Tips for Trekking – Part III (Keeping in Touch, Homesickness, and Coming Home)

When you're drowning in unfamiliar territory and all you want is to hear a familiar voice, know you're not alone. Modern technology makes homesickness significantly easier to cope with while also helping you to remember and relish every moment you find yourself in awe of the places and things you're getting to experience. Coming home may also have it's challenges, but it's nothing you can't handle!

This is the last installment of tips and most likely my final post on this blog! I hope these are able to help in one way or another and if you have anything to add or ask, please comment at the bottom!

Keeping in Touch (with Home and Yourself)

1. Journal. I had never really kept a journal before going abroad and there were times when I forgot or didn’t take the time to write, but keeping track of my days, the things I’d done, and the places I’d been felt rewarding to me. There are details and emotions that the mind forgets and it’s nice to be able to look back on my time abroad and remember it all. 
2. Don’t let yourself get discouraged if you miss some time writing. I missed a month. Instead of ignoring it, I decided to leave some space to go back and write the highlights from that time period, which I did. I often left the weekends I traveled until I got back to Hungary or I would write on the plane. I’ve since kept it up and continue to write almost daily – although, my entries a lot less exciting than when I was traveling. 
3. Wi-Fi-based communication. I used several forms of communication while I was abroad to keep in touch with Friends and Family. I recommend Skype, Google Hangouts, Whatsapp, and Facebook Messenger. Skype is best for one-on-0ne video chats, Google Hangouts for group video chats, FB Messenger is ideal for group chats, and Whatsapp is most like a texting service. I did use Viber but I found that several times messages were never sent or received so I wouldn’t rely on that. If you choose to download Whatsapp, do so before leaving your country (if you don’t have an international phone plan) because it requires as code entry that will be texted to you.
4. Explore phone options in advance. I got a local SIM card because of the length of my stay. It was a significantly better deal (that included 1GB of data) than the international plan my phone provided offered and benefitted me because of the unreliable Wi-Fi in the dorms (HOWEVER, some phones have locks that prevent use of a new SIM card. Check your phone before spending the money). Others get burn phones (think Tracfone) with local numbers to contact people in the group. Our program directors offered several of these for low prices. I also kept my home SIM card on me for emergencies and weekend travel (since I also had an international plan at the end).
5. Stay connected with home – but not too connected. My first week was rough because the Wi-Fi and Ethernet were unreliable and I had difficulty contacting my friends and family when I wanted to most. Once that was settled, I would message my friends daily and parents almost as often (what can I say, I’ve got more friends than parents), but I never let this distract me from where I was or what I was doing. I used Skype or Google Hangouts for video chats approximately every other week or so (or whenever I just really wanted to see someone from home). The trick is to not over-do it. Don’t make yourself miserable over what you’re missing at home when everyone else is jealous of what you’re doing there.
6. Take lots of pictures. The mind is fickle. Every time you access a memory, it’s slightly altered. Pictures don’t alter themselves so you’ll always have the unchanged memory in front of you. But...
7. Look at things through your own eyes before you do so through a camera lens. We have a tendency to get wrapped up in camera culture. We’re too concerned with saving the memory forever to take it all in in the moment and we end up with a lot of pictures of places that we barely remember. Cameras can’t smell the flowers.
8. Know the basics of the language. Nobody expects you to be fluent or even to sound natural, but knowing how to say a simple “hello” and “thank you” can garner a lot of appreciation from locals.

Homesickness and Coming Home

1. Know that it’s okay to miss home. Believe me, you’re not alone and it doesn’t hit everyone at the same time. I was most homesick the first week and when I got a really bad cold, but my roommate was fine until the last month. It’s different but also likely for everyone, even if they won’t tell you. 
2. It’s okay to miss where you went away from home. Reverse culture shock comes in many forms, including reverse homesickness. I frequently miss the European architecture and seeing the Danube River and everything along it when I would walk to class. Every so often I find myself scanning through my pictures to relive the memories and I’ve learned to be okay with a little nostalgia.
3. Reverse culture shock doesn’t always hit you right away. Sometimes coming home can leave you feeling stagnant or out of place and it may take a while for this to even start. I was home for over a month before I realized I hadn’t been farther than Target in several weeks and I started feeling stuck. But...
4. It goes away. Whether it’s on its own or with some effort, the feeling of reverse culture shock goes away. You readjust to life at home and figure out how to use the experiences you had abroad to change your life at home if you desire. Explore more of your local area, try something new, or try to make a meal from your host country for someone else. You may need to push yourself but every experience is worth it in the end. 

