AMSTERDAM — I dove straight in to my study abroad experience without much thought or preparation. But with 109 days behind me, it’s becoming clear why this impulsive decision worked out for me but might not suit everyone.
The travel opportunities that come with being stationed in an accessible part of Europe is unquestionably my favorite part of studying abroad. I had saved enough money to shell out for train tickets, airfare, 10-bed hostel rooms and some decent local cuisine. However, the added travel expenses may not fit into everyone’s college budget.
I’ve done a fair bit of my traveling alone, meeting new friends along the way. This can be intimidating to young American students, but there’s no room for shyness or fear of the unknown if you want to get the most out of a good location.
However, I did not predict how much the “study” part of study abroad would get in the way of my freedom.
The classes I’m taking in Amsterdam are electives that aren’t required for my degree. And thank god. I still have to pass with satisfactory marks to receive my TOPS award, but the added pressure of doing well in classes abroad can seriously hamper the experience. I’d recommend taking on a minimal course load while abroad.
This restriction could be a major argument for the case to take time off of school to travel. But unlike traditional tourists, my student status allows me to be registered in The Netherlands as a resident. While tourists are limited in the number of days they are allowed to stay in certain countries, I’m able to remain in Europe for months as a student, moving in and out of
different countries without issue.
All of that movement can be exhausting, but college-aged travelers are better at handling the lack of consistency than older demographics. We are young, we are a little stupid and we don’t care if our transportation leaves at 3 a.m., as long as we get the least expensive seats. Traveling only gets more difficult with age, so the timing is perfect in college to study abroad.
But within these four years of college, when is the best year, or semester, to go abroad?
It has been difficult as a senior for me to leave my friends, ties, networks and jobs for five months.
It would be worse still to fly off as a freshman or sophomore, cutting into an important development, growth and niche-finding period of college life. It’s better to leave later in your college career, knowing there are good friends back home to celebrate your eventual return.
Conversely, studying abroad means making new friends who will lament the final days before finishing school and leaving this new home. An exchange student’s network bulges with friends, neighbors, study buddies, professors and travel partners from around the world.
These people are invaluable for continued travel through college and after graduation. Someone you sat behind in class for a few weeks will likely offer a spare couch and local expertise for future adventures abroad, if you just put in a some effort to make a good impression and hang on to their contact information.
For me, the stars aligned and the fates decided my study abroad experience would be a good one, but it might just as easily be less successful for someone in a different situation. So while you’re consulting with counselors, filling out applications and browsing brochures, prepare yourself for a few challenging, hyperactive, unpredictable and rewarding months that will test your wallet, your independence and your expectations.
Morgan Searles is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Baton Rouge studying abroad
in Amsterdam.