End of Semester Reflections

With my time abroad coming to an end, I’ve started to reflect on what I’ve experienced and learned this semester. My time in Florence and around Europe has taught me so much about traveling, values, and myself. Here are some things I’ve learned:

1. Solo-travel is incredible.

Before this semester, I had never really done a solo-trip that was longer than a day. However, I essentially solo-tripped the whole 10 days of my Fall Break (maybe my time in London didn’t exactly count as a solo-trip, but I’ll get into that detail later). The best part of solo-travel is that you can do what you want, when you want, and for however long you want. You don’t need to worry about other people and what they want to do. It is all you. This was really great for me because I love spending an absurd amount of time in museums and just walking around the streets of a city. For example, my time in Paris was incredible because I traveled solo. I had been to Paris before, so I wanted to do less touristy things, spend more time at the museums that I loved, and just wander around the different districts. I probably would not have been able to be so spontaneous with my trip if I was traveling with a group. Plus, it’s nice to be by yourself and really be in the moment.

2. You don’t have to travel every weekend.

There is an immense pressure from peers, and really everyone back home, pushing you to go and travel all the time. You can, but I’m here to tell you that you do not have to travel every weekend if you don’t want to.

It’s really convenient and great, especially if you’re studying abroad in Europe, that we can travel to many different countries in a matter of a few hours either by car, bus, train, or plane. However, it is also nice to stay back and enjoy the city you’re studying in. You can spend time at the museums and monuments in your city, or simply just walk and explore around. Honestly, it would be a little embarrassing if you went home and didn’t know anything about the city you spent a whole semester at.

Many people feel the pressure to travel all the time is because they think this is the ONLY time they’ll be able to travel. This is so false. It is important to realize that this is probably not the last time you’ll be in Europe, or wherever you’re studying. You can always go back to places you missed in the future!

3. Find time to see friends who are also abroad!

This is the detail about me spending my time in London, which I probably would not have counted as “solo travel” because I was visiting and staying with friends! I was able to see fellow IBA Abroad Liaisons (hi Ji Eun and Rachel!) and really spend time with my best friends who I hadn’t seen in ages.

I used to see these friends every day at Stern last year, and this was the first time I had seen them since the end of freshman year. It was really nice that we were able to find a time for us to hang out like old times. Plus, it was like I had my own personal London tour guides!

This semester has been an incredible experience so far, and it is a little surreal that it is coming to an end in less than two weeks!