Tips for Trekking – Part II (Transportation, Navigation, and Preparation)

Having never used public transportation on my own - let alone not having traveled on my own before - I was a fish out of water (aka a small-town girl in a big city). It took some getting used to but eventually hopping on the tram or taking the metro became second nature to me. Even flying became something I looked forward to at the end of the week. But no matter how easy things become, you can never be ready for everything. And that's okay!

Transportation

1. Try to wait for the second bathroom at airports. There will likely be times that waiting is not an option (especially when it’s your last chance before a lengthy wait in a border control line), but I have found that a majority of the time the restrooms immediately off the plane are smaller, more crowded, and dirtier than those by or closer to baggage claim.
2. Keep water and snacks with you when traveling. I know that airport prices are outrageous but it will help in the end. Despite having every meal on my flight to Europe, I nearly passed out in the Frankfurt, Germany airport during my layover and somehow communicated to two very kind German men who saw me about to lower myself to the floor that I needed water (since I had none of my own) and they made sure I was taken care of before boarding the plane. Thank you mysterious German men!
3. Know if food/drinks cost on planes. You may have heard of RyanAir being a hugely popular airline in Europe for its low prices, but you may not know that their prices include nothing but the flight. This brings me back my previous point – keep water and snacks with you. 
4. Be aware of carry-on restrictions. Some airlines will let you play dumb if your bag is a little over-sized and will check it for free at the gate, but it’s never a good idea to rely on getting by. The same applies for the weight. My friend assumed they would never weigh her carry-on but they did and found that it was over twice the legal weight. She ended up paying for a third checked bag to get back home with all her books. Yes, it was entirely filled with books.
5. Have a travel pillow. Whether it’s a rolled up (blanket) scarf or an actual pillow, give your neck a break. The side of the plane for those in the window seat is never as tolerable as you somehow make yourself believe and you’ll want something between the wall and your head.
6. Bring your passport with you if you travel. Some students in my program left theirs behind when they took a bus to another country in the Schengen territory thinking they wouldn’t need them. They were wrong and the bus driver and everyone else on the bus were not pleased with the 45 minute wait while they filled out paperwork in a police car to continue on – and again reentering Hungary.
7. In line with that, know if you should keep your passport on you or in a safe place where you’re staying. Always keep your passport it in a safe place where it won’t be easily stolen. In many places, your passport may be the only acceptable form of ID. Otherwise, leave it at home, preferably in a locked box or safe of some sort.
8. Plan trips as far in advance as possible. Last-week flight purchases are expensive and hostels/hotels can book up quickly.
9. Consider train and bus transportation for places closer to where you’re based. It may be longer travel time but saves you the time it takes to the airport and get through airport security. It’s also typically a heck of a lot less expensive. Overnight trips are also a good option if you have a commitment until later in the day but want to be somewhere else tomorrow.

Navigation and Preparation

1. You can’t be prepared for everything – and that’s okay! It’s okay to be surprised, shocked, or thrown off guard. It keeps you on your toes and leads to experiences and learning opportunities you never could have planned. Even bad things (like losing your wallet) can teach you how to cope and become a true adult when you have to deal with the consequences.
2. Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone in order to have an experience that you never would have had while you were at home or before you took this journey. This is tame example but I had never flown alone before I went abroad and I didn’t particularly like flying at all. However, during my semester I travelled so much that I grew to feel comfortable in airports and in the air (even when we broke through the clouds landing in Dublin and immediately began swaying with the strong winds). I miss flying now!
3. Take directions slowly. When lost, only follow the first step of verbal directions before stopping and asking someone else to confirm
4. Don’t be afraid of getting lost. I met up with two of my friends in Barcelona, Spain and we got a little lost looking for some ruins. We ended up finding a small but nice restaurant for lunch where they showed us how to properly put together our own garlic bread.
5. Keep a bag with you incase of unplanned shopping. Most grocery stores make you pay for bags and so it’s easier to keep a small reusable bag or two with you. I got two at IKEA in Hungary and became very attached to them.

