The Red and Black

Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Opinions

MARY CATHERINE BRUTZ

The other day I was waiting for a to-go order at Olive Garden and the young lady sitting beside me dreamingly said, "If Italy is just like this, then I want to go there right now."

I didn't want to break it to her, but Italy isn't a whole lot like Olive Garden. I know that because I lived in Florence this summer and traveled across Italy on a study abroad program.

I, like many University students, am lucky that I was given the opportunity to travel around Europe and wish that I could go back everyday. It is amazing to learn about other cultures, meet people who speak different languages and befriend students from all over the United States.

I am extremely jealous of the students who will be going abroad next semester because I know they are going to have one of the best experiences of their lives. There are a lot of tips that I picked up while overseas that I wish I had known before. Hopefully these will help those students who we will be saying "bon voyage" to after the holidays.

Keep copies of your passport everywhere. Always carry a copy of your passport with you, and put copies in every bag that you own. This is really helpful in case of an emergency or if some of your baggage gets lost.

Pack lightly. Most other countries do not have elevators or escalators like we do here in the U.S. You have more important things to do than lug a 60-pound bag up eight flights of stairs.

Go outside of your comfort zone. This is the time in your life to try new things. Go skydiving in Interlaken or hiking in Cinque Terre. I promise you will come back home and regret the things that you didn't do because you were too scared or lazy.

You don't always have to do what your friends are doing. Whether or not you are studying abroad with people you already know, it's important to do all the things that you want to do. Don't let stubborn or boring friends talk you out of an experience you really want to have.

Never have all of your credit cards in one place. One of the biggest things you'll hear about is pickpockets. They lurk everywhere tourists go. If you become a victim to this, at least all of your access to money won't be gone.

Respect the cultures and customs of the countries you are in. Americans, especially students, have a bad reputation overseas because we are rude and selfish. It's important to learn about different cultures and customs and try to fit in rather than get angry because things are different than home.

Know the laws of the country you are in. Most students don't realize that they are subject to the same laws as citizens of the country they are in. The U.S. Embassy can't do much for you if you are arrested in another country.

Get contact information for people you meet. You are going to come in contact with so many different people, both other students and people from other countries. These are people who you'll probably want to keep in touch with for years.

Take pictures. Need I say more?

Keep a journal. I never write in a journal, except when I'm traveling. You don't have to go into great detail, but it's a good idea to jot down noteworthy things that you do everyday.

I hope that these suggestions will help make your trip abroad even more fun than it's already going to be. Good luck, and we'll see you next fall.

- Mary Catherine Brutz is a junior from Barnesville majoring in magazines.

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