Advice for New Travelers

Some of my favorite people are about to embark on their off-campus adventures, and I just wanted to relay some advice to them via the wisdom of my big sister and my own experiences : )

I can never remember whether or not this conversation was in person or over-the-phone, but before I traveled for the first time I got some really good advice from my older sister: We were talking about her first big trip to study abroad in Italy, and I remember her saying that when she arrived there she had this “what the heck am I doing?” feeling about leaving home to stay in another country. She told me that this was normal and would pass—but of course I didn’t think it would happen to me. I was super excited to be going to Greece (and to finally be traveling outside of the Inland Northwest) and I was positive that I would be on cloud nine the moment I got there.

This was mostly the case until I couldn’t figure out the crazy lock on my apartment door, was late for check in at my school and had to get there via incredibly scary motorcycle ride, and got lost walking back in the dark in a city I’d never been in before.

Even after I finally got back to my apartment and met my awesome new roommates, I still ended up making a very expensive phone call home to ask if it had all been a very bad idea. I was, indeed, having a “what the h@%! am I doing?!” moment.

But sure enough, the next day over pastries and a walk down to school with my roomies, I started to feel better. It ended up being a great semester.

I have since ‘moved’ to two other countries (the lovely Emerald Isle included) and despite all of the excitement leading up to these trips, I always have that feeling after arriving that what I’m doing is absolutely crazy. Who picks up and leaves everyone they know and love? Why did I choose to come to a place I know nothing about and where I must now stay for a prolonged period of time??? It can all feel very overwhelming and isolating when you sit down and think about it for the first time.

But this is normal. And it will pass. And then you will have the time of your life.

Just remember why you chose to go wherever you’re going in the first place, and that traveling will give you a new perspective and that you will probably be a better person for it.

Best of luck to all of you on your travels! I hope you have a blast : )

Liz