Tips for Trekking – Part I (Money and Fashion vs. Function)

It’s been almost three months since I landed back in the states after four months of studying and traveling in Europe. Central Pennsylvania is a lot smaller and quieter than the cities I hopped through then and it’s given me plenty of time to reflect on my time abroad and analyze my response to returning home.

With stories shared by friends and family who have also studied and/or traveled abroad and my own experiences I decided to write one more post to this blog to share some travel tips. Most of these apply to both long-term and short-term travel with a few study-abroad-specific notes as well.

There’s a lot to say so I’ve broken it down into more specific categories through three separate posts for an easier read. Here we go...

Money

1. Notify your bank(s) in advance. They prefer at least two weeks warning before you’re set to leave. Know which cards you can use at point-of-sale versus which will be ATM cards only and tell your banks before you leave for a weekend trip across any borders.
2. Try to get a card with no travel or ATM fees if at all possible. I went through a local Maine bank that had no fees and it saved me a lot of money.
3. Avoid exchanging currency at the airport. Airports know you likely don’t have the country’s currency upon landing and they have some of the most exorbitant exchange rates available. If you can get by until you find a better rate, I strongly recommend doing so.
4. Know/Save your bank(s') number(s). Should you have any issues, it’s good to have their number handy. Most bank help numbers can usually be reached through Skype for no charge.
5. Have $100 cash in your home currency in your room or in your wallet. This way, you have the money if you need to exchange it but you won’t spend it frivolously or by accident.
6. Have a minimum of two credit/debit cards with you. One of my friends had her card eaten by an ATM –  Twice. That was her only card so until the replacement came in, she had to live off the cash she had stashed away. The second time, her parents actually had to wire her cash. And yes, wiring cash is still a thing. Which brings me to my next point...
7. Should you need to pick up a money order, be sure that the name on your ID matches exactly what the other person wrote down for the wire. Some places are stricter than others about this but it’s safest and easiest to just make sure they match.
8. Pay with cash whenever you can. It’s always a good thing to have a reasonable amount of cash on you (but not too much). It reduces unnecessary fees, since many restaurants and other businesses charge extra for using a card, and makes you more aware of what you’re spending. Plus, you may be surprised by how many places are still cash only.
9. Ask for your check. This depends on the country but some cultures find it rude to rush people and will never directly ask for your to pay and leave. In that type of culture, ask for your check at restaurants or you may be there for a lot longer than you bargained for.
10. Check whether service is included in restaurant bills and be aware of tipping expectations in your host country. I still don’t entirely understand the difference between service and tips so feel free to explain in the comments if you do – but I do know that restaurants in some countries (like the U.S.) expect tips of 10-20% while others find tips to be a bonus but not an expectation.
11. Keep your currencies separate. When you have a wallet full of coins from all over, you hold up lines and confuse yourself when searching the correct currency for the transaction. Save everyone some time and frustration and only hold what you need or keep extra in a separate pocket.

Fashion vs. Function

1. Bring a blanket scarf. If you don’t have one, get one. You may think it looks ridiculous at first but it’s one of the best purchases I made while abroad. It’s especially great on airplanes and at hostels when you don’t have enough blankets or need an extra pillow.
2. Neutrals are your friends. Pack multiple neutral colored shirts. Make sure they’re plain. Layer.
3. Bring at least one nice outfit. You can make it simple but you may want something nice to wear out on the weekends and something professional to wear for class/work/internship presentations.
4. If it’s going to be hot, bring loose clothing. This comes from my friend who’s currently studying in India where temperatures are averaging around 100°F (37.7ºC) so it may be wise to heed her advice.
5. Bring shoes you don’t mind destroying. As impressed as I was that my $30 target boots got me up and over a mountain in Transylvania, it would have been nice if they didn’t reflect that trek for the rest of my trip. You don’t always know what kind of adventures to expect, so plan for all of them, especially if you’re there long-term.
6. Embrace the hip straps on your backpack. I know you think you look funny but I promise that it’s worth it. Your shoulders, neck, and back will thank you dearly.