Safety when Studying Abroad
Hey Explorers! It’s Kaity again and I’m still excited that you’re here! I was super lucky and was able to study abroad two years ago. Even though it was two full years, the memories are so vivid in my mind. The trip was life-changing for me. As cliché as it sounds, it’s true. I hate to be one of those people who was “changed” by their study abroad experience, but its true! However, being away from home, especially at a place so far and so new, can be frightening.
Your Cohort
I was lucky enough to have a wonderful group to study abroad with. Each person you go on your trip with will have different travel experience. In my cohort, one student had already been in Spain for two weeks on vacation with his family. He had gotten a lay of the land before the rest of us had packed our bags. You all are also in the same situation. More likely than not, each of you have not stayed in the hotel/house/apartment you’re staying at. More likely than not, they have not been to the places your group will travel to. More likely than not, they are doing everything for the first time just like you. Your cohort can offer a lot of emotional and physical support when times get stressful. Confide in them. They probably have the same worries and concerns you do.
Your Advisors
If you’re travelling abroad, I know you have one or several professors with you. Their role in this is to help you. Whether that’s academically or social in the new location, they are here to assist you. They are here to teach you. It could be about the topic of the study abroad, or it could be teaching you about the culture of your temporary home. Bottom line, your professors do not want anything to happen to you. It would look bad on their part if something happened to their students. So, always lean on your program heads. Those people know what they’re doing and can always be there for advice.
Your University
For me, all of my anxieties were calmed by one thought. No university would send students somewhere that could be dangerous. It would look pretty bad if your school lost a student in a program. Your school will vet out each location, make sure your professors are prepared, and make sure you have enough information and protection. It also helps if your program isn’t new. I know I was year five of my program. Numerous students had participated before and numerous would participate afterwards. Your school would never risk sending students somewhere potentially dangerous. So, that always eased my conscious.
Fear is Real
I was afraid of many things when I was studying abroad. First of all, I was scared of going to a new country. I had never been outside of the US before, so travelling all the way to Europe was frightening for me. I didn’t know the culture, had never experienced anything in person, and was nervous about standing out as a tourist. I was also nervous because I was going to a country where I didn’t speak the national language. I went to Barcelona, Spain and only knew enough Spanish to ask for a bathroom. Finally, I was nervous because I had never travelled alone. But you never are really alone when travelling abroad.
Feeling Safe with my Group
Our group became a family, and we labeled a lot of our activities after that dynamic. I remember our group dinners that we would have each night we called “family dinners”. They were some of my favorite moments. I remember our first family dinner was awkward. We didn’t know each other senses of humor nor any similar traits or facts to discuss. It was introduction. But we all were also introduced to the same experiences at the same time. We had the traditional foods of the area together. We discovered each other’s tastes, likes, and allergies – funny enough. I learned that a dish I enjoyed at first had something I was allergic to. This was also one of the moments that I realized that how much I could rely on the people I was with. It was a lamb dish that had a cilantro stuffing. I am unfortunately allergic to the green seasoning. I took a couple bites before I asked if my friends knew what was in the dish. After learning of my allergy concerns the eleven girls made every effort to call a waiter over. Almost at once, they all started asking what was in the dish. Through rough translation of Spanish to English, we learned there was cilantro in the dish. However, the girls immediately cleared the dish from my plate and got me a new one. They all questioned if I needed an epi pen, quickly googling the closest restaurant in case I was to lost consciousness. The silly part was, I wasn’t severely allergic. The worst reaction I have ever had to cilantro was red lips and a scratchy throat. I had never swollen up or lost my ability to breathe, nor had I ever been close to that point. But these girls went out of their way to ensure I was safe. All they knew was that I was allergic, and they got to work. Each girl ensured I was safe and happy before returning to the meal. That was our fifth night in the country, and it was the first moment I realized I was truly safe.
Studying abroad can be scary, especially when going someplace new. But the resources around you can help you Your advisors, your cohort, and the knowledge of your university are all baby steps for relaxing before travelling. My key tip, soak it all in. Feel the fear, the nerves, the excitement, the curiosity, and everything else. Make the most of your trip and remember to push past the worries.