It's now June 9th, and I have been home for approximately 10 days now. It's so weird to be back in America! I never thought that I would experience culture shock going back to my own home country, but the culture shock is hitting me almost as hard as it was when I first got to Europe. Some things are so nice to be able to come home to, like the restaurants that I love, as well as the little things like free ketchup and free water. I really do miss Europe though, I really miss the culture there as well as constantly exploring new places and learning new things about the world. I absolutely cannot wait to go back! I'm going to start saving with my first paycheck so that I can go back again either next summer or the summer after. It's unreal how big of an impact that traveling Europe had on me for only being over there for three months... I feel like a completely different person now than I did before I left.
For future study abroad students, believe me when I say that you are in for the best three months of your entire life. You will gain a whole new perspective of the world and yourself, and you will definitely change as a person (for the better) because of the incredible new places that you are about to go and because of the amazing experiences that you are about to go through. Don't get me wrong, there will definitely be some really rough times, like when the airlines lose your bag for a few days, or when you start to really miss everyone from back home. However, the good times make all of that completely okay, and the few rough times that you go through will make you a stronger and better person. Have the time of your life! Here are some helpful tips that might make your experience a little bit better.
1. DO NOT TAKE AN ONLINE COURSE WHILE YOU ARE STUDYING ABROAD!
I took business stats online while I was abroad, and that was without a doubt one of the worst decisions that I have ever made in my academic career. You are studying abroad for the experience, while yes school does still matter, don't make it all that matters. Get out and experience everything that you can, after all that is why you decided to study abroad isn't it?
2. Travel as much as possible!
There will be plenty of time for you to travel on your own, take advantage of it! While Olomouc is a fun and cultural place to be, you should try to travel as much as possible on the weekends and on breaks. Trust me, the travel that you do on your own time will help to make for the experience of a lifetime.
3. Say yes!
When a new opportunity presents itself, don't be nervous or shy, just do it! While in Croatia we did a lot of activities that some people might get nervous about, like renting a little motor boat and taking it out onto the Adriatic Sea, but those memories will become some of your favorite memories of the entire trip. I don’t mean to go out and make clearly stupid decisions, but what I do mean is to go out and try something that you probably never have done before. So go out, have fun, do things that you normally wouldn’t do, and make memories to make it the trip of a lifetime.
