Traveling Europe: A Seasoned Student's Tips for an Amazing Abroad Experience

Last Christmas, I was planning on embarking on my study abroad semester in Dublin, what I now understand as one of the greatest decisions of my life. Nostalgia has been brewing, and was especially prevalent yesterday when I recommended a place to stay in Dublin to a fellow Champlainer. Looking at a map of Dublin brought back so many memories, and I realized that I had acquired so much knowledge of the city by living there which I surprised myself by remembering, such as the South side of the Liffey is noted by the even number districts such as Dublin 2, Dublin 4, etc, and the North end is noted by the odd numbers. This prompted me to write a post of recommendations from someone who's been there to my friends and co-workers who are about to embark on their own study abroad experiences. I hope I can offer some wisdom, as I was hesitant to take the leap at first myself, but am so happy that I did.

First of all, congratulations on signing your life away in paperwork (including Champlain's "I will not drink clause" if you're going to Dublin - ha!), purchasing your plane ticket, packing up and moving home after the semester - you are halfway there and the best is yet to come! Which leads me to my first point...

1. Your pre-departure stress will be rewarded.

Sunrise before landing in Dublin.

Prior to my arrival in Dublin, I was stressed about everything, nervous about the unknown and leaving the safety, friends and comfort of Burlington to study in Ireland. By the third week in, I was having the time of my life and had already scheduled a trip to continental Europe to visit my friend in Vienna for the weekend (Most of you know the end of that story). So, trust me - all your hard work to get there will be rewarded by the times you will enjoy all over the continent!

2. Don't be upset if you get lost - it happens and it's part of the experience!

The first day I arrived in Dublin, a group of us Champlainers walked around and purposefully got lost in order to get a feel for the city. Don't be afraid to ask for directions. The best places to ask for directions are hotels or banks because they are likely to speak English, and can probably offer a map. When I was in Paris and desperately looking for my hotel, I even walked into a Starbucks and the employee was happy to help me (sometimes familiar places are comforting).


3. If possible, travel with one other person or in groups.

Now, I'm not saying you can't take a trip by yourself for the weekend, but it's already a better time when you can share experiences, laugh when you say a phrase wrong, decipher public transportation schedules, and enjoy the food with others. Take advantage of your friends who are studying in different countries! It's likely that they can accomodate you (or sneak you in - whichever!) and it's always better to have an expert on-hand so you can enjoy your time there with a little less stress.

If you're going to travel by yourself, talk to some of your friends because you never know which one of their friends is studying abroad in the same city which is your destination! If that fails, consider indulging on a tour of the city such as a culinary tour (talk about yum!) . This way you can meet people and bond over a common love of food or your interest in the city. Which leads me to my next suggestion (which is especially relevant if you're "flying" solo)...

Chocolate truffles from my Parisian Chocolat Tour.

4. Study up about your destination before you arrive!

How to get to the Guinness Storehouse.

Learn the public transportation ahead of time - most tourist destinations have websites with maps included and directions so have those with you and study on the plane! Plan out how you're getting to and from the airport, your hostel, etc. Spontanaeity is great and all, but you will feel relieved if you can pull out your maps before you arrive at your destination. Dublin's tourist site is a great example - they even have a city tour podcast you can download before you get there! Your hostels will probably have all this information on hand, so even if you don't plan ahead someone can direct you upon your arrival. (I would suggest purchasing a little plastic envelope to carry all of your paperwork in with your reservations, plane tickets, etc. so you can stay organized in your short stays around Europe.) Also, learn some specific laws about the country - in Austria there is no open-container law so you can drink on the U-Bahn (their subway), which is not true for Ireland.

5. Finally, don't limit yourself and keep an open mind. The possibilities are endless (to quote a Champlain marketing piece...).

But it's true - travel as much as you can. You will come back a new person with a fierce sense of independence, confidence and self-reliance. Don't hold back because the risks will be rewarded with things of which you could have never dreamed. I will never forget climbing down to ruined castles and meeting life-long friends over pints of Guinness at various pubs or the snow in Vienna, the serendipitous sequence of events in Paris, and the beauty and history of Amsterdam.

I have to throw a 6th one in here:

6. YOU MUST GET KEBAB! They are the BEST!!!!

Here's me enjoying my first kebab in Vienna after a night of dancing.


All in all - I am completely and utterly jealous of those who are about to embark on their study abroad journeys. I wish I could go with you, but I have to graduate this May. So please, please do me the favor of keeping me in the loop (another tip - don't expect a good internet connection anywhere in Europe). Take lots of pictures and write down your experiences in a journal; you won't regret it - my friend's roommate in Vienna wrote down a quick bullets of what he did everyday in a little notebook if he couldn't write a whole entry. I hope I was able to offer some useful tips, and I'm sure you will be able to write your own after only a few short weeks abroad. Have FUN and be safe!

If you've studied abroad, or live in Europe and are reading this - what advice can you offer?