Everybody said it: I would change. That I would learn so much it would be like college except for life. That my world would forever be different… Well, 113 days into my first trip abroad and I don’t know if the drastic assumptions above have applied to me yet, But I do have a little first hand experience to reflect on and share. These lessons are mostly based on mistakes, and frustrating backwards crawls through paperwork and learning that I have a lot to learn. |
For those who don’t know, I left Washington (the state) for a TEFL course in Prague, Czech Republic. Along the way I stopped in Ireland for a week, and then attended Oxford Language School for one month, and now currently living and teaching in Prague. So without further ado, here are some tips I have picked up along the way (and yes some of them seem like DUH common sense, but hey, I’m 20 years old and common sense takes time to build;)
Number One: Bring at least two ways to access your money back home.
I actually think I remember someone telling me this before I left. But since I didn’t have a credit card, I figured the one way I used to access my money already (debit card) would work for over here as well…
I would not have realized the significance of this advice if a friend of mine hadn’t dumped my phone, cash, debit card, and transportation pass into the Vltava River on accident….I think the correct expression for that moment was: Boom. Shit just got real. Now comes the process of getting a new debit card to this continent...
So what will I do next time? Talk to my bank about having two cards if it’s possible. Get a credit card for emergencies. Have two separate bank accounts so not all my money (or lack thereof) is in one place. Make sure the bank is aware that transactions will be taking place on a different continent. You know, the basics. ;)
I would not have realized the significance of this advice if a friend of mine hadn’t dumped my phone, cash, debit card, and transportation pass into the Vltava River on accident….I think the correct expression for that moment was: Boom. Shit just got real. Now comes the process of getting a new debit card to this continent...
So what will I do next time? Talk to my bank about having two cards if it’s possible. Get a credit card for emergencies. Have two separate bank accounts so not all my money (or lack thereof) is in one place. Make sure the bank is aware that transactions will be taking place on a different continent. You know, the basics. ;)
Number Two: Pack according to the style of travel
I had the idea that I would be backpacking around Europe, traveling to remote places, on the move a lot and not really settled into one location. So, for that assumption, taking nothing but a backpack and a smaller backpack was smart-ish.
However, I ended up becoming a ‘tweener—a person that strays between "traveling" abroad and "living" abroad—and for that, I WISH I had taken a suitcase. I dread packing all my things (and after three months I have MUCH more now than I started out with) onto my back and struggling down the one flights of stairs, up the street, and to a bus stop. And then lugging 60 pounds worth of stuff through the airport. Believe me, anything with wheels looks like your new best friend at that point. You could kiss anything with Wheels. You could confess your undying love for a bag with wheels.
For Next Time: know what the trip looks like and pack accordingly. Pack Less, and in a more travel-friendly way. Don’t make yourself dread the inevitable airport walks.
However, I ended up becoming a ‘tweener—a person that strays between "traveling" abroad and "living" abroad—and for that, I WISH I had taken a suitcase. I dread packing all my things (and after three months I have MUCH more now than I started out with) onto my back and struggling down the one flights of stairs, up the street, and to a bus stop. And then lugging 60 pounds worth of stuff through the airport. Believe me, anything with wheels looks like your new best friend at that point. You could kiss anything with Wheels. You could confess your undying love for a bag with wheels.
For Next Time: know what the trip looks like and pack accordingly. Pack Less, and in a more travel-friendly way. Don’t make yourself dread the inevitable airport walks.
Number Three: Do your homework about VISA requirements.
Now this does sound very very VERY obvious—but I didn’t know that I would be staying in Prague, so I didn’t bother looking into what it takes to work here. In fact, I really thought I would be here for the month of school, and then take off to Thailand or Cambodia or somewhere in Africa…whatever worked out.
Well, it worked out to stay here, and thus began the long arduous process of getting a visa.
Realization number one: you need a bank statement saying you have 6,000 dollars back home.
Realization two: it’s going to cost at least $500 to pay for the Visa.
Realization three: it also requires 2-3 trips to Berlin (about $100 per trip) to apply for, pick up, and then whatever else they want you to do for the Visa.
Realization four: I should I have realized this before I left.
So for Next time: It’s absolutely fine to not know where your journey will lead, plans change and so could the country you choose to stay in. So it would be wise to have an account bulging with money specifically for Visa’s and government papers that you can’t always see coming. Also, to know the gist requirements for places you possibly will stay in.
Well, it worked out to stay here, and thus began the long arduous process of getting a visa.
Realization number one: you need a bank statement saying you have 6,000 dollars back home.
Realization two: it’s going to cost at least $500 to pay for the Visa.
Realization three: it also requires 2-3 trips to Berlin (about $100 per trip) to apply for, pick up, and then whatever else they want you to do for the Visa.
Realization four: I should I have realized this before I left.
So for Next time: It’s absolutely fine to not know where your journey will lead, plans change and so could the country you choose to stay in. So it would be wise to have an account bulging with money specifically for Visa’s and government papers that you can’t always see coming. Also, to know the gist requirements for places you possibly will stay in.
Number Four: Bring Tennis Shoes
I bought nice looking leather boots before I left, and those were my pride and and painful joy. Thanks to those beauties, my feet bled for two weeks and I thought I was fixin for a permanent limp. I finally had some sense to by sandals, which ended up making a whole new set of blisters but it was a welcome relief to the pain of breaking in the boots.
The real relief came after a month or so, when I gave in and dished out the money for a pair of tennis shoes. That has been my best, most useful, treasured, amazing, favorite purchase of this trip so far!
Also—DO NOT BUY SHOES RIGHT BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR A TRIP WHERE YOU WILL BE WALKING TEN MILES A DAY, IT WILL RUIN YOUR FEET YOU IDIOT (TALKING TO MYSELF HERE).
