Questions I Had Before Studying Abroad and What I Learned Along the Way

A little encouragement from one student to another 
By Sadie Ellis, High School Abroad Italy Fall Semester 2024

Before I left 

Before I left for my semester abroad in Italy, I was beyond excited – but also pretty nervous! 

Personally, I’ve always been a person who likes to feel prepared for every situation, so the idea of moving to a country on the other side of the world with a different language, culture, and way of life was definitely intimidating! I had a million little questions that I couldn’t really find the answer to, like: “What if I don’t fit in?”, or “Should I bring school supplies?” So I decided to write them down. 

Now that I’m back home, I have answers to those little questions, so if you too are looking for some answers, this is for you. 

How do I avoid embarrassing myself with touristy behavior? 

Laugh all you want, but I was concerned! Of course I would be different, maybe stand out a little, but I still wanted to avoid being that tourist. You know, the one who’s mispronouncing ciao like che-ow or asking for directions to “Piazza Del Duomo” and hoping someone doesn’t notice that you completely butchered the name. But here’s the thing: it’s all part of the experience, and honestly, leaning into the awkwardness is your best bet. 

I had to learn to laugh at myself and shake off mistakes. My host family thought my little mishaps and embarrassing moments were pretty funny too, no judgement, just a little blip to shrug off! 

If I had to give you a piece of advice though, it would be: don’t overdo the touristy stuff. Yes, the Colosseum is amazing, but maybe try not to point at it like you’ve never seen a building before (you’ve probably seen a building, right?). Subtlety, my friend – subtlety. 

So remember: the whole point of studying abroad is to embrace the discomfort. If you mess up, just laugh. You’ll be fine, and honestly, those embarrassing moments will probably be your best stories when you get back! 

What if I feel out of place? 

Feeling out of place is totally normal during your exchange. I know I felt insecure at first – desperately trying to fit in and feel like a “real” Italian student. But here’s the thing: it’s not about blending in with everyone else. It’s about finding what makes you feel comfortable and confident. 

You’ll probably hear people tell you to just be yourself and not care what others think, and yeah, that’s good advice. I tried that too, but honestly, I think there’s a balance. You can be true to yourself while also embracing the new culture around you – it’s all about finding your own rhythm and carving out your own place in this new adventure! 

Should I bring school supplies? 

Nope, you don’t need to bring any school supplies. You can easily buy all of that stuff there. I didn’t bring anything for school except my backpack and (unfortunately) a giant Italian textbook. I debated on bringing it because it was big and heavy, and taking up precious luggage space, but I convinced myself I’d want to keep studying and finish the material. 

Want to know how many times I used it? Once. Yep, I used it one time and then it just sat collecting dust in my room for the rest of the semester. So, moral of the story, don’t bring any huge textbooks and buy anything else you might need there. You’ll be glad you did! 

Am I actually gonna become fluent in Italian? 

I think it depends from person to person, my language skills definitely improved a lot over the semester but I don’t think I’d go so far as to say “fluent.” Intermediate is more like it. I can understand like 90% give or take of what I read and hear and I can hold my own in conversations but I still have plenty to learn. 

How do I avoid burning out while making the most of every moment? 

They tell you to say YES to the most things possible while abroad and I agree! But it’s important to stay in tune with yourself and know when you need to take a break, otherwise you will burn out. 

For example, when I was in Italy I went to a handful of birthday parties with my host sister, and I was invited to go with her to a really big 18^th birthday party, which normally I would have gone to but that week we had been out a lot, I’d been studying for a test, and I was starting to feel like I was getting a cold, so I got over my FOMO and decided not to go. It was hard not to feel guilty about it but ultimately it was the right decision for me. 

All that to say, don’t feel guilty about taking a day to rest – it’ll help you fully enjoy other aspects of your experience. 

How will studying abroad change me? 

I can only speak from my own experience, but I learned the importance of not taking myself too seriously, I realized how much I love living abroad and now aim to do it again in the future, I learned a new language and made meaningful relationships that I hope will last throughout my lifetime. 

Studying abroad will definitely change you – hopefully for the better! And if you’re feeling like I was, nervous and unsure like I was, I hope my little bits of advice helped calm those pre-departure jitters. My biggest tip? Write down all your unanswered questions before you go, and see how many you can answer when you come back from your time abroad. You might be surprised by how much you’ve learned along the way!