to do is make lists. Call me Type A if you want, but in my opinion, a good list can fix everything. Just seeing my daily tasks written down in a pretty color next to a checkbox makes them seem more achievable. Each time I complete an assignment, crossing it off the list makes me feel focused and in control.

Going for a walk in nature is one of my favorite ways to bring myself back to center. Spring is finally approaching in Freiburg, and not the false spring I talked about in one of my previous blogs. Flowers are blooming, trees are bursting with new growth, and the sun doesn’t set until after 6pm. Going outside to take a break from work and electronic devices allows me to reset and remind myself where I am.

Finally, I try to call friends or family members and tell them about my day. This is a way to maintain connections with loved ones back home while also reflecting on my time abroad. Sometimes when I’m going about my regular routine in Freiburg, I forget about how unique my experiences here are to the average American. My grandparents tell me they couldn’t even imagine studying abroad in college. Seeing my life through their eyes, I’m reminded that studying abroad is a once in a lifetime experience, and every day should be treated as an adventure.