The real relief came after a month or so, when I gave in and dished out the money for a pair of tennis shoes. That has been my best, most useful, treasured, amazing, favorite purchase of this trip so far!
Also—DO NOT BUY SHOES RIGHT BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR A TRIP WHERE YOU WILL BE WALKING TEN MILES A DAY, IT WILL RUIN YOUR FEET YOU IDIOT (TALKING TO MYSELF HERE).
Number Five: Buy a local phone so you are reachable
This lesson took a little time to be fully realized, but it wasn’t until I had been living in Prague for two months that I finally got a cheap phone and number. I held off for so long because thanks to the 21st century, wifi is rampant and I was making it by with that. However, it really caused problems with my job and lessons, and landlord and frankly, whenever there wasn’t wifi.
Part of the problem was me thinking the start up cost of a phone would be the same as it is in the US (which is quite ridiculous if you get anything other than a dinosaur flip phone, pre paid and cheap) and this made me never want to have the hassle again. But believe it or not, they got things figured out over here. I mean, there is some kind of phone company store on every block and at least two in every mall. And malls are everywhere. The cost for the phone plan I have been using for over a month was TEN BUCKS. Albeit, I rarely use it, so it has lasted me for a while but still, that is something that didn’t need to be so stressful and put off for so long.
Part of the problem was me thinking the start up cost of a phone would be the same as it is in the US (which is quite ridiculous if you get anything other than a dinosaur flip phone, pre paid and cheap) and this made me never want to have the hassle again. But believe it or not, they got things figured out over here. I mean, there is some kind of phone company store on every block and at least two in every mall. And malls are everywhere. The cost for the phone plan I have been using for over a month was TEN BUCKS. Albeit, I rarely use it, so it has lasted me for a while but still, that is something that didn’t need to be so stressful and put off for so long.
Number Six: Be weary of peoples' motives
This is based off of an experience I had giving English lessons. I’m the kind of person who wants to assume the best of people, and take acts of kindness as simply that—acts of kindness. No ulterior anything until proven otherwise. And I would really like to stay this way, but sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Apparently we live in a world where not everyone want’s the best for each other, and this is very sad to me. I want to do everything in my power to change this, but I’ve also come to realize we simply cannot change other people. We can do good wherever we go, but there isn’t a button to press and fix all bad intentions and motives others may have. So in the meantime, be aware of motives, be aware of intentions, be aware of your own boundaries and get the hell out when they are crossed.
Apparently we live in a world where not everyone want’s the best for each other, and this is very sad to me. I want to do everything in my power to change this, but I’ve also come to realize we simply cannot change other people. We can do good wherever we go, but there isn’t a button to press and fix all bad intentions and motives others may have. So in the meantime, be aware of motives, be aware of intentions, be aware of your own boundaries and get the hell out when they are crossed.
Number Seven: Learn how the city’s transportation system works—early!!
OH THE HEADACHES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED if I had bothered to learn the system. Prague is actually an amazing city for public transport! But it took me a month to get on the first tram, and then another month of constantly getting lost, off at wrong stops, tickets (whaaaaa) to finally get the hang of it. This all would have been spared with an hour at the computer reading about the system, what kinds of transportation there is, when they run ect.
Of course first hand experience is the best, but preparing yourself even a tad will save so much time and frustration.
Oh and good lord just print out a map! Or buy one! Or save a picture on your phone!
Of course first hand experience is the best, but preparing yourself even a tad will save so much time and frustration.
Oh and good lord just print out a map! Or buy one! Or save a picture on your phone!
Number Eight: Prepare yourself for culture shock
No, it’ doesn’t matter that Europe has pizza and phones and tv’s and American music (This made me smile SO big) and restaurants and basically everything we have at home. It’s still different, and I believe most of the difference lays in peoples’ perspectives.
This means the culture has every gadget we have, but the attitudes and way of looking at things is unfamiliar. Coupled with the sheer distance from home, an extended amount of time, having to cope with the culture becomes this beast of a thing called Culture Shock.
This means the culture has every gadget we have, but the attitudes and way of looking at things is unfamiliar. Coupled with the sheer distance from home, an extended amount of time, having to cope with the culture becomes this beast of a thing called Culture Shock.
There really isn’t anything you can do to bypass this adjustment—because that’s what it is—an adjustment. BUT what you can do is make yourself aware that this will happen, and be kind to yourself throughout all the emotions you will be experiencing. The answer is not judging the culture for all the differences, but appreciating aspects from both, yours and theirs.
Number Nine: BE PRESENT
This isn’t so much a going abroad lesson as it is a life lesson, but let me tell you—the moments I am fully aware of where I am, taking it in, not thinking about the past or worried about the future—those are the moments that have made this trip the experience of a lifetime.
Number Ten: Take care of yourself
Sleep. Eat Healthy. Take time for yourself. Spend time with others. Especially those who build you up. Drink water. Get out and excersise. Find a little routine you love and keep it (the first thing I do every morning is brew some coffee, sit on my porch, and enjoy the java).
This was and is probably the most important lesson to learn. Your health affects everything in your life, and shapes the way you see the world. So be kind to yourself, invest in your mind and body, because those are things that are with you in the long haul, every waking moment you are here. Traveling abroad is stressful, amazing, all of the above. And nothing can make it as hellish as feeling horrible, or as awesome as feeling ready to take it all in.
This was and is probably the most important lesson to learn. Your health affects everything in your life, and shapes the way you see the world. So be kind to yourself, invest in your mind and body, because those are things that are with you in the long haul, every waking moment you are here. Traveling abroad is stressful, amazing, all of the above. And nothing can make it as hellish as feeling horrible, or as awesome as feeling ready to take it all in.