Before Leaving for Your Study Abroad Experience

Hey, my name is Emma. I will be studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain for the next ten months of my life. Of course I am really excited, but recently I’ve been feeling very nervous and quite honestly scared. Though I have been preparing for this trip for almost a year now, the magnetude of my decision is hitting me full force two weeks before I leave. Thoughts like “what if I don’t connect with my host family well?” or “what if I don’t understand my school classes because they are taught in Spanish?” and “what if I get homesick?” are flooding my head. But what I know for sure is that I have a large supporting community watching my back: not just the CIEE support team but also my friends and family here in the U.S. I also have no doubts that this following academic year will be one of the best of my life. I know I will be able to work things out. Having such thoughts is very normal for someone who is leaving home for such a long time. My advice is to remember why you chose to go on this program in the first place. Just think about the new experiences, new places, and new friends that you will encounter throughout this once in a lifetime opportunity. This is such a unique experience that a very few number of people will be able to relate to. These last few weeks before departure will be tough, but try not to dwell too much on the negative. Remember that this experience will ultimately change your life for the better.