Surviving the Waiting Place

In exactly one week, I’ll be boarding a flight to go halfway across the world. It will be a long-anticipated day, to say the least.

My study abroad journey began one year ago when my roommate left to spend her semester in Melbourne, and I returned to an empty dorm room at my oppressively cold upstate New York college. As much as I loved my life at school, over the next five months I found myself living vicariously through her Instagram posts and text updates. Watching thrive abroad made me dream of having adventures of my own. Soon, I was spending most of my snowy Rochester nights lurking on my school’s study abroad portal.

I considered studying in many different corners of the world. Among the contenders: Barcelona, Athens, Cape Town, Sydney, and Auckland. Ultimately, after hours of TikTok scrolling, the crystal clear beaches, imposing glaciers, and sheep-infested hills of New Zealand called to me the most. In New Zealand I would be exposed to some of the most stunning natural scenery in the world and a vibrant indigenous culture. As a city, Auckland offered the study abroad experience that I believed was best suited for me. With a population of 1.5 million people, Auckland seemed big enough to keep me busy, but not an intimidatingly large city. It is known for its friendly, laid-back culture, and it’s much safer than most US cities (a relief to my parents). And most importantly, it is WARM.

As an NCAA athlete participating in a fall sport, my junior spring semester became the only possible time for me to go abroad. As a result, the prospect of studying abroad has lingered with me for a full year, slowly growing more serious. It served as a welcome distraction from hard classes, sports, and work, but it also seemed like an ever-distant dream.

After waiting (somewhat impatiently) for months for the adventure to begin, the most important pre-departure advice I can give is to be present and enjoy your last few weeks before departure, and to use the free time to prepare as much as you can!

I’ve spent the last six weeks up at my school working a part-time job, willing the time to my February 18th departure date to pass faster. But, I’ve also slowly found appreciation for the “waiting place”. It’s given me adequate time to get my documents in order, do my research, make last minute purchases, and agonize over which clothes to pack. I’ve had time for weekend trips, and I’ve gotten back into reading.

So, if there’s one takeaway: enjoy your last few weeks before departure, even if they seem long and boring. Spend a lot of time with family and friends, and use the free time to find a project that interests you. Channel your excitement for your imminent adventure by researching your country so you can be better prepared when you arrive. Finally, studying abroad will (hopefully) consist of plenty of busy days, so cherish the slower days leading up to your departure and take time to chill out before the big adventure begins.