The Difference a Semester Can Make

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I thought I’d take the time this blog to reflect on my personal journey these last four months. I feel like in these blogs we read all the time about the awesome food we’ve had or the cool places we went to (which is great and such a big part of the experience), but I think over the course of study abroad, there is so much personal growth that happens too that sometimes we don’t always write about.

Here are some things I’ve learned:

  1. Solo travel is as rewarding as it is daunting. Over the course of the semester I’ve taken a couple solo trips, and while I was nervous for them, it really pushed me to grow as a person, work on my problem solving skills, and become more comfortable navigating in a foreign country. While it is very important to stay vigilant on these trips and protect yourself, I also found that there are a lot of really nice people out there 🙂
  2. A quiet night in can be just as fun as a night out. When I first arrived, it definitely seemed appealing to go out with my friends every night and try out a new place; however, your body will thank me when you get that extra 2-3 hours of sleep by not going out. And having your friends over or going to a friend’s house for a game night can sometimes be even more fun!
  3. Entering a new culture will make you look at your own culture in a whole new way and in turn yourself. Being in Germany for awhile now, I definitely look at American culture differently. Having now been an observer of American culture, there are things upon returning to America I wish to keep, but there are also definitely some things I am now more aware of (noise, fashion, etc.).
  4. Conquering social anxiety (I know this is probably easier said than done). Social anxiety has been something I’ve struggled with most of my life. Throughout my semester here in Berlin, it’s been no different, and maybe even a little harder in a different language. There have been plenty of times where my social anxiety has left me hesitant, scared, and almost stopped me from doing some things that have now become some of my best memories. Something that has been really good for me to learn while here is to do these things even when my social anxiety makes it really hard.

When making my decision to do study abroad, I knew that for me it was never going to be about the classes (yes, they’re important), but about learning more about myself, and I think I can confidently say I’ll be going back a person who’s grown a lot. I’m really thankful that I was able to have all these experiences and be able to spend a semester in Berlin. It’s been really really good for me, and I recommend study abroad to anyone thinking about it. You won’t regret it. Till next time!

Tschüss!