Post-trip reflections – Colby Mechem

Now that the trip has come to an end, I’ve had some time to reflect on the biggest lessons I took away from studying abroad. One of the most important was learning how to be okay with discomfort. Being in a new country, not fully speaking the language, and figuring out daily life in a completely unfamiliar environment pushed me in ways I wasn’t used to. It forced me to adapt quickly, and over time, I became more confident in unfamiliar situations. I also gained a lot from navigating travel on my own. After dealing with trains, delays, language barriers, and last-minute changes, I feel like I could go just about anywhere now. I learned how to plan well, stay calm when things went wrong, and adjust without letting it throw me off. Lastly, I learned to be okay with ambiguity. Whether it was unclear instructions, flexible schedules, or trying to make decisions without all the information, I had to get used to making progress without certainty. That shift—being able to move forward even when everything’s not mapped out—has been one of the most valuable parts of this experience.