The Power of Latte Art

Fall in Ireland has begun. This to me means chunky scarfs, the Cocteau-Twins, strolls in St. Stephens Green, warm lattes, and most of all, missing home. As the semester has started to take off, so have my feelings of catching a flight home. Even though being abroad should be the perfect opportunity to forget about being at home, there is the natural human instinct to crave comfort in a familiar place. The urge to be reminded of home is not a foreign feeling, however, understanding that even though I have accepted the adventure of being abroad I have also accepted the challenges that come with it. So, I started to adapt to my homesickness by creating a routine that reminds me of my routine at home, and also making friends that feel like home. 

          Planning my days out beforehand has been a big factor in this, I started to realize that the more I was stuck in my student accommodation, I was denying myself the ability to explore which is what I intend my study abroad experience to entail. Another thing that you might not consider when studying abroad is how much time you actually have with yourself. Being an extroverted individual at my home college, adapting to being comfortable with myself has been a big journey that I am starting to realize is the ultimate character-building factor in my entire study abroad experience. Some might state that it’s a cliché to have a “life-changing” experience abroad, but even though I face some internal struggle with myself every day, I understand that it is part of being independent in a different country. 

        This week I focused on prioritizing my schoolwork and planning my days in a way where I work and also explore the city independently. Here are three things that I made sure were set in my plan when starting my day out. First, a good playlist. There is nothing more satisfying and healing than music that makes you feel happy and positive to be wandering and 21 in Europe. Second, a coffee shop. What is more motivating than a sweet treat to get you in a good mood to be productive with your day? Further, finding coffee shops with free Wi-Fi in Dublin is also a fun way to explore different locations, since not every café has Wi-Fi and seating here (at least from my coffee adventures). Finally, having a good walk in the park or back home. Always take the long walk home, there is no point in rushing home to sit by yourself. I am also 100% sure there is evidence that backs being outside more often will always lead to a better mood. Dublin prizes itself on its many Georgian squares which honestly are amazing places to just sit and watch the ducks or people watch, which has also become one of my favorite pastimes. 

         Back in my home college, my campus has so many places to sit and enjoy good weather, even if it is small in size, there were many ways in which I could take the longer walk back home from class, sit outside and do my assignments with a latte. This is where the importance of latte art comes in handy. Thinking about the fact that a barista will without any doubt make you latte art is something which is not really discussed about much. I know that when I get a latte with art on it, I appreciate the barista for their work and also, I appreciate the fact that it doesn’t take too much work to make someone’s day, so why not put in more effort to make your own day. This gentle reminder is something that helps me be more appreciative of my surroundings. As well as calling my family more frequently when I have free time, even if it is for 20 minutes every other day, I feel more comfortable and happier after a good phone call with my parents and friends. 

           Further, I have planned trips to travel Europe and thanks to Ryan Air, I can go visit Vienna, Athens and Rome for a good affordable price which starts my series of trips exploring different countries. With these ending remarks, I encourage you to go get a latte, and really appreciate the efforts that a stranger can make to make your day. Putting that in perspective for your own life and trying to be more comfortable with channeling that homesickness into something a bit more constructive for your own mental health. Even if you don’t like coffee, finding a hobby or moving into a routine for yourself is something that will definitely help you on your journey abroad as an individual in a different country.