Culture shock is imagined as a big beast, one to avoid at all costs to maximize your time abroad. In reality, it’s difficult to avoid. Certainly there are preventative practices that mediate the effects, but it takes a lot of time and dedication to commit to healthy practices when you’re feeling down.

When I imagine college, I think of camping out in the library until the middle of the night to study. Morning coffee, more studying. Taking food to-go for every meal to fit in more studying. Each class takes up so much time, there isn’t much left over for other things. I wondered what my image of studying for classes abroad would look like. Is the study culture the same? How will I be able to fit it all in? What are the expectations of professors? 

One of the first things I noticed about Dublin was the stickers on the sign posts and traffic lights, little pieces of art and messaging waiting for curious pedestrians to stop and really look at or to only catch for a moment and question before they’re gone. Every few blocks down the street I live on, right at eye level on various surfaces, are small white rectangles with hand written notes.

I have fallen in love with the city of Dublin whole heartedly. I love the Georgian buildings and the trains and the strange variety of dogs. I like the noises of what is a relatively quiet city and the sense of movement. But I also know that a bit of time away, especially in a bit of wild nature, can completely reset the psyche. After discussing the iconic countryside getaway taken by Lord Byron and Mary and Percy Shelly that resulted in the first draft of Frankenstein, some friends and I decided to have our own writer's retreat of sorts.

For years I’ve been told that I need to study abroad, especially as a Spanish language learner. I’ve been told that it’s an incredible experience that I can’t miss out on if I’m given the privilege to be immersed in another culture. Only now, after I’ve returned from my semester abroad, can I see just how right these people were. Not only in my classes, but in my trips and adventures I have learned so much about Spain, its history, its culture, and even myself.

Throughout my time studying abroad, I have been gathering pieces of London to bring back to Pittsburgh for myself, my family, and friends. Memories are great to have, but I also wanted to bring back physical items and memories. 

As we near the end of our study abroad journey, I have found myself experiencing a rush of mixed emotions—but mostly stress. There’s still so much to see and do! But with only a week left and finals studying taking up most of my free time, I am coming to terms with the fact that my journey is coming to a sudden close and I will have to start saying goodbye. 

This past weekend in Spain was the last puente (long weekend) of the semester, which hit me like a ton of bricks realizing that I only had two weeks left of my study abroad journey. Since I was lucky enough to have the time and resources, I decided to visit one more place in Spain that I’ve been aching to visit—the Basque Country. 

Sunday is the most relaxing day in Paris. It’s a time where most shops and restaurants are closed and a time to spend with your family. Also, a good day to take some day trips and learn more about the city. There are many things that you can do on a given Sunday and how you spend them. Each one offers a study abroad patron a chance to get to know Paris and to feel more connected to the city.

After finally arriving at my new home for the next four months, my host mother showed me to my new bedroom. With a warm smile, she gestured towards a room with eggshell white walls and pink butterfly curtains hanging by the window. In a kind and soft tone, she said, “Voilà, ta chambre Anna!” (Here’s your bedroom!)