I’ll be honest with you: this kind of experience comes with a warning, but it’s the good kind of warning. If you’re thinking about moving abroad or studying abroad, I can’t recommend it enough. (And if you haven’t heard my story about how I ended up abroad) I never got the chance to study abroad during college — COVID took that from me. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned since, it’s that it’s never too late to go abroad, never too late to start over, and never too late to take a chance on something.
Living abroad, whether it’s three months, six months, or a year, will feel euphoric. I’m not promising everyone will have the exact same experience I did. But when you come from one world and step into another, things start shifting, both inside you and around you. And no, it’s not perfect; I’ve had my trials and tribulations too. But here’s what I’ve learned: that first year, or those first three to six months, however long you go, will feel like a vacation. You’ll feel on top of the world. You’ll be on this kind of high, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, open, exploring again. It’s truly euphoric.
Now, I’m not sure how it feels for people who move within the European Union, since the lifestyle there is somewhat similar from country to country. But I came from the US, which is its own world, and moved to Spain—which is a completely different world. And honestly, I still find myself yearning for how I felt that first year.
I even had a little relationship during that time, and I think it just reminded me how open I was. It didn’t work out, unfortunately. But that’s part of the warning: be careful during your time abroad, because emotions and feelings are amplified. Everything hits harder when you’re on that high. So if you ever feel down or unmotivated in your second year and beyond, know this: there’s nothing wrong with you. It’s just that high might be wearing off.
My first year abroad, I was excited, motivated, ready to take on the world. My second year, I did a lot of soul-searching; I solo traveled across Europe, but I was also really lonely. Moving abroad is hard in itself. But moving to two or three different cities within two years? You can’t find your footing. You’re constantly changing your foundation, and you can’t find your people because you never stay still long enough.
Do I regret my second year? No, absolutely not. If anything, it taught me more about myself than anything else. I saw more of the world, learned what I can and can’t do, and I’m genuinely grateful for it. But I definitely didn’t feel the same way I felt during year one, and that’s okay.
So here’s my advice: if you’re going to study abroad or move abroad, take it all in. Soak in every moment, but protect yourself in the process. Stay open: to love, to friendships, to new things, to new experiences. I truly believe everyone should do this at least once in their life. Just do it with balance. Don’t over-give, don’t overspend, and don’t overindulge.
Because the point isn’t to burn out chasing the high; it’s to let the experience change you, and then carry a little bit of that experience with you wherever you go next. So if you’re going to be an auxiliar, a student, an au pair, or a digital nomad, brace yourselves. This isn’t a warning to fear; it’s a warning to embrace.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
