Studying abroad has been a dream of mine for as long as I could remember!! I remember dreaming of the day that I would be in another country living my best life with all the new friends I made and knowing that it would be an experience I’d probably talk about for the rest of my life! Studying abroad can often be portrayed as a dream come true for many people. A chance to dive into a new culture, meet new people, gain different perspectives, and life experiences. However, there are a few things about my initial impressions and experiences I want to touch on!
Over the course of studying abroad, as I’ve seen already, there are going to be many eye opening moments for you and there are different for every person! It’s okay if those moments that you have don’t line up with your friends or things you’ve heard about from other people. That is one of the key factors to remember is that this is YOUR trip and YOU live the experiences in your own shoes.
Before leaving home it can be very nerve racking trying to make sure you pack everything, turned in all your pre-departure paperwork, your flights are all good to go, and leaving family and friends to embark on this new adventure. I can say that none of these things went according to plan… However, everything, in the end, still worked out the way it needed to! My flight was delayed, causing me to miss my connecting flight and be stuck in London an extra day. I got everything packed!! But, they lost one of my luggage for a few days. My initial experience was not what I anticipated and I could’ve let that negatively impact my experience however I did not and now it is something that I am stronger on the other side for overcoming!! I am excited to continue the trip and keep this positive mindset, after all, I did finally make it!
My Arrival in Dubrovnik was so much better than I could’ve expected! It is such a beautiful place to be that it is almost breathtaking every time we come back from a weekend trip it feels like a breath of fresh air to be back. The dorms are very nice and plenty of space. The people are very welcoming and have such beautiful stories to share. Daily life is very simple yet complex. Most people do speak English but can be a bit shy. My initial impressions of Dubrovnik makes me excited to learn more about the culture and history here and embrace what beautiful place I have in front of me.
