Study Abroad Success Starts Long Before You Board the Plane

Studying abroad is a goal for many college students, and it was a goal of mine since high school. The chance to live in another country felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Everyone I knew who had studied abroad came back saying how it had changed them and how they had learned so many new life skills. 

But what people don’t always talk about are the skills you already need – and likely already have – before you even get on the plane.

When I found out I’d been accepted into a summer internship abroad program in Valencia, Spain, I was thrilled! But as my departure got closer, that excitement started turning into nerves. I began thinking about what was ahead: moving to a country I’d never been to, living with a host family I’d never met, and spending a summer with fellow college students I didn’t know at all. I’d made big moves before, like when I left for college out of state. But this felt like an even bigger leap. 

Once I arrived in Valencia, the culture shock was real – but surprisingly, I felt more confident than I expected. I realized that my past experiences had already given me the tools to navigate this new chapter.

Making new connections: One of my biggest worries when leaving for my internship was how I would connect with people, whether it was my host family, my boss and co-interns, or the other students in my program. Back home, I’ve been in plenty of situations where I had to build relationships from scratch, but doing it across cultures and in another language felt like a whole new challenge. But I quickly learned that you don’t need to have a lot in common to connect with someone.

For example, the first afternoon I spent at my host family’s house, my host mom made me lunch and sat with me while I ate. At first, I just listened as she talked about Valencia, nodding along and responding in my broken Spanish. But as the conversation continued, and in the days and weeks to come, I started talking more and asking questions about things I’d seen that I was curious about. Those small conversations at the dinner table turned into deeper discussions about our cultures. She loved hearing about my American life, and I loved learning about her life as a host mother and an attorney. Over time, my Spanish improved to the point where we could have in-depth conversations, and I realized that sometimes connection comes from differences – not similarities.

Being flexible and embracing new norms: Adjusting to Spanish culture came with its challenges. The eating schedule alone was a shift — lunch at 3 p.m. and dinner at 9 p.m. Spain is also a much more social country than the U.S. People linger over meals for hours, and “to-go” culture basically doesn’t exist. Kids run around playing at midnight and walking everywhere (instead of driving) became my new normal. My host family didn’t run the air conditioning, so the summer nights were uncomfortably hot. But I found that my ability to adapt in other moves and travels, like the experience of camping with family and forgoing creature comforts, had prepared me for this bigger adventure, and I was able to be flexible and embrace the experience. 

Being comfortable in your own skin: Another challenge was standing out. I tried blending in by dressing like locals and speaking Spanish when in public, but my blonde hair, blue eyes, and accent made me an obvious outsider. At first it was uncomfortable to be noticed, but I pushed past the awkwardness and realized I needed to put myself out there. It reminded me of walking into rooms back home where I didn’t know anyone — and that the key was just taking that first step. The Spanish locals were friendly and welcoming, and once I realized that, I stopped worrying about how I looked and sounded and started enjoying being out in public even more.

Going abroad put me in more new situations than I can count, and while it was definitely outside my comfort zone, it wasn’t as intimidating as I feared. So many of the experiences I’d had leading up to it all prepared me in ways I didn’t fully appreciate until I was there. That’s true for any big life change. Maybe it’s not studying abroad for you — it could be starting a new job in a bigger city or traveling internationally. 

I didn’t realize how crucial those past experiences were until I saw how often they came into play during my time abroad. Even small things like joining a new club, trying a hobby you know nothing about, or camping for a week in unfamiliar conditions can leave a lasting impact. Those moments have a way of showing up later in your life when you don’t expect it, so if you’re thinking of trying something new or putting yourself in a situation that feels a little outside your comfort zone, remember that it might just be preparing you for a great study abroad experience that’s to come.