The 5 Rules Study Abroad Has Taught Me
Written by mackenziedyer July 6, 2023
What an incredible 4 weeks it has been! Thank you all for following along with me!
My time at CIMBA is now over and I am so thankful to have had this blog as an outlet to share memories I will never forget. As this will be my last post, I wanted to use this blog to share some advice on what I’ve learned over the past month. Studying abroad has truly been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There’s not anything that can compare to the amount of resilience and self-confidence I have experienced during my time in Italy. Since my time abroad has come to an end, I have had some time to reflect back on my journey. In this post, I want to share with you the 5 rules I have learned and lived by from studying abroad.
Rule 1: Be Present
The world is an amazing place filled with so much beauty. It’s easy to get wrapped up in our bubble of everyday life, but be present!! Don’t ruin the moment by worrying about what you could be doing or what you wish you could do. Don’t be focusing on the past or the future. Live in the moment and soak up every second of it.
Rule 2: Be Patient
Give it time!! Things may not go exactly as you had hoped at times, but everything will work out. When you miss a train or your flight gets canceled (I experienced both), be patient! Being immersed in a new place can be challenging and there will be bumps in the road. These bumps are learning experiences and without them, we wouldn’t have the funny stories and memories to share with our friends and families.
Rule 3: Be Grateful
This a rule that I believe everyone should live by! This experience has taken the definition of grateful to a whole new level for me. I have always been a big believer in the saying “The more you appreciate what you have, the more you will grow as a person”. I experienced so many moments when all I could think was “Someone pinch me”. Seeing a side of the world I was completely unfamiliar with has given me a whole new appreciation for the people and things around me.
Rule 4: Exude Kindness
Be kind to others. There are times when you may get frustrated with your plans or the people around you. Language barriers can be a challenging obstacle to get around, but it is possible! Be kind, put yourself in others’ shoes, and try to be understanding. At the end of the day, being kind and patient will benefit you in the long run.
Rule 5: Don’t compare
Live by compersion, not comparison!! This is your own experience abroad, so make it how you want to remember it. It’s easy to compare your experience to others, but ultimately you decide how you’re going to spend your time and remember your experience. Pinpoint what you want to do and the things you want to see. Just enjoy every second of it! The memories I have made during my time with CIMBA will hold a special place in my heart. The students, staff, and locals are people I will never forget. I am so thankful for this program and all the amazing relationships that came with it. Thank you to everyone who has read my blogs throughout this last month and I hope you have enjoyed it!
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