5 Lies You'll Hear About Studying Abroad
Whether you’re planning to go or have already been, you’ve definitely heard these five “myths” about studying abroad.
Every Night is a Party.
Okay, you’ll probably go out every night for the first few weeks, but just like when you’re at home, you’ll find that your body (and your wallet) won’t be able to keep up. If constantly being too hungover to enjoy a gorgeous new city isn’t enough to deter you from drinking every day, the astronomical prices of drinks- $16 for a vodka cran?!- will.
‘Studying’ when you study abroad isn’t actually a thing.
Yeah, tell that to the six page paper I just cranked out for my literature class. Contrary to popular belief, there is class when you go abroad, and you do have to complete assignments for them. Luckily, classes abroad are usually really interesting and interactive. For me a typical day of classes can consist of walking through a Danish garden for my Garden Art class, or watching The Princess Bride for European Storytelling.
Weekend traveling is easy and everything is just a plane ride away.
Before we went abroad, my best friend and I had a whole Google Doc filled with places we wanted to visit on weekends. Reality came crashing down on us once we started searching for plane tickets and realized how expensive they are. It also didn’t occur to us that cities that seem to be near Copenhagen on a map are actually five to six hours away by plane, which is a lot of traveling for a two day trip. But that’s not to say that you can’t travel at an affordable price. There are a ton of good deals and cheap flights depending on your location, you just have to do a little more research. Ryanair will be your best friend if you can wake up for 6 a.m. flights.
The abroad bod is real... and you will gain it.
Lies. I’ve only been abroad for a month, but food and alcohol here aren’t any different than back at school. Of course there are gelato and pastry shops that taunt me on every corner I pass, but there will be tempting food wherever you go. The key is to eat and drink in moderation to stay active. I recommend finding a gym that offers a student discount on memberships for study abroad students. It's also important to remember that this might be your only chance to study abroad and food is the best way to immerse yourself in a new culture; so indulge your sweet tooth and order that snegel!
New country, new foreign bae.
It’s every girl’s fantasy to go to a foreign country and find her soulmate. Unfortunately, not all of us can be like Lizzie McGuire and cop a Paulo on their first afternoon abroad. I’m not saying it can’t happen, just that it’ll take more than walking down the street and looking like a famous Italian pop singer to find your man. I’ve learned the best way to meet locals is to branch out of your comfort zone and go to places and participate in things they do, rather than follow around other American students.
All that being said, there has been one thing that’s held true: It’ll be over before you know it. I’ve been in Copenhagen for a little over a month, and I honestly can’t believe how quickly the days have passed. Though I still barely know how to speak Danish, I’ve already made amazing friends and memories, explored places I’ve only ever dreamed about and learned more about myself and the amazing things I can do when pushed outside of my comfort zone.
It may seem scary at first, but studying abroad is a wonderful and life changing experience, and that is 100 percent the truth.