The Study Abroad Paradox
Studying abroad is a time for personal growth, exploration, and self-discovery. As American university students, we are encouraged to experience education in another country. We are told of the incredible experiences, travel destinations, and cultures we will experience when abroad. According to the NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the number of United States students studying abroad during the year 2022/23 “increased by 49% to 280,716 students.” But many are unaware of the rollercoaster of emotions the majority of students face when abroad. Moving to a new country is daunting, and when you are traveling every weekend, it can add to the stress of being abroad and hinder one's ability to adjust quickly. At this point in the semester, many students are very ready to go home.
There are many life-altering benefits to studying abroad. The first is that moving to a new country fosters independence and adaptability (I myself can attest to this). I have grown in my confidence and understanding of culture. I am now not afraid to go out of my comfort zone, and communicating with those of different backgrounds. I have learned that it is important to ask questions rather than make assumptions. I have learned that people across the world have more similarities than differences.
I have gotten to engage in the most incredible experiences, from skiing down the Swiss Alps to spending St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Ireland (stay tuned for an upcoming blog post). I have immersed myself in culture, teaching myself a new language, participating in local traditions, and adapting to the Spanish lifestyle. I would trade none of this for the world. I am grateful for each and every experience and the incredible people I have met along the way. Never in my life did I think I would be able to say that I’ve been to 12 countries over the course of 16 weeks.
Students go through many phases abroad, from initial culture shock to acceptance and, over time, cultural appreciation. When you first move overseas, you are thrown into a whirlwind of excitement and want to soak up each moment. Over time, you realize that it is impossible to do everything and see everything. Many miss the structure that they had back in the United States, with responsibilities and obligations.
Click here to learn more about the Cultural Adaptation process!
When studying abroad, it is important to find a balance. Many find themselves forced into the idea that you need to “make the most” out of the little time we have abroad. Because of this, we pack every weekend full of incredible trips and excursions, making memories that will last a lifetime. There is an unspoken pressure put onto students to travel every weekend, post a million pictures to document our experience, and to continue to go out to clubs week after week, even when we are exhausted. Most students find that they don’t get enough sleep, are not eating properly, are drinking too much, and are falling behind in school. Being abroad forces us to break our traditional and structured schedules that we have back at our home universities and learn how to adapt to a go-with-the-flow way of living. Non-stop exploration and travel can lead to burnout, and taking breaks is a necessity. There is an immense guilt many students feel about wanting to go home but not wanting to waste the rest of their time abroad.
“I was supposed to go to Morocco next weekend, but I ended up canceling because I am so exhausted I don't think I can get on another plane,” said Cassidy Kohl, an abroad student.
I have been abroad for almost three months, and my time here in Barcelona is quickly coming to a close. Because of this, I have had a lot of time to look back and reflect on the highs and lows of my time abroad. I have laughed harder, experienced more, and learned more about myself than I knew was possible in a couple of short months. On the flip side, I have also experienced homesickness, anxiety, and mental health issues, all of which I had never experienced prior to going abroad.
Being separated from all we know and diving into unfamiliar territory pushes us abroad students to grow, adapt, and quickly learn how to set priorities. Many students find themselves lost, filling their weekends with trip after trip and experiencing very little about their home base country. In the twelve weeks I have been abroad, I have only been in Spain for three weekends, which will be four by the time I leave. It is an unsettling feeling. I am in a closed-off building Monday through Thursday, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., seeing very little daylight. I am tired, I am homesick, and I am also ready to go home. But I, too, feel that if I give up traveling a weekend, or say no to dinner with my friends or a night out, I am not making the most of my abroad experience.
“Being abroad has truly been the best experience of my life, but wow, I am ready to go home” said Morgan McLenighan, an abroad student.
Though I am exhausted beyond belief and ready to go home, if I had the chance to do it all over again, the answer would be easy. Going abroad has been the most incredible experience of my life and I am so thankful to have gotten this opportunity. I would suggest that anyone attending university to study abroad. You will experience, grow, and discover more about yourself than you thought would be possible.
