Returning from Study Abroad: Why this Is Only the Beginning

Written by Phillip December 14, 2015

From the tomb of the unknown solider in Rome

From the tomb of the unknown solider in Rome

From the villa Borghese Gardens

From the villa Borghese Gardens in Rome

From the castle Sant Angelo in Rome

Studying abroad was an incredible experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I’m home now and upon my arrival, I had two of my best friends waiting at the airport to surprise me with big bear hugs. For weeks they told me they wouldn’t be able to make it to the airport and they actually had me going for a bit. There was no better feeling than having my friends waiting for me with hugs the second I got back.

There is an unshakably awkward feeling being in your hometown after 5 months of being in Europe. You will see buildings and friends with a different perspective than ever before.

Connecting with some of your friends may also feel a bit challenging. It’s likely that comparing your experiences with theirs may almost create an awkward tension because you have most likely had a diverse amount of life changing experiences. Everyone and everything you come in contact with will seem like it hasn’t been touched by time because you have simply been doing so much. If you’re like me you will realize that the world has so much more to offer you than the tiny town you grew up in.

While abroad, it felt like at least every other weekend was spent on a different adventure. I toured famous cathedrals, walked on the walls of Cittadella, enjoyed the work of Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, climbed the castle of San Marino, walked up the Duomo and Bell Tower of Florence, hiked Mount Grappa and the cliffs of Cinque Terre, explored the complexities of Rome, biked through the streets of Utrecht and so much more. I spent my semester talking about what happened last weekend and daydreaming of what was going to happen the upcoming weekend. I put my best effort into my work because my teachers pushed me to my full potential.

I learned what it was like to be a global citizen of the world and to embrace other cultures. I look back at the past 5 months of my life and I can’t think of one regret I have. Every situation was either a blessing or a lesson. I had my luggage stolen and I still don’t think I would have gone back and changed what had happened. That was one of the most memorable days of my life and taught me an incredible life lesson.

In all honesty, writing these blogs taught me a good deal as well. Posting these blogs has assisted me in keeping in touch with my inner writer and keep track of all the adventures I had throughout the semester. It’s a little challenging keeping track of the time when every weekend is another adventure and every week is spent focused on school work. If anyone is reading this and is still undecided about studying abroad then please do it.

Not for me. Not for CIMBA. Do it for yourself.

Do it to create unbelievable adventures that you will have engrained in your mind for the rest of your life.

Someone at CIMBA inspired me one day when they told me they want every single gray hair on their head to speak of another adventure they had throughout their lifetime. That’s how I want to live my life and it’s a lifestyle I think everyone should try at least once. I never realized how enormous the earth was before I started traveling it and I still have so much to explore. At first I thought this would be my last adventure before I was strapped down to a 9-5 job, but now I have come to realize that my life is the adventure and there really is no stop in sight for me. I am limitless.