From Uff da to Opa

In a little less than a month I will be starting my semester abroad in Athens/Rome and it still feels like a dream! Despite knowing I would be spending fall of 2017 abroad since this past February, it really hasn't sunk in yet that I will be living on the other side of the world. I'm not sure when it will finally hit me that I am going on this adventure, but I know that I sure am excited. For those who may be interested in planning a trip abroad, here are my thoughts and what I have been up to preparing for my upcoming trip:

How to Prepare for Your Semester Abroad: A Guide by Kelly Holmin

I like to be as organized as possible, so naturally, I have been taking measures to ensure that my transition into a different life routine is as graceful as possible. So how exactly does one prepare for four months living in a country they have never even visited? Well, it turns out I really have no idea, so I've been making it up as I go along. Some of my preparations are likely to be more beneficial than others. For example, I'm confident that buying my textbooks, investing in a new travel backpack and attempting to learn basic Greek will come in handy. I'm not as confident that the hundreds of pins I have added to my travel board on Pinterest will ever actually be read. I am even less confident that I needed to splurge on as many clothing items as I have in the past few months. Everything all of a sudden has become necessary. "This black dress would be PERFECT for a night out in Rome!" "Can't you just see me in this outfit gazing out into the ocean in Santorini?" "I HAVE to have these aviators for Europe. The sun is much more intense on the Mediterranean!" I did not actually make this up, these are the exact thoughts that have coerced me into buying more clothing. That being said, I am glad I was so concerned with being well informed about the countries I am visiting, packing everything I need, etc. Truthfully, I don't think there is a way to be fully prepared for a semester abroad because you don't know what challenges you are going to face, but I also think that is part of the fun. I know I will feel some culture shock, maybe end up in some uncomfortable situations and sometimes get homesick, but that is all part of the process that makes the experience worth it and helps me to grow as a person.

Goals

This past spring, as a requirement for one of my classes I will be taking abroad, I was required to go to several meetings with other students traveling on the same program as me to prepare for our trip. At one of our meetings, each of us were asked to create goals for our time abroad. I don't usually make a list of goals, but for this trip it just seemed right as there are so many things I want to accomplish. Here are some of the things I hope to accomplish this fall:

1. Perfect a classic Greek/Italian dish: I've loved to be in the kitchen for about as long as I can remember (Bobby Flay is my hero) and the classic cuisine of Italy and Greece is one of the things I am most looking forward to in my time abroad. I cannot wait to dine at family-owned restaurants where they have been making traditional Italian/Greek dishes for centuries, going back to my own apartment and attempting to recreate them for myself. Hopefully I will find one particular dish that I really love and make it over and over until it comes out just right. Then, when I'm back in the states and missing my time abroad, I can whip up my recipe and reminisce. Plus, with a signature dish you can always wow a crowd. When I'm 35 at a wine night and everyone is like "Wow Kelly, this is amazing! Where did you get the recipe?" I can nonchalantly respond "Oh, it's nothing, just something I picked up when I was living in Athens." Look at me being so fancy.

2. Nap less: Anyone who knows me at all knows that I am an avid napper. One of my goals while abroad is to actually sleep at night so that when I have free time during the day I can go out and explore. Who wants to nap away one of the most amazing adventures of their life?

3. Make new friends: This is so cliché, but I am fortunate enough to be going abroad with 29 other awesome Bennies and Johnnies. Being away from my best friends and all my family will no doubt be challenging, but I have found that traveling has a way of creating a unique bond between people. I'm looking forward to getting to know others better and hopefully create some long-lasting friendships on this journey.

4. Volunteer: Study abroad is interesting in that for the first time in my college career I will not be working, have labs, or be involved in any extra curricular activities for an entire semester. This free time is by design; one of the most essential aspects of study abroad is immersing yourself into the culture. What better way to do that then giving back through volunteering? Now that I'm in college, I don't have the time to volunteer as much as I would like and volunteering abroad gives me the opportunity to not only help others, but connect more with locals and the community. In the past, students on the Greco-Roman program have volunteered locally through the offices that coordinate our stays, so I am excited to see what opportunities are available.

5. Hold my own in Greek/Italian: When I went to Paris four years ago, I tried profusely to speak in French to the locals. I would introduce myself in French while a Parisian would look at me sheepishly before cutting me off and speaking in English. At almost any major city you go to in Europe, locals speak at least conversational English and they hate it when foreigners (cough, cough, Americans) butcher their beautiful native language. I'm hoping that after two months in both Italy and Greece, I will learn enough Italian and Greek to hold a basic conversation without someone wanting to sock me.

***Disclaimer: I still am not positive on the correct pronunciation of the word "gyro."

Well, that's about it for now. I am so excited to begin documenting my memories and sharing my experiences from this once in a lifetime opportunity. Aντίο!

#travel #greece #italy #studyabroad #rome #athens #college