For the better part of this year, I have been living out of a suitcase. This summer, I had the opportunity to live and work in Puerto Rico as an undergraduate researcher at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras (UPRRP). I returned home to New York for two weeks before flying across the ocean to Denmark, where I have been studying abroad at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS). The past few months have been a whirlwind of culture shock and introspection as I learn how to be an adult. Both experiences taught me valuable lessons. As another cohort of students prepares to relocate for summer work or go abroad, I have compiled some advice to hopefully make your experience better.
Do not spare comfort items
When I first walked into my apartment in Denmark and opened the program-provided bedding, I instantly thought back to two days prior when I consciously took my bedding out of my suitcase and left it in my closet. I missed my colorful cotton sheets that smelled like the fabric softener that my mother, my aunts and myself have all used for years. I spend a lot of time in my room and often have trouble sleeping, so having the familiarity of my own bedding in a new space helps me feel comfortable. Beyond bringing items from home, being abroad taught me the value of investing in your space. I purchased a rug, linen bedding to match and two extra pillows. When my sister came to visit, she also brought me Downy scent boosters that smell like my fabric softener. These items combined have helped me feel at home, which helps my overall wellbeing and productivity.
Befriend locals
The highlight of my experience in Puerto Rico was spending my free time with a blended group of locals and other American students. The locals taught us what tourist traps to avoid, the best lesser-known spots and how to improve our Spanish. They helped us to adjust to the pace of our work environments and went above and beyond to ensure we were knowledgeable of and comfortable in our surroundings. In the process, we also became good friends, teaching each other much about our different backgrounds.
Google Calendar is your best friend
From volunteer shifts to planned calls across time zones, Google Calendar has been a staple of my time abroad. Being abroad often feels like a balancing act between two lives: One is rooted in the reality that is my hometown and college, while the other is fantastical and takes the shape of whichever temporary home I am living in. Google Calendar helps maintain both of these realities. In addition to all of my classes, I add meetings, and even meal times, including suggestions of where to eat within the calendar. Perhaps my favorite feature since going abroad has been sending calendar invites to my friends to officially block out times to catch up. Not only does it serve as a reminder throughout the week and on the day of, but it also eliminates the need to add or subtract the hours between us, as the web app configures the correct time zone all in one place.
Call your mom
Growing up, my nanny (grandma) would call our house every day at around 11 a.m. to talk to my mom. They would exchange pleasantries and often started the conversation by asking what the other had cooked that day or week. I did not understand the value of a simple conversation like that until I found myself asking my mom the same question when I called her from abroad. We would often converse about what ingredients I had adapted to customize cultural recipes, and I would ask for advice on how to make them better. Beyond cooking, I would talk about feeling stressed or tired, and my mom would catch me up on the happenings at work and home. These simple updates sometimes made me sad that I was not there to experience them, but I eventually came to appreciate our hour-long mini tea-spilling sessions, as they give me much to look forward to when I return home.
If it will help you survive, it is priceless
In both Puerto Rico and Denmark, I found myself constantly thinking, “Is this purchase worth it?” To determine whether I should bend the budget, I would often consider whether it would improve my mental or physical health. If the answer was yes, it was immediately affordable. In Puerto Rico, I would often use the $3 cup of coffee on the way to campus as a motivator to get out of my apartment. I know $3 does not seem like much, but it adds up over the course of two months. However, the coffee was the best I have ever had, and it always made me more focused, which made me happier. Therefore, it was always worth it. In Denmark, I often got snacks or food from 7-Eleven, partially because their selection is like no other, but also because it was a relatively inexpensive breakfast or lunch and a way to make sure I got a meal in while running between classes.
Walk everywhere
This advice not only applies for wherever you might live, but for any travel you do. Walking will help you create a mental map of the area, which is potentially life saving. In Denmark, I typically commute via bus. DIS provides students with digital commuter cards that are checked periodically by public transportation controllers. While environmentally a great alternative to paper tickets, this system assumes a charged phone throughout the day. Admittedly, I have a chronically half-charged phone. After one long day at school, I found my phone was almost dead. I spontaneously decided to walk home by following my bus route. Much to my surprise, the route had been committed to memory solely through oddly-shaped buildings I noticed while commuting. On my walk, I came to appreciate the many stores that also lined the route and realized that the areas I was commuting through were quite pretty.
In 2022, I swore up and down that 2023 would be my “travel year.” Fortunately, I accomplished my goal. When thinking about it ahead of time, I often romanticized it and never considered that I would still feel sad or struggle. No matter where I go, I am still me, just in a different place. I have found that it is important to remember and maintain that while living in the discomfort of my “travel year” not being a perfect, on-the-go, fun time. Looking back, everything I experienced became valuable in one way or another.
