First Major Trip Abroad
For me, there was never a time when I wasn’t sure about studying abroad—I knew that it was something that I wanted to do as soon as I learned that it was an option for college students. One of the things that made me apply to Northeastern was the huge array of study abroad options, and when I decided to come here I knew that I wanted to take advantage of them as quickly as possible. A dialogue seemed like it would be a good option to start, since I don’t have that much travel experience and Northeastern would handle the logistics of the trip, while I could just focus on learning and enjoying myself.
I hope that while abroad I can learn both more about Hungary and the other countries I visit, as well as more about myself and my interests. Hungary will be the most foreign place I’ve ever been to, and I think that this huge cultural jump will help me to become more informed about the experiences of people outside of the United States. At the moment I am very interested in traveling and hope to have a job that gives me that opportunity, but I have never spent an extended abroad so maybe I’ll have a different idea after this trip.
In Budapest my main goal is to experience the best the city has to offer, not only by visiting the classic tourist hotspots but also by following the example of locals. I wish to learn from experiences and observations of the city and its citizens, and hope to open my eyes to the new culture. To do this I want to ride public transportation, walk into shops and restaurants that I’ve never heard of simply because they seem intriguing, go running in the morning, people watch in the park, and get to know the neighborhood we stay in well. I know there will be days when I feel homesick, but I hope to combat this by getting outside my apartment and focusing on the experiences I can’t have elsewhere.
As this is my first major trip abroad, I am a little worried about many things–from whether I packed the right number of pants to the huge language differences I’ll face in Hungary, but I know that on the whole I’ll have a great time and that I’ll laugh at some of these worries on the flight home. My biggest fear is going home with regret that I didn’t see or do everything I wanted, so to combat that I want to make an effort everyday to explore and learn from my surroundings. If I forgot some pants I can acquire another pair, but it will be much more difficult to replace missed memories.
I’ve been looking forward to this voyage since I sent in my application in November, and as it finally draws near my excitement continues to grow. I’ve done some research about Budapest and I am so excited to spend time in one of the most beautiful and unique cities in Europe. There is so much culture and history there that I want to experience, and I love exploring new cities. I’m looking forward to admiring architecture and statues, visiting restaurants and cafes, taking in the sights at museums, and walking down the Danube in the evening. There is no one place or activity that excites me the most at the moment, I just know that I’m eager to learn what it’s like to live in Budapest and to see another small piece of the world!
