Family of Sites 
Studying by itself can be challenging, which puts studying in a foreign country in a whole different level of difficulty. This past summer has been one of the most formative and informational experiences that I have ever had; but it may not have ended that way unless I took the advice from my professor before I left America. I can’t stress the importance of taking advantage of every minute, even if that means pushing yourself to live outside of your comfort zone.
I decided to test this theory by taking a solo trip to a completely new, more rural town at the end of the program. I found myself completely responsible for myself, my finances, and my communication, as I no longer has the support of my fellow students to fall back on. I was so nervous at first. I thought I would miss a train, or a bus, and end up stranded somewhere with no service or map to find my way home.
But funnily enough, I actually found myself feeling more confident in my language skills than ever before simply because I lacked resources to help me. I talked with the workers at the bus station with no problem, and even shot the breeze with storeowners in the sleepy town. In major cities, most people know at least a little bit of English, so it is possible to fall back on that crutch if need be. But the cities that I visited were a bit different. The only time I heard my native language that day was when I met a girl my age who was studying English. I truly believe that my communication skills became stronger because I was by myself, and had no choice but to acclimate to the non-English speaking village.
I believe that it is important to break away from the group every now and then, and spend a day relying solely on yourself. This isn’t meant to sound insensitive, but when you’re given the opportunity to study in a foreign country for a finite amount of time, you can’t waste time waiting up for people. If you want to do something, but others don’t share the same interest, don’t get discouraged! Go out and do it by yourself! There is absolutely no shame in spending time alone. In fact, I think exploring new places by yourself is crucial to achieving the maximum amount of personal development because you are left alone with your thoughts for a while, which fosters your ability to appreciate your surroundings without being influenced by anyone’s opinions but yours.
My final point through this scatter-brained piece of advice is that you really need to make the very most of your time abroad. Live each day avoiding every possibility of having regrets on the plane ride home–regrets about not seeing a certain museum that you meant to visit, or regretting not trying harder to branch out and meet new people. Use this as motivation to make bucket lists and stick to them. Do one thing everyday that you can look back on as a significant memory of your time studying abroad. And most importantly, be independent. It may be scary, but living for yourself will give you the mental capability to do exactly what you want to do, and leave no experience unexplored.
You’ll Also Love
Prometheus Cave and Martvili Canyon: Visiting Two of Georgia’s Natural Wonders
In mid-July, our SRAS group went on a day trip to Kutaisi, the second largest city in Georgia and also a popular wedding destination. After going to Bagrati Cathedral, we ate dinner and spent the night at a nearby guest house. Unfortunately, I did not feel well that evening, so I went straight to bed […]
Travel Guide to Liepāja
Liepāja is Latvia’s third largest city and future European Capital of Culture in 2027. A mid-size port city on the western-most Baltic coast of Latvia, it is known by some as the “city where the wind is born” due to the constant ocean breeze blowing inland. The city has had many lives as a fishing […]
Five Great Day Trips from Riga, Latvia: Hiking, Castles, Caves, and More
Latvia is small country with a long history. Just outside the Riga lie a number of great sites to see – from sandy beaches to medieval castles and from majestic national parks to places literally straight out of fairy tales. See below for a small selection to get you started! Cesis: A Medieval Town […]
9 Reasons To Visit Batumi, Georgia
When the world first came into existence, the Creator had a big meeting where he divided up the Earth and gave different pieces of land to all the people of the world. As luck would have it, the Georgian people were having a supra (a grand feast) the same day, had a little too much […]
Krakow: A Trip to Poland’s Cultural Capital
Kraków is Poland’s most visited city and is known as the county’s cultural capital. Krakow’s old town was one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a UNESCO City of Literature, and offers amazing architecture, history, and food. Just 2.5-3 hours from Warsaw, you take in many of the major sites in three days […]
SRAS Program Travel from Riga: Day Trip to Jurmala
Jurmala is a resort town on the Baltic Sea coast with a long history. It’s known for its traditional architecture, cultural institutions, and, of course, its surprisingly warm beaches. SRAS students in Riga regularly travel to Jurmala, allowing them to see both life outside the capital, but also to see how many Latvians relax on […]
Travel Guide to Ikšķile and Ogre from Riga
There are many reasons why a student studying in Riga should go see Ikšķile and Ogre. Located only about a half hour from Riga, each of these cities is over 800 years old and have played important roles in the history of Latvia. Ikšķile, for instance, has the ruins of Latvia’s oldest church while Ogre, […]
Batumi Trip for SRAS Students in Tbilisi
SRAS students studying in Tbilisi take a weekend trip to see Batumi, a major resort city and port along Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Over three days and two nights, we had peer coaching, a city tour, a lecture for ICON students, and plenty of free time to explore the city. I greatly enjoyed the food […]
Long and Winding Road from Bishkek to Osh, Kyrgyzstan
This past weekend, I visited Osh, the “southern capital” of Kyrgyzstan. I’ve always wanted to go because I heard the 620-kilometer Bishkek-Osh Highway, the only main road connecting Russia with the south of Central Asia, was gorgeous. I also wanted to see “the south.” People always talk about Kyrgyzstan’s cultural, linguistic, and political “north-south divide,” […]
