I went on an exchange to Hungary during the 2019-2020 school year, and even though I had to go back home early due to the ongoing pandemic, I still experienced so much fun and life-changing stuff! At first, I wanted to write the whole story of my journey, but that would probably be closer to a novel than a blog post (haha). Instead, I’m going to share some key things I learned that are still with me to this day.
Getting lost isn’t actually that bad
One of the biggest fears I had before my exchange year was getting lost, even just something as simple as taking the wrong train. Unfortunately, this happened a lot during my year abroad. While it can be extremely stressful, especially if you are in a strange country where you don’t know much of the language, most of the time it seems to work out okay. After many times of taking the wrong bus, or walking the wrong way, I learned how to be calm in this situation. This experience has made me less afraid of going the wrong way, and it made me realize that taking the wrong turn sometimes really isn’t that bad. And who knows, maybe someday you’ll find something really cool by making this mistake, just like I did.
I am more capable than I give myself credit for
Like many others, I often criticize myself and my abilities. While inner reflection can be a good thing, taking this too far can be very detrimental to your health and overall growth. If you keep questioning whether you’re able to do something or not, you will never actually get to do those things. Sometimes, you just have to believe in yourself, because in the end, you can do much more than you might think.
No book can teach you as well as experiences can
I like to plan things, so before this trip, I read lots of books and articles about how to get ready for an exchange year. While these helped to a certain extent, nothing fully prepared me for this adventure until I was actually experiencing it. Additionally, learning about another culture through a textbook is not at all similar to actually being immersed in it. Yes, school is still very important, but an exchange, or just any travel, will teach you so many things that ordinary education cannot.
Distance means nothing when you have made such great connections with people
I met so many great people during my exchange, and I made some very deep connections with people who I am still friends with, to this day. While saying goodbye to them was really hard, knowing that one day I will be able to visit them in their home countries is something I look forward to every day. As a side note, wanderlust is very real and I am itching to be able to travel again!
And lastly, coming home as a different person is both wonderful and scary at the same time
Many people told me that I was very different when I came back from my exchange, and while this might be true, I look at it more as growth and strengthening my sense of identity. This journey had its highs and lows, and it put me through so many experiences which have helped me become the person I am today.
There is so much more I wish to tell you guys, but these five things have definitely impacted me the most. If anyone is interested, there are many organizations out there that offer exchange programs or other opportunities abroad. Even if you think that you aren’t a very outgoing or adventurous person, exploring the world is something everybody should do!
