Category: Europe

Introducing Sarah Blaiser

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What is/are your major(s)?

Psychology

What is/are your minor(s)?

Criminology and Biology

What is the name of your study abroad program?

IAU College: Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, & International Relations

In what city & country is your study abroad program located?

Aix-en-Provence, France

What is something you would like the blog readers to know about you that they wouldn’t know by just looking at you?

I would want the readers to know that I struggle with anxiety which is one of the reasons I would like to blog. By sharing my struggles with anxiety abroad and how I manage to overcome them I feel may be able to help others that have the same worries. At the very least I think writing about these struggles may help me accept them and adjust abroad as well.

What is one thing that you are most anticipating about your study abroad experience?

I am most anticipating feeling like a stranger. That may sound odd, but I am very excited to slowly start to understand and learn more about a culture different from my own. By being a “stranger” I am opening myself to the ability to come to understand and make the foreign culture my normal for a few months.

Why did you decide to study abroad? or What inspired you to study abroad?

I have always wanted to study abroad and specifically in France. I have been taking French for 9 years and wanted to be able to increase my understanding of the language and the people in this country.

This is a photo from one of my favorite lookouts in Boulder that I often go to with my family.

Preparing for Rome.

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The preparation was probably the most stressful part of the trip for me. I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed while trying to avoid overpacking. I kept asking myself things like “Do I really need a toothbrush? I could always buy one when I get there.”, or “Should I really bring a pillow? The orientation said they would provide me with one.” However, I was most worried about packing the right amount of clothes to make sure I had enough that a missed week of laundry wouldn’t leave me out of options, but I also wanted to make sure I had room in my suitcase for future purchases and souvenirs. Plus, what would I wear? I am a pretty casual guy back at home, but I wanted to make sure I had outfits that matched and didn’t make me look like some guy on vacation. I wanted to look like someone who was, at the very least, trying to fit in. Thankfully, I was able to sort out my could’s and my should’s by just packing what I felt I needed: a toothbrush, shampoo, bodywash, deodorant, a hairbrush, a week and a half worth of clothes, a blanket, and my towel. I also had to bring some other school amenities like my laptop, pencils, and a few books. So far it seems like it’s the right amount of stuff needed but time will tell and luckily, I have plenty of time still.

The one thing they never tell you about traveling abroad is how tiring the flight is. It was about 13 hours with everything, and it was agonizing. I had never been on a plane for longer than 2 hours at a time before, and this flight across the Atlantic felt like it would take days. I was given more legroom than on a standard flight but 13 hours of sitting felt so strange. I tried to sleep through some of the flight, but sleep came to me in 20-minute bursts every 3 or so hours and even that did not make time feel like it was passing any faster. But I made it safely on the ground. I don’t know if I was filled with anxiety about being in a new country or pure excitement for the same reason but going through the immigration process and first-day orientation felt like a dream. Even as I am writing this post, it does not feel real to admit that I am in a whole new country and about to start a whole new adventure filled with history, fun, and beautiful sights that I can hopefully share here.

For now, I will just say that it was a wild ride, and I am glad to be in one piece and able to share this with people. The one thing I regret not bringing with me is a pillow because the pillow given by housing is pretty flat but it’s something I can buy for myself later. Just keep in mind, save money by bringing what you can, but buy what you need when you need it.