By Jacob Fougere
Before my time studying abroad, I already knew I had a love for travel…which is why I always planned on going abroad. I’ve been fortunate enough to have experienced parts of Southeast Asia, India, Greece, Spain, and the UK all before my semester abroad. From backpacking with my mom at a young age to hostel hopping with friends after high school, it has created a deep desire to see and experience the rest of the world. Although I had traveled for multiple months in a row, I had yet to actually live in a different country as one does while studying abroad. It was really the first time I had the chance to build a different and separate life than the one back home. The university I attend in the United States is an hour’s drive from where I grew up. Of course, I am extremely happy with my decision to stay close to home, as I love the state of Vermont and all UVM has to offer. However, that newness of living somewhere different had yet to happen to me.
I chose to study in Milan, Italy, and it was an amazing decision. Living in this beautiful city gave me something that my previous travels did not: a home base. Just like living in a different town or city back home in the States, I had a commute, grocery runs, favorite areas, familiar streets, and a routine that slowly started to feel normal; however, I was in Italy. On the simple basis of Milan being my return destination, it didn’t take long for me to be excited on the flights back from weekend trips. Not only to see my new friends, but to feel comfortable again. Once you develop a sense of familiarity and community, a place that seemed so foreign becomes home. This home allowed me to do so much and learn far more than I intended. Naturally, taking an Italian language course was going to improve my speaking skills, but there is something spectacular about being immersed in a foreign-speaking country and using my newfound skills in practice. Not only seeing the culture, but experiencing it in every aspect possible. Their way of life, the food (especially in Italy), the music, the passion, the architecture, and so much more.
I highly encourage students to step out of their comfort zone and go to that seemingly scary place that doesn’t speak English all that well. For me, Milan was positioned perfectly. Not only is it remarkably close to so many European cities, but it also sits right next to the Dolomites; beautiful lakes; and the Swiss Alps aren’t too far away either. Then there’s the entirety of Italy to see with the absurdly convenient train system to get to all these beautiful places. I think the beauty of studying abroad is surrounding yourself with people you’d never have the chance to meet. Now, of course, there were tons of Americans in my program in Milan, but there were also people from everywhere else: Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Lebanon, Spain, Canada, Japan, China, France, Germany, and so on. This gave me such a unique opportunity to build relationships with these fascinating and different people.
My biggest piece of advice to any students who are unsure about studying abroad is to take the opportunity seriously. You do not have to feel completely ready. You do not need every detail figured out. Part of the value is learning as you go, and regardless of my previous travel experience, I still learned so much. It pushed me to become more independent, flexible, and confident, but it also gave me a deeper appreciation for everyday life in another culture. Now that I’m back home, I’m so grateful I got to experience that community for an entire semester and create meaningful connections with so many wonderful people. Then there’s also all the cool and fun places I went to while being over there that were just remarkable. I’ve only been back home about a month now and am currently living in my college town. I swear, literally every single person I’ve talked to who missed the chance or decided against going abroad says they wish they would have taken that opportunity. Maybe their mindset shifted after seeing everyone’s Instagram posts or hearing their crazy stories. Sometimes all it takes is for people close to you to experience something for you to realize what it’s all about. No matter how many reels we see online or how many blogs we read, such as this one, it may need to come from a close friend, family member, or maybe even a coworker. With that being said, I encourage people to talk to others who did go abroad or who traveled in general to try and grasp a tiny piece of what they lived.
Whether or not studying abroad feels right for you at first, I urge you to travel. Seeing the world is something so valuable, and you just don’t realize it. I know it might seem scary, but that’s exactly why you have to go. We don’t push ourselves enough anymore, and why not use a beautifully structured program built exactly for you to get started with tons of people your age? Good luck, and I hope it opens you up to all the amazing things the world has to offer.
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