The Truth About Going Abroad

Are you thinking of studying abroad soon? It will be the best decision you make and the most exhausting four months of your life. I’m about three months in, and I have never felt so grateful and in awe of everything, while also completely drained at the same time. I want to share some important information I wish I had known before coming abroad.

Choosing where you want to study abroad is a crucial first step, and it can feel difficult and overwhelming. Let me just reassure you that there is no wrong decision. Every place NYU offers is special in its own way. For me, I was struggling to decide between Florence and Madrid for several months. Ultimately, I chose Madrid, and I could not be happier here. The photo above was taken on a rooftop here, and if you can’t tell, I am extremely biased and would recommend Madrid to everyone. It has the perfect mix of culture, food, nightlife, nature, and so much more. The campus and dorms are located in the city, not on the outskirts, which I believe is important to know when choosing a school, depending on where you prefer. Day trips to Toledo, Valencia, and Segovia are super accessible, and the Madrid airport is only about a 25-minute drive from my dorm.

One thing people are not ready to hear is that the amount of money you spend abroad will most likely be more than you have ever spent in New York. While things in Madrid may be cheaper, the combination of one-of-a-kind stores, traveling, and trying new food places makes it easy to spend a scary amount of money. Traveling every weekend is not realistic for many people, and it is completely ok to stay in your study abroad location on the weekends. Even if it feels like all your friends are jetting off to a new country every weekend, it is just as rewarding to spend weekends at your home base country and explore new places that you haven’t been able to during the school week.

Just like exploring new countries, students should explore new friendships. There are definitely going to be students abroad that you have never met back back in New York. For me, I have met a couple of my best friends in Madrid and we never knew each other in New York. It is such a wild concept that it took coming to Madrid to meet them. In a way, the first week abroad feels like freshman year all over again because everyone is just starting to figure out their routine, how to live in a dorm in a new city, and is on the lookout for friends. It felt somewhat nostalgic and I appreciated the chance to feel like a freshman again as a current junior. 

Before arriving here, I was told flights throughout Europe would be around $50, and that it would be “so cheap” to fly every weekend. That is mostly untrue. Most of my round-trip flights have cost around €200, even when booked in advance. That said, there are budget-friendly options, like the $45 round-trip bus I took to Portugal. Using cheap airlines and finding affordable Airbnbs are all doable, but I would urge you to go places that you really want to see instead of simply going along with everybody else. If you are close enough to where you want to go, day-trips are an inexpensive option since you don’t need to spend any money on housing. I provided a list below of everywhere I have been so far and my upcoming trips. 

So far: 

• Madrid, Spain 

• Seville, Spain 

• Lisbon, Portugal 

• Paris, France 

• Toledo, Spain 

• Amsterdam, Netherlands 

• Rome, Italy 

• London, England 

• Marrakech, Morocco 

Upcoming Trips: 

• Cinque Terre, Italy 

• Florence, Italy 

• Munich, Germany 

• Ibiza, Spain 

My favorite trip I have been on so far is Paris. I went with eight of my friends, and we were able to stay in a nice Airbnb for around $40 a night each. Paris is such a beautiful, historic city, and we fit in a solid amount of activities in such a short time. Some of the things we did included: going to the Eiffel Tower, taking a ferry along the Seine River, going to the Louvre (free with a student discount), trying the different pastries, and exploring the Luxembourg Garden. There is so much you can do in Paris without spending too much money and it was such an magical experience with my best friends. 

If you are traveling with a smaller group or Airbnbs are too expensive, hostels are the next best thing. My best friend and I stayed in a hostel in London with seven strangers in the room, and I felt completely safe. As long as you do the research beforehand and make sure to bring locks for your valuables, hostels can be a great option when trying to save money. 

Solo trips are also incredible and allow you to have full control of everything YOU want to do. Being alone with yourself is rewarding and allows you to reset and TRULY soak in the world around you. Spend your money wisely; you will thank yourself later! 

Before this semester, I had never been to Europe. It was a little intimidating at first, but NYU is very hands-on with planning activities and making everyone feel welcome and secure in their new home. I grew up learning French and had never taken a Spanish class before, so the language barrier was a huge concern for me. Luckily, many people in Madrid speak English, and through my Spanish class here, I can now get by with the basics. Don’t let your language ability dictate which country you choose to study abroad in. 

Another thing I was told is that many of the classes abroad are much easier than they are in the city. Unfortunately, I don’t think I have had a more work-heavy semester than this one. Of course, this all depends on which classes you take and your major, but I was a little surprised by my amount of schoolwork I have each week. My favorite class this semester is Topics in Law and Society with Professor Dubin. I have never taken any classes regarding law and government, but it has been so interesting to learn more about European Law and the variety of cases covering freedom of speech, women’s rights, and much more. Managing classes can certainly be stressful and a lot to balance, but it helps me to remember how lucky I am to be here. Personally, keeping a detailed calendar to keep track of all of my assignments and trips has helped me stay organized and feel less stressed. Before leaving for trips, I make sure to finish any assignments that will be due the following Monday so I can enjoy my time away and have some peace of mind. Realistically, not everyone is going to finish all of their work before their trips. In times like these, I have brought my work with me and used my excess time in the airport or down times of the trip to finish up some work. This way, I am not leaving everything to the last minute when I get back. Remind yourself that you are only abroad once, and as hard as it is, do not overconsume yourself in class so that you miss out on the incredible experiences in front of you. 

Going abroad will be an unforgettable adventure, and if it is feasible for you, I urge you to put yourself out there and do it! You’ll create the best memories that you’ll look back on and cherish in the future, and see the world in a completely new light.