How to own your study abroad experience

It’s that time of the year where everyone has finally settled into the routine of school again. The Buckeyes are back in The Shoe and campus bars are alive and well, packed to the brim with party-loving people every weekend.

You probably put your name down on a few contact sheets for student organizations, but this year broaden your horizons even further than signing up for Bacon Club by studying abroad. Before hopping on a plane bound for exciting, foreign places you’ll need to know a few things so you can come home with more than a few things to brag about.

Make sure all your bases are covered

Most of the leg-work for studying abroad happens before setting foot on the plane. Luckily, once you’ve been accepted into a program half of the battle is over. The most important thing to remember is to apply for a passport if you don’t have one already. It can take between a few weeks and a few months to receive a passport once the fee is paid and the paperwork is sent in, so leave a little cushion time in case there’s a delay. After all, you can’t leave the country without a passport.

Whether you’re going on a trip that requires taking a class beforehand, taking a class once you reach your destination, or studying at a foreign university, do some research on scholarships offered for your program. Studying abroad is expensive, so it’s important to make sure that you apply for any and all financial aid.

The more aid you receive, the more spending money you’ll have to buy souvenirs, go shopping, or let’s be honest, spend on alcohol. Once these essentials are taken care of, everything up until departure should be a piece of cake.

Don’t spread yourself too thin

With the exception of semester long programs, studying abroad with a class and a professor means there’s going to be an itinerary. Most professors try to fit in as much free time as they can around the stops they’ve scheduled to go along with the class. It’s never a bad idea to brainstorm the most important places you want to visit or activities you want to do as soon as you get a copy of the itinerary.

Budgeting your time is extremely important, but don’t pack your days so full that you don’t leave time to live in the moment and take in the experience. The last thing anyone wants is to be stressed out during what could possibly be the trip of a lifetime.

The most memorable moments aren’t always the time you spend wandering around a stuffy, over-crowded museum, they’re the times you closed down a pub, wandered around a street market, or maybe even listened to “By the Sea” from the musical Sweeney Todd while sitting along the English Channel. Your experience is exactly what you make it.

Embrace the culture

Why study abroad without taking part in something important to the culture of the country or city you’re going to? One of the easiest ways to do that is by trying authentic, local cuisine. If that doesn’t sound appealing, ask the concierge at your hotel or a person working in the bookstore you’re browsing through if there’s something they suggest doing in town.

If you don’t feel comfortable asking a stranger, Google is always an option, but asking your professor is an even better idea. Chances are they have a breadth of knowledge about the places you’re visiting and a suggestion or two.

You may even find yourself punting through the campus of Oxford University, failing to master the right technique with a lot of grace and laughter, then running through the streets to make it to a tour of the Bodleian Library fifteen minutes late. Seeking out local traditions may lead you down some interesting paths and take you out of your comfort zone, but it’s worth the extra trouble.

Take an excessive amount of pictures

Get to know at least a few people before or during your trip, and talk to each other about exchanging pictures when the trip is over. Everyone takes pictures of different places and things. I came home with almost 400 pictures from one week abroad. Once the girls I became good friends with and I exchanged photos, the total number only went up. Unfortunately, memories do fade over time and the details get a little bit fuzzy, but if you go snap happy with your phone or camera you’ll always have beautiful pictures to remind you of the fantastic times you had.

Who cares if it makes you look like a tourist? It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and forget to include yourself in pictures too, so make it a point to take plenty of selfies or ask a classmate to take a group photo.

So go on and get out of your comfort zone a little and look into study abroad, these tips will be be sure to make your experience one you will never forget.