Right like you, thousands of students are packing up and squeezing their lives in a couple of suitcases, embracing their parents for one last time, ready to jump on a plane that will bring them to the adventure of a lifetime.
When you're moving away, when you turn your life into a journey filled with uncertainty, you grow up in unexpected ways.
1. Dealing with the unexpected
This is the "jump in the dark" that soon or later you have to face when you decide to study abroad.
But it's also the beginning of all your adventure! Once you jumped, you'll never stop ;)
One of the first things you'll try to do is making plans: trying to be organizes and to prevent all accident you can think about. However, these plans will never work out! There will always be something unexpected that will happen and you'll learn to be flexible and rearrange your plans quickly according to the new situation. It's a thrill ride full of adrenaline.
This is the "jump in the dark" that soon or later you have to face when you decide to study abroad.
But it's also the beginning of all your adventure! Once you jumped, you'll never stop ;)
One of the first things you'll try to do is making plans: trying to be organizes and to prevent all accident you can think about. However, these plans will never work out! There will always be something unexpected that will happen and you'll learn to be flexible and rearrange your plans quickly according to the new situation. It's a thrill ride full of adrenaline.
2. Independence
Obviously, no parents equals freedom!
It will takes you a while to realize that you're actually alone, you can do whatever you want to. But on the other side, you'll notice that you have to be more responsible and remember all the things that you have to do by yourself! You'll miss your mother cooking for you and especially washing and ironing your clothes!
Obviously, no parents equals freedom!
It will takes you a while to realize that you're actually alone, you can do whatever you want to. But on the other side, you'll notice that you have to be more responsible and remember all the things that you have to do by yourself! You'll miss your mother cooking for you and especially washing and ironing your clothes!
3. Confidence
You have no idea how much confidence you'll earn through this experience. You'll be able to speak in front of thousand people in another language, debate, have a discussion, present an argument and laugh in thousand different ways.
No more fears, you'll be able to stand up and speak loud and clear!
You have no idea how much confidence you'll earn through this experience. You'll be able to speak in front of thousand people in another language, debate, have a discussion, present an argument and laugh in thousand different ways.
No more fears, you'll be able to stand up and speak loud and clear!
4. When you go back everything is the same
When is time to go back for a weekend in your hometown, that is the moment where you'll start to make comparisons and appreciate everything that you have. It is like living in two worlds, two completely different, but wonderful, worlds.
While your new life is moving so fast, flying high, full of new people, new emotions and opportunities, you'll notice once back that everything has remained the same. Your friends are still there, your room and all that you left. But you are different: you're seeing everything with different eyes, and this is what makes this experience magical.
A smell, a sound, a place can make you feel homesick, but anyway you know that these things will always be there for you.
It seems that everything goes slower at home, and going back to your adventure is the only way to take life back to you!
When is time to go back for a weekend in your hometown, that is the moment where you'll start to make comparisons and appreciate everything that you have. It is like living in two worlds, two completely different, but wonderful, worlds.
While your new life is moving so fast, flying high, full of new people, new emotions and opportunities, you'll notice once back that everything has remained the same. Your friends are still there, your room and all that you left. But you are different: you're seeing everything with different eyes, and this is what makes this experience magical.
A smell, a sound, a place can make you feel homesick, but anyway you know that these things will always be there for you.
It seems that everything goes slower at home, and going back to your adventure is the only way to take life back to you!
5. Lack of words
Speaking everyday in another language gives you the possibility to learn different words and expressions. The problem is when you need to speak in your mother tongue... You'll have doubts about some words, their spelling or some verbs!
You learn and unlearn at the same time: if a word doesn't come up in the right language, just pick up another one! It will work out someway ;)
Speaking everyday in another language gives you the possibility to learn different words and expressions. The problem is when you need to speak in your mother tongue... You'll have doubts about some words, their spelling or some verbs!
You learn and unlearn at the same time: if a word doesn't come up in the right language, just pick up another one! It will work out someway ;)
6. Courage is overrated
Absolutely true! Your friends back in your city probably will ask you plenty of questions, and while telling them our adventures, these may seem brilliant and brave!
