Hi! As may already know, I have decided to spend this spring semester in New Delhi, India!
On February 5th, I officially started, what I like to call, the biggest adventure of my life (thus far). I know that may sound like a bit extreme, but when you think about it, it is very true. It´s not every day that a 20-year-old leaves everything behind to go study abroad to a place they have never been to.
Day one.
That weird transition between last semester and going abroad is finally over. The semester officially starts but this time around everything, and I mean absolutely everything, is different.
You are surrounded by strangers. You are nowhere near your family and friends. Your comfort foods are nowhere to be found. You may not be able to read most streets signs. You may have a hard time understanding the locals. You are immersed in a completely new culture.
Welcome to the reality of study abroad.
This is the part that nobody likes to talk about – how uncomfortable and strange the first couple of days are. However, the reality is that we ALL go through it and it is 100% normal. For some, the first couple of days are similar to a “honeymoon phase” - where the person does not fully realize that they will be in this new country for 4 months. For others, the first couple of days will be a realization of the implications of studying abroad. I, unlike most I have found, came to this realization on the very first day.
The moment it “hit me” was extremely overwhelming. I started to doubt my decision of studying abroad in India. I thought to myself, “Why on earth did I decide to go 7,480 miles outside of my comfort zone.”
But then I realized, going outside of my comfort zone is exactly the point. Being outside of your comfort zone is part of the study abroad experience! Without it, it would not be studying abroad. The point is to accept the fact this is going to be a challenging experience. It is going to test you in ways you could not have prepared for and ultimately, it is going to change your concept of reality. All aspects of studying abroad that most students tend to not think about until they are already abroad.
This realization will come at different times for different people and everybody will react to it differently. However, when it finally “hits you” the following three things are important to remember:
- Always keep an open mind
- Preconceived ideas are your worst enemy. It is best to just go with the flow and see where it takes you.
- Be flexible
- The biggest mistake you can make is thinking that you can control things that are out of your control. You are in a foreign country so naturally, the things you can actually control are very limited.
- Learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable
- It is moments like these where we learn and grow!
My first day in my study abroad program in India and I am already getting philosophical. I guess that means I am off to a good start?
I cannot wait to see everything the next couple of days and weeks bring. I am 100% ready to fully immerse myself in India and learn everything I can about the culture. I am ready to eat foods that will most likely make me cry because they are too spicy. I am ready to be challenged in ways I cannot even imagine. I am ready to learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable. And most importantly I am ready to embrace all that is India.
Until next time,
Victoria