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The Guide to Success is almost back in action. I've been revamping for the inevitable college to post-college transition. See you November 1st!

In the meantime... Find links to #coolshit here. (or below)

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#coolshit

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Hometown - Valparaiso, IN 

There’s been a bit of a delay in my posts since I just arrived back home from my home away from home, Amsterdam. After spending a semester abroad, I’m still adjusting to all of the changes since coming back to a place that I called home before, but it doesn’t quite feel the same since when I left it. I was warned about reverse culture shock. I was warned about relationships changing. I was warned about the side effects of being abroad for so long. What I came to realize is that all of those warnings turn into the inevitable, and I wouldn’t have changed my experience then to not have to adjust to the changes now. (Although a little less jet lag would be nice.) 

You can probably tell there are no t-shirts in this post... That’s because your style does make a statement, but who you are makes a statement more. Something this week made me realize that I can tell you how to wear t-shirts in 100 different ways... Or I can also give you advice like: a smile goes a long way. Style is supposed to match the person beneath the clothes, so I challenge you to figure out what that means to you. 

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Photo Credit: Samantha Nguyen

The Generator - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Sass. Sass is my middle name. Sometimes you’re going to wake up and you’re going to want to wear something, but you might not be sure if it matches quite right, looks exactly how you want it to, or if people are going to think “What are they wearing?” ... Wear it anyways. Spice things up, and be different. Making a statement with what you wear adds a level of confidence to your day. Do what you want, be who you want and wear what you want. In the end it doesn’t matter what other people think. So go for it, sass it up.

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The Transition

A week and a half… that’s all the time I have left in Amsterdam before I return home to The United States. Time flew by, as usual. Now I’m starting to prep for the ‘transition’ from study abroad to the real world. This is something we were warned about in a meeting with our program about a week ago. Basically we were told to be cautious about the reverse culture shock we may experience, the changes that we may see and the assimilation back into our home country. 

Life is going to be different. That one sentence is simple enough to state, and it’s the truth. You just spent months in a foreign country – living, working and being a part of a culture that is much different from your own. You’re going to feel different when you return home, and you’re going to notice that home may be different as well. Relationships change. Cities change. And ultimately time passes while you are gone. Just because you leave somewhere doesn’t mean that place will stay exactly how it was when you left it. 

This reality check we were given by our program was much needed and well stated. Sometimes when you are abroad you tend to forget everything outside of the 24/7 dream you are living in. That subtle reminder to not forget to prep yourself for a return back to reality is the kind of mindset I recommend you have before you just jump on a plane back home. 

Be prepared... 

to miss your experience abroad.

for life in the places you left to have moved forward without you while you were gone.

to see changes in your friends, families and relationships.

for the pace of your day to day life to change.

to experience reverse culture shock.

to notice how study abroad has changed you! 

Most importantly, be prepared to not know what to expect when you step off that plane. Again, life is going to be different now, so embrace it. Take every moment with stride while beginning to integrate yourself back into your previous life. You’re going to feel a whole range of emotions until you are fully settled back into your home culture and country. Don’t be afraid of it, but let the transition become a new adventure… one that becomes a challenge that you are going to take on. Let the transition help you learn more, feel more and be more than you were before you got on that plane to come home! Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it. 

For more information on reverse culture shock, check out this link to see the U.S. Department of State’s overview on the subject!

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The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.

Charles R. Swindoll

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Photo Credit: Samantha Nguyen

Oosterpark - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Can we go thrift shopping? What, what, what, what... Thrift shops, secondhand clothing and anything cheap is the way to go when it comes to fashion in college. Being on a budget doesn’t really give us the opportunity to splurge and shop every week for the new items we want. So I’ve resorted to finding the best online deals, markets and thrift shopping in the cities I’m in. Finding your style doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s all about knowing what kind of brand you want to showcase and knowing how to show who you are through what you wear. Now all you have to do is find the answer to the question... How can I show the world who I am through what I wear each day? - And of course make a few stops here and there at Goodwill or Buffalo Exchange. 

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The Abstract Gains of Studying Abroad

Studying, working or volunteering will give you a plethora of ‘things,’ both physical and abstract. I know I’m going to return home with a suitcase heavier than when I arrived in Amsterdam. Actually, I’m probably going to need another suitcase, or I’m going to have to pitch and purge a bit. And you too will probably have new stamps in your passport, gifts for family back home and a ton of souvenirs that serve as a memory of your travels. 