Okay probably some of them are really like that :) but most of the time, courage is overrated. Especially once you are used to your new life, you're not thinking anymore about courage: you have to do something? Okay let's do it. You just do it. Don't think about how, you just jump.
Absolutely true! Your friends back in your city probably will ask you plenty of questions, and while telling them our adventures, these may seem brilliant and brave!
Okay probably some of them are really like that :) but most of the time, courage is overrated. Especially once you are used to your new life, you're not thinking anymore about courage: you have to do something? Okay let's do it. You just do it. Don't think about how, you just jump.
7. Learn to say good bye and enjoy
Yes the first goodbye it's strange: it's a mixture between "I can't wait to go!" and "I'm gonna miss this place so much"! And here it is, no place will be "your place" forever, you lean to move, adapt and then move again. The world is your place, it's your city!
If before you wanted a good moment to last forever, now you know that the concrete forever can't be part of your world. You have to move, but this is why you'll learn to enjoy better every single and most simple moment; maybe they won't come back anymore, but for sure they will stay forever in your memory.
Yes the first goodbye it's strange: it's a mixture between "I can't wait to go!" and "I'm gonna miss this place so much"! And here it is, no place will be "your place" forever, you lean to move, adapt and then move again. The world is your place, it's your city!
If before you wanted a good moment to last forever, now you know that the concrete forever can't be part of your world. You have to move, but this is why you'll learn to enjoy better every single and most simple moment; maybe they won't come back anymore, but for sure they will stay forever in your memory.
8. A tourist in your city
Sad to say it I know ahah Sometimes when going back to your city it's hard to remember something that before was as easy as breathe! And you start asking your parents for confirmation. Or maybe you noticed that your favorite shop, restaurants or place changed and you feel kind of surprise of how that happen and you weren't there!
Sad to say it I know ahah Sometimes when going back to your city it's hard to remember something that before was as easy as breathe! And you start asking your parents for confirmation. Or maybe you noticed that your favorite shop, restaurants or place changed and you feel kind of surprise of how that happen and you weren't there!
9. Learn to be patient and ask for help
Always because you are kind of a tourist, you are no longer afraid of asking questions or information. And consequently you learn to be patient when moving the first time in the new city. Waiting for the bus, looking on the maps on your phone and help as well if someone is in difficulties because you remembered that just a few days before you were in his shoes.
10. Objects are just objects
You'll have two of everything - two phone numbers, two type of coins (rigorously mixed together in the same wallet), two public transports cards etc.
Raise your hand if you're one of that people who are extremely attached to objects!
Yes I am one of those.
Well learn to leave them! You don't need all these things! These are just heavy things that won't let space for the new things that you'll encounter on the journey. Why not try to keep a smile, a picture or a memory? The value is inestimable.
You'll have two of everything - two phone numbers, two type of coins (rigorously mixed together in the same wallet), two public transports cards etc.
Raise your hand if you're one of that people who are extremely attached to objects!
Yes I am one of those.
Well learn to leave them! You don't need all these things! These are just heavy things that won't let space for the new things that you'll encounter on the journey. Why not try to keep a smile, a picture or a memory? The value is inestimable.
11. There is no turning back
Once you're on this place, I am afraid there is no way to turn back.
Hey wait! What if this is not the right way for me?
Oh my dear, it is, trust me!
You would have never get on this place the first time otherwise. You wouldn't have been as brave, confident and incredible as I think you are!
This is your way, no matter if you're changing you're mind everyday, no matter if it's full of doubts!
If you feel a thrill just thinking about how this experience can be, that's you're flight!
Once you're on this place, I am afraid there is no way to turn back.
Hey wait! What if this is not the right way for me?
Oh my dear, it is, trust me!
You would have never get on this place the first time otherwise. You wouldn't have been as brave, confident and incredible as I think you are!
This is your way, no matter if you're changing you're mind everyday, no matter if it's full of doubts!
If you feel a thrill just thinking about how this experience can be, that's you're flight!
12. You change
Take a picture of you the first day of the journey because you won't see that kid anymore!
You'll change in beautiful and unexpected different ways.
You just have to choose.
Good luck!
Marta
Take a picture of you the first day of the journey because you won't see that kid anymore!
You'll change in beautiful and unexpected different ways.
You just have to choose.
Good luck!
Marta
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