One thing college has taught me is that personal growth and confidence come from embracing the opportunities that might scare you. As a very type-A, routine-oriented person, studying abroad was not on my bingo card. Moving across the world to a different country, time zone, and culture, and away from everyone I knew and loved, seemed so massive and so unrealistic for me, and yet somehow I couldn’t get it out of my head. As I heard more and more success stories, I knew it was time to buddy up with my beloved best friend and roommate, and make the jump.
As Strategic Communication majors, we set our sights on the Florence University of the Arts in Florence, Italy, because it offers the most course offerings in our major, as well as a week-long orientation travel course. This travel course was a major selling point and one of my fondest, most peculiar memories of studying abroad. As we received communications throughout the summer, we were told to pack our lives into a single carry-on, which we kept separate from our other checked bags for this travel week. We had minimal information about where we were going and when, but we understood we would be sectioned off into classes, each with one instructor and an assistant, who would lead and bus us through Italy. That first week was a jet-lagged, blissful blur. We spent days in Rome, Cinque Terre, the Tuscan hills, and everything in between, marveling at historical sites, getting stuck in a storm outside the Colosseum, and, most importantly, gaining an understanding of Italian culture before we were cut loose.
My most memorable part of this week was not the life-changing pasta carbonara, but how quickly the other 20 students and I went from acquaintances to friends. Each of us felt similar anxieties about being far from home, meeting new friends, and adjusting to a completely new way of life. I look back on how special it was to be in the exact same situation, feeling very similar feelings to others in that group, and think of how rare that is. It made each moment of homesickness and each challenge feel manageable. Whether that be landing in a new country with an overstuffed backpack and no idea where to go (we got very familiar with budget airlines on weekend trips), or navigating public transportation, or dealing with very complicated Airbnb hosts with minimal cell service, I never felt truly alone, and that was so meaningful. Yes, we had to carry our overweight suitcases up 5 flights of windy, steep stairs, and yes, you could never blow-dry your hair while the washing machine was on without losing power, but those are some of the moments I miss most because I shared them with so many other people.
One of the best parts of studying abroad is the weekend trips. Florence was an ideal home base for me, not only because of its history and comfortably small size, but also because of its proximity to other countries I wanted to visit. Planning trips just a week or two away with people I had just met spiked my cortisol levels, but I was rewarded with some of the most incredible experiences as a result. On our first weekend, we took an overnight bus to Munich for Oktoberfest, then a train to a small beach town in Italy, then to Barcelona to celebrate Halloween with other Chapman students studying abroad, then to Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and finally, Paris. These places, though not very far apart, were all so different and culturally and historically rich. I learned so much more about these places and myself than I could have possibly done in a classroom, and for that I am grateful.
Eventually, I got into the swing of class and everyday life, which were located in buildings spread throughout the city. As someone who is very directionally challenged, making it to class for the first time without getting lost was a huge accomplishment. Little victories like navigating the cobblestone streets or successfully finding everything on my shopping list at the grocery store built the confidence I initially lacked in integrating into another culture. With that came finding my favorite sandwich window underneath my apartment and finally determining the best gelato in the city. Florence slowly started to feel more and more like my home away from home, all while teaching me lessons and a sense of independence I would bring back.
I look back on my time studying abroad and reflect on what I learned most. It’s so hard to choose just one thing or pick out one singular quality that shifted within me. Something I do know to be true is that I learned to get comfortable with the uncomfortable and to take risks without knowing the outcome. I had some of the best experiences of my life because I took the jump and strayed from my comfortable, safe daily routines. I encourage anyone who might be nervous to take the jump, because it might be even better than you could ever imagine.
