Written by Ana D.
Studying abroad can be hard sometimes.
While we often focus on the stunning, Instagram-worthy moments, we don’t talk about the days that were a little more challenging. Or so I thought.
I had just come back from a semester abroad in Buenos Aires, and I was talking with a student who was dreaming of going on the same program. I was sharing all the incredible trips I’d gone on, the amazing friends I made, and all the memories I’ll treasure for the rest of my life, when she asked me a question I wasn’t expecting. She asked what the hardest part of being abroad is. This question made me really stop and think, as I hadn’t talked about that part of my experience before. Eventually I said that living in a completely new place can be stressful and there’s going to be stuff that’s out of your comfort zone. You might not be with the same group of friends as usual, and sometimes you might feel a little homesick.
And that’s okay! Everyone’s study abroad adventures are full of both highs and lows. It’s the same as being on campus; not everything is going to be perfect all the time.
I know for me, the first week in Argentina was a lot. Orientation kept us busy with tango classes, walking tours, and presentations on everything from class options to the best things to do in Buenos Aires. And then we jumped right into classes, volunteering, social activities, adventures around the city, and weekend travel. While this was exciting, I was also overwhelmed with all the newness – a new city, new people, new cultural norms, and a language I wasn’t used to speaking all the time. Sometimes at the end of the day, I just felt completely exhausted.
I’d heard about culture shock before, but for some reason I thought I wouldn’t be affected by it. However, over the next few months there were some days that were hard for me. Thankfully, one of the presentations we went to during orientation was by a therapist who encouraged us to really pay attention to our mental health while abroad. She talked about going to therapy if we need it, even if we’d never gone before.
Over the next few months, I took her advice and I’m so glad I did.
All the CSB and SJU study abroad programs make it easy to schedule appointments with therapists, and they’re usually covered by insurance. For me, going to a therapist was very helpful to process everything that was going on, as she’d worked with study abroad students. This wasn’t her first time listening to all the joys and challenges of living abroad.
One of the things she reminded me about was the importance of building a good support system while abroad. For me, I made two over my months abroad. I had an Argentina team (my host family, the friends I made abroad, and the professors and staff at the study center) and kept up my Minnesota team (my friends and family back home). My Argentina team was great on the days I just needed a hug, while my Minnesota team helped me put everything into perspective and stay connected with the people back home. Having both teams was super meaningful for me, as I always had someone I could call on no matter what was going on.
Another thing my therapist encouraged me to do was to really prioritize my self-care. While this sounds obvious, there’s a lot of pressure to always go-see-do while living abroad. While I encourage all students to take advantage of their time abroad (as it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!), I also want to clarify that you don’t have to be “doing” something all the time. It’s okay to have a quiet day where you just listen to music, go on a run, or call home. In fact, if you don’t take the time to do the things that renew you, then you’re probably not going to be able to enjoy the amazing experiences you have abroad as much.
If I could leave students studying abroad with one word of advice, I would tell them to truly take care of themselves and each other. You’re going to face new challenges while you’re abroad, but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Savor the good times and know that you can make it through the hard times too.
