For this blog post, I wanted to discuss some of the elements of studying abroad that were worrisome to me before coming here. Things like balancing mental and physical health, finances, and missing home are very common stressors for prospective study abroad students. However, since being here, I’ve found helpful ways to stay on top of these things and have developed methods that I would have loved to have in mind before coming, so hopefully, this information can be helpful to people having the same apprehensions! 

One of my favorite activities to do in Paris is going on a walk along the river with friends, which I’ve found to be good for both my physical and mental health! 

Physical Health 

Managing your physical health while being abroad can mean something different for everyone, but knowing your body and your routine is the most important thing. One of the biggest physical adjustments for me after moving to Paris was the lack of familiar groceries and staple foods in my diet. Obviously, depending on the country, you’ll find different things, but I found it really helpful to establish a few staple meals that were accessible and easy to make, and I’d meal prep them throughout the week for consistent and comforting foods. On the plus side, moving to a new place also means so many new options to try new foods, and I’ve expanded my palate so much more than I anticipated!  

A weekly activity of mine is finding a new park to explore and sitting down to journal about the recent experiences I’ve had! 

In terms of exercise, being in Paris was a pretty easy transition, as it has a lot of the same gyms and workout classes as in the U.S. Surprisingly, many workout studios even have daily classes in English, which eliminates the big fear of a language barrier during a workout class.  

Ultimately, my favorite way to stay active while abroad is going on walks. Being in a new city means you can start at any location and aimlessly walk, finding beautiful monuments and new spots, all while getting your steps in!  

Mental Health 

Studying abroad is definitely a massive transition, and it is completely normal to be nervous beforehand and even have a difficult time adjusting once you’re here, but it only gets better as time goes on! One of the most common ways to manage your mental health while being abroad is to have trusted people and outlets to talk to about things! Whether that be your close friends from home or even just a journal, it’s so beneficial to express how you’re feeling during such a big change. I’ve been so thankful to have kept a journal because it gives me something to be able to look back on when I’m in the States.  

Similar to a journal, I’ve been trying to build a scrapbook of sorts by keeping various “souvenirs” from my experiences. From restaurant napkins to museum pamphlets, I’ve been creating pages to document the things I’ve done, to hold onto my experience for as long as possible!  

Every Sunday in Paris, they do “Brocante” (antique) markets throughout the city, and I love going to them to find things to put in my Paris scrapbook! 

A big part of maintaining positive mental health while being abroad is keeping in touch with loved ones at home, and I’ve found that keeping a social media account just for my study abroad experience has been such a fun way to share things with them and another way to document my day-to-day life.  

Finances 

Managing finances was probably my biggest worry before coming abroad, and I think the most important thing is to create a budget before leaving and reevaluate after the first month to understand your spending habits. In Europe, many things like transportation or groceries are much cheaper than in the U.S., which is very helpful, but things like cafes and restaurants add up very quickly! I also recommend making sure to get a card that doesn’t have international fees because those can also add up and be complicated to get rid of once out of the country!  

During our CEA CAPA trip to Brussels, I was able to save money in my budget so we could go to vintage markets and enjoy the shopping the city had to offer, like these antique stores! 

A large source of spending is taking trips outside of your host country, and this is where budgeting comes in handy. For example, with CEA CAPA, we went to Belgium for the day, and I had a mental budget of how much I wanted to spend on things like souvenirs, food, and/or shopping. Having this in mind made the experience less stressful, and I felt more intentional with my finances and purchases.  

Family in France 

The most influential piece that has shaped my study abroad experience has definitely been having family that lives in France. Being able to take the train down to the countryside to spend time with my grandparents has been such a blessing, especially when it comes to escaping the hectic city life for a weekend.  

One of my favorite parts about visiting my grandparents in the countryside is seeing all the animals roam around the houses, especially these two donkeys! 

Additionally, it’s been so nice to experience living in France from another angle, as rural day-to-day life is much different than living in the city. My days there consist of lots of walks, long meals around the table, and intimate time catching up with family I haven’t seen in a long time. It’s been such a lifesaver to have a piece of home with me here, helping with the homesickness!