sarahblaiser

Learning to Adapt to Stress

Published on October 5, 2023October 25, 2023 by sarahblaiserLeave a comment

One skill that I would definitely recommend anyone to work on for traveling abroad, is one’s ability to go with the flow and problem-solve. From being here for the past month and a half I have learned that almost nothing goes to plan. This is just a fact of life. Thankfully, I do my best to go with the flow, to begin with, but my will has been tested on this journey.

Almost every weekend of my travels something has gone awry. Whether it’s a plane being canceled, not being able to get somewhere because of strikes or riots, or unpredicted COVID scares, all require problem-solving of some sort.

It has always been hard for me to handle problems head-on and in the moment. I very much shove it under the bed and never think about it again. This tactic is almost impossible abroad, likely in life as well. Here I have been learning that the fun moments are when things don’t work out. I have found myself excited for something to go wrong because it brings the most surprises. Do not get me wrong, when everything goes right, it is absolutely amazing, but that is not always the case.

This past weekend I traveled to Budapest (it was absolutely amazing to make this a stop on your list). Within this three-day vacation, I missed one bus due to a strike, missed my connection flight and was “stuck” in Paris (can you ever be upset about being stuck in Paris?), missed a city tour, and took the wrong train to the airport. These things happen! Thankfully, I had someone else with me to help endure these kerfuffles. My patience and go-with-the-flow attitude was aided by someone else’s patience and go-with-the-flow attitude.

We utilized the resources given to us by the people around us and utilized our best problem-solving skills. Worse things could have happened and I am sure luck played into the weekend as well, but our attitudes saved us from seeing the weekend as a failure. Studying abroad seems like it is a long amount of time, but once you are here it feels so short. Every experience is extremely rewarding and results in a new lesson. These moments should be cherished and all growth should be celebrated!

Studying abroad is definitely scary and trying at some/most points, but it has produced some of the best connections and experiences that I wouldn’t have been able to find at home. Each day I am here I learn so much about myself. One does not have to go with the flow to study abroad, but it will most definitely come in handy in stressful situations.

P.S. Go to Budapest, you won’t regret it

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Homesickness

Published on September 29, 2023October 25, 2023 by sarahblaiserLeave a comment

This past week has been a bit more difficult for me. I have begun to struggle a bit and feel a lot of the effects of culture shock. I was informed that culture shock is a cycle that will likely occur multiple times while abroad. I have talked with a lot of friends here and have found that many of us are going through the same thing. Some in different programs, some at different times, and multiple times so far, but without fail we all go through it.

I knew culture shock was inevitable, but I hadn’t heard anyone talk about how defeating it feels. For me, it has started to feel l like a very lonely process. There are people around me whom I trusted and am so grateful I have talked to, yet it still feels quite lonely. It feels really weird to be so far away from everything I have ever known. What is really hard for me is learning the different cultural pieces that come with a new country, along with the different languages. I greatly miss talking with a stranger in the street about some mundane thing. Here, it is much more difficult to relate and be understood.

Being abroad and struggling with culture shock has made me much more grateful for the community I have in the United States and empathy for people who are no longer able to live in their native countries. It is so very difficult to try to fit into a whole new world and I cannot imagine how difficult that could be for people under different circumstances.

In order to combat the feeling of homesickness I have tried doing things that would help destress me at home. I go for a walk, listen to music, and remind myself of all the amazing things I have in my new city. Sometimes watching a favorite movie or book that I may have enjoyed a lot from my childhood helps. I make a lot of phone calls to loved ones, but oftentimes these are difficult and have me missing home more. Overall, I find ways to remind myself that I am secure and so happy to be abroad. There are so many amazing things I am experiencing here and I cannot wait to learn so much more. Good and bad coexist together and finding the happy medium is what is difficult, but definitely possible.

If anyone else is homesick, just know you’re not alone! Reach out to someone you know around you and chances are they are going through similar things. One of the fun parts about being abroad or even in any new place is forming a new community. This community is there for the good and the bad so do not feel guilty to lean on them.