As a CISabroad alumni ambassador, I wanted to put together a list of tips & tricks for all the future travelers out there. Whether you're going abroad for a week, a summer, a semester, or even a year, there's lots of planning and preparation involved. Here's a list of some things that I discovered before, during, and after my semester on the Gold Coast.
Take endless amounts of pictures. Once you're back home, you'll undoubtedly relive your experience by looking back on the people you met and the memories you made. Nothing is worse than wishing you had a photo of that person, location, or adventure that you're trying to explain to your family or friends. Although pictures never seem to do the real experience justice, they help others see the world you saw in a small way, and help you remember those amazing memories in a big way.
Write. Journal. Blog. Getting your experiences and discoveries down on paper (or webpage) is similar to the whole picture idea... Those memories are invaluable. Whether it be in letters to others or yourself, journal entries, or blog posts, having your thoughts down in writing is huge. You'll want to remember in detail the things you loved and learned. It may take some time to sit at the end of each day/week/excursion and write down your memories but trust me. It's worth it.
Apply for your passport & visa with plenty of time to spare. It didn't happen to me, but I've heard stories of people who have had to pay excessive amounts to expedite the process of getting proper documentation, or who have had to cancel/reschedule their trips because they failed to get approval in time. The Australian visa process was relatively easy since it was all online (& CISabroad gave me step-by-step instructions to follow,) but some countries may have more complicated processes. Look into getting documentation several months ahead of your trip if possible.
Make sure you know your arrival/departure dates & that they are accurate. For some reason I had told everyone that I was coming home on December 10th, when in fact I couldn't actually leave till the 20th. If I had bought a round-trip plane ticket instead of making the return ticket purchase while I was abroad (like most other students did,) I would have had to pay fines to reschedule the flight or leave in the middle of exam week. Plans I had for the week of the 10th back home had to be cancelled and I wasn't able to work at my job over Christmas break. If I had just double-checked my dates all of that could have been avoided. Oops!
Budget for unexpected expenses. Plan money for trips you want to take, make a list of souvenirs and gifts you want to buy, budget money for food outside your meal plan and toiletry items you left behind, and keep in mind that sometimes emergencies happen. You may get hurt and have to pay upfront at a hospital. You may find a dress in Fiji that you simply can't live without. You may lose your keys and have to pay $150 for new dorm room locks (yes, that actually happened.)
Pack necessities & pack light. Some items in different countries like makeup brands, feminine products, and toothpaste flavors, are definitely different than you will be used to. If a particular brand of a product is necessary for you, make sure to pack enough of that item in your luggage. However, if you are okay switching toothpaste flavors or using shampoo that isn't necessarily your brand, leave them at home. Pack travel-sized items for the first few days and use the space to pack other things like ziplock bags, command hooks (if you're going to be living in one place), or even a bottle of ranch dressing. Also, rolling your clothes before sticking them in a suitcase creates so much more room! But make sure your luggage won't exceed airline weight limits-- you'll get hit with HUGE fees! Oh, and make sure to leave space when you leave for souvenirs you might return with.
You won't regret the things you did as much as the things you didn't do. So many nights I found myself wanting to be lazy and stay in my dorm. While R&R is important and sometimes necessary, don't let your love of Netflix keep you from exploring this new part of the world. You don't want to regret not having time to see the things you could have! Remember: One night of random adventures with cool new friends > One night of laying in bed with Dunder Mifflin & The Office gang.
"Adventure cannot be defined. Adventure is in your head... It's a state of mind." -my adventure tourism professor. This quote which I heard in my adventure tourism class speaks volumes to me. Although study abroad is a huge adventure in itself, adventure is everywhere you go; it is in everything you do. Make the most of your adventure abroad, but when you get home don't forget to find the little adventures in everyday experiences.
Life is one big adventure. If you have that state of mind, yours might just be a little more exciting. :)
Most importantly: Open your mind. Open your heart. Keep your mind open to world views and ideas that are different than your own. I've spent so much time in my little "college bubble," "Midwest bubble," & "American bubble," that it was hard for me to see viewpoints from "bubbles" that were new to me. My advice to you is to venture out and explore the new culture you're in with an open mind and an open heart. By keeping your mindset open and completely immersing yourself in each experience you have abroad, you'll gain invaluable insight into the hearts and minds of other people in this incredible world we live in. You never know what you might fall in love with until you open yourself up to the endless possibilities!
I learned so many life-lessons during my time abroad by opening my mind to new and exciting worldviews. Whether I agree with all of them or not, I was able to put myself in the shoes of all these beautiful strangers I was meeting abroad. That experience alone is so precious to me.
I was in Fiji when the terror attacks in Paris took place and was able to sit around the dinner table with people from Fiji, Australia, England, Scotland, and Sweden talking about how our world works. We came to the conclusion that if everyone on the planet had the mindset of a backpacker—exploring God’s creation, opening themselves to new experiences, worldviews, thoughts, opinions, and ways of doing life—this world would be a much friendlier place.
Love is an international language, and the whole world could use more of it.
