Usually writing isn’t too difficult for me, but for some reason, trying to start this first blog post has given me some writer’s block for the past two weeks. I didn’t know how to approach the start of this blog because while I wanted to sound super excited and psyched for the upcoming semester, I also feel some apprehension and nervousness. So here I am deciding that instead of writing what I think most people want to hear, I am going the honest route (I mean, honesty is the best policy, right?).

The time has come to pack for my semester abroad in Nantes. This is the thing I’ve been looking forward to the least, because it’s stressful and I always manage to forget something. But now that I can count down the days till my departure on one hand, it’s something I have to think about, so here are my three packing rules:

I am ready to go abroad. My bags are packed, I’ve picked up British and European currency, and my flight details are finalized.

My name is Torin Anderson and I am a student at Gustavus Adolphus College. I enjoy writing, but only if it is about something that interests me. So the goal is to have some interesting experiences abroad to make this blog not be a complete waste of time for readers (no promises though).  

The days seem to blur together in a pastel montage of enthusiastic introductions, baroque facades and bread, however through the madness of arriving, orientation and acclimation I’ve begun to take comfort amongst the subway lines and bustle of city life.

I’m leaving for the airport in 3 hours and I’m freaking out.

One of the coolest things I’ve been able to experience during my summer leading up to my departure is telling people about my plans for the fall semester and then witnessing their reactions when I tell them that I am studying abroad.

After quite a few of these interactions, a couple of things stood out to me.

Conceptually, “study abroad” seems easy to understand.  After all, what could possibly be confusing about it?  It’s just like any other semester of college...except you’re doing it somewhere else.  As I watched my friends travel across the world this past year, to Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, and Vienna, I began to understand the importance of traveling away from your friends and family.  The independence, confidence, and expanded perspective which study abroad programs can provide are invaluable.