Chow from Italia! I am in the final week of my three-week study abroad experience in Italy! My time has been incredible thus far, and we have just arrived in Venice, Italy for the final five days of our trip. I wanted to discuss some important reminders and advice about studying abroad that I wish I had known before coming here. I have gained an immense amount of independence through traveling alone, and I would not change any of the challenges I’ve faced along the way.
A few obstacles I’ve encountered thus far include an ear infection, a frozen debit card, a phone with no service and water damage, and a delayed flight. But, through this, I truly feel I can handle anything that comes my way in the future. In the end, everything was excellent, even if things seemed like a mess at the time. Some advice would be to have multiple available cards in case one payment method fails. When my only debit card was frozen due to fraudulent charges on day two, I was left without a card for a week. Having a backup card would’ve solved this issue faster. I ended up changing banks and having a new card shipped to my hotel overseas.
The biggest thing I have learned so far is to truly expect the unexpected and remain calm if your expectations go out the window. Remain positive above all else, and focus on the beautiful country surrounding you. I firmly believe that being in such a wonderful country made all the issues bearable, and it distracted me when I felt like breaking down. If you travel with a group, depend on those around you for support. For example, a girl on my trip lost her luggage for a few days, and I shared a dress and scarf with her so she could participate in the activities we had planned for that day. My roommate was the biggest blessing when my card stopped working, as she helped me purchase food and gifts while I Venmoed her to cover the unexpected costs.
Finally, remember to be in the moment. The culture shock you experience is unavoidable and often makes you want to take pictures of everything around you. Definitely reserve time to capture those memories, but disconnect (safely) and savor the beauty around you. Towards the end of my trip, I focused intentionally on putting my phone away and admiring the scenery I was immersed in. I made space for conversations with others about their experience abroad, the good and the bad. You may never be in this place again, so remember to cherish every moment provided! Chow for now!
