Studying abroad is full of unexpected experiences, but nothing could have prepared me for the absolute chaos that was our spring break. What we thought would be a calm, beautiful trip quickly turned into a series of unfortunate events that were both hilarious and oddly life changing. It all started in Barcelona when we arrived at our hostel, only to realize that my friend had accidentally booked it for the wrong dates. That set the tone for what was to come. In Lisbon, I managed to drop my phone into the ocean, where it remains to this day. One friend missed his 4 AM flight, another flipped her ATV in the pouring rain, someone lost their wallet, and to top it all off, another friend misplaced her passport in Morocco an hour before our flight. So yeah, it felt like we had accomplished every possible travel disaster in the book.
Despite all of this, that trip shifted my perspective in a way I never expected. Losing my phone was initially a nightmare. I felt disconnected, lost and honestly a little panicked. But as the days went on, I realized how much I relied on it for distractions. Without it I was forced to be present. I noticed things I would've otherwise missed and picked up so many meaningful details making my travel experiences so much more fun. It made me realize I had to be in the moment because I couldn’t just capture it and save it for later.
Believe it or not, I even had to sit through a three-hour flight with absolutely nothing to do. But in that time, I managed to make close friends with the other study abroad people sitting next to me, something that probably wouldn’t have happened if I had been glued to Wordscapes on my phone. I also discovered a new love for this odd dragon book my friend let me borrow, something I honestly never would have expected to enjoy, but with no options, I got completely hooked. As it turns out losing my phone opened me up to experiences I never would have found on my own.
This trip also made me more adaptable. When things go wrong (and clearly, they will), you have no choice but to figure it out and move forward. We laughed through the chaos, supported each other, and made it work. Traveling can be unpredictable, and instead of stressing over every little detail, I’ve learned to embrace the unknown.
Most importantly, this experience taught me to truly appreciate the people around me. All 13 of them. When my phone was gone, I wasn’t scrolling through social media or constantly checking messages. I was fully present with my friends. I had deeper conversations, laughed more, and felt more connected to the world around me. In a way losing my phone was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to step back and realize how often I let screens distract me from the real experiences happening in front of me. (Still sorry mom & dad)
Now, as I continue my study abroad journey, I’m trying to hold onto that mindset. I want to be intentional with my time, cherish every moment, and not let little inconveniences ruin incredible experiences. Yes, spring break may have been chaos, but I wouldn’t change a thing. It reminded me that life isn’t about everything going perfectly, it’s about the memories you make, the lessons you learn, and the people you share it all with.
If there’s one piece of advice, I give to any future CIMBA students let it be to always double-check your reservations (seriously, triple-check them), keep important documents in a safe place, and be mindful of your belonging's phones, wallets, and passports seem to have a way of disappearing when you least expect it. But above all don’t let the small disasters ruin your trip. Travel is unpredictable, and sometimes the best stories come from the things that don’t go as planned!