But... You don’t just bring back physical keepsakes from traveling. There are a few abstract things you gain that accompany you and your heavy suitcase on the plane ride home.

A Worldview: Travel does open your eyes. You see the world differently once you have immersed yourself within a new culture. You even have more of a worldly lens to view life through. Seeing how other people live is not only a way to learn, but also it’s also a way to understand and understanding will give you the ability to empathize on a whole new level.

People Skills: You have to make yourself meet new people while abroad, especially if you are a solo traveler. Yes, it may be easier in certain cities, hostels or social situations to make friends, but that doesn’t mean that you still don’t have to have a conversation starter in your back pocket. After being abroad you realize just how far a smile and a simple hello can go, and you will come back with much improved interpersonal skills.

Calm Confidence: Doing anything you haven’t done before will give you an air of confidence. You will have a bit more courage than you did when you started to adventure into the unknown. Doing new things, meeting new people and ultimately experiencing ‘new’ anything pushes you towards knowing what you can truly accomplish in life if you just do it and put yourself out there.

Self-Awareness: You’ll find out more about yourself than you already knew. You’re won’t only know more about what you like and dislike, but you’ll know more about how where you came from shaped who you are. Learning about other people causes you to learn more about yourself. You’ll come home with an ease and self-understanding that will make you extremely comfortable in your own skin.

Memories: This is the obvious one. You’ll be surprised what triggers memories of your experiences abroad while you’re back home. You don’t necessarily need a journal, photo or trinket to remind you of your time abroad. Sometimes all it takes is seeing a sign in the street to bring back a memory of the good times abroad.

So what’s the catch about physical and abstract gains while traveling? I’m all about having one main point to make by the end of my blog posts. Well, there is one greater gift study abroad has given me, and it’s that… 

Life is all about the people. 

Study abroad truly has taught me the importance of human connection. We have memories, experiences and growth because of the people that come in and out of our lives. The people are what make your travels so enriching. Study abroad changed my life not only because I sought out new experiences, but because of the people who have impacted me along this journey. Life wouldn’t be anything without the friends, family and communities you are a part of. So never stop investing all of your time, energy and love in those around you because that is how you ultimately invest in yourself.

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Brian Chesky is the founder of AirBNB, and the new updates to the application are more about ‘living’ in a city than traveling to it. This article of his is a great view on traveling, and I suggest you also check out this talk by him to see more of the vision behind AirBNB’s new changes. 

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Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.

Maya Angelou

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“We're all embedded in vast social networks of friends, family, co-workers and more. Nicholas Christakis tracks how a wide variety of traits — from happiness to obesity — can spread from person to person, showing how your location in the network might impact your life in ways you don't even know.”

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Safety first.

You aren’t invincible. You’re probably thinking… no shit. But I’m just sending you a blunt reminder because at times when you are studying abroad, you will feel like you are on top of the world. You will have that ‘I am invincible’ attitude, like the kind you get when you are slightly intoxicated. This happens because you are having such an amazing time, and the good times don’t stop coming. When everything stays so great for so long, it doesn’t seem like anything can go wrong. 

I hate to break it to you, but if you don’t stay safe and be cautious, you might get yourself into some trouble. It happens to the best of us, and it will happen to you at some point while traveling. Maybe it’s not while studying abroad, but it could happen later down the line on another trip. So it’s a good idea to read this post now; at least then you can have a few pointers about safety that might pop into your head whenever something ‘bad’ happens. 

Safety is a tricky subject to address because tips honestly all depend on location, who you are and a whole range of other factors. Obviously if you are a 6 foot tall body building male… you may not need as many pointers as someone like me. But nevertheless there are still a few basics that may help to prevent sticky situations from happening.

Use a bag that zips and is held close to your body – Think to yourself whether or not the bag, jacket, etc. that you are carrying your belongings in… is easy to take things out of. If you think it might be, switch bags. Be safe rather than sorry.

Meet people, but be cautious – Not everyone wants to be your friend. You probably stand out since you are a tourist, so don’t automatically assume that the person you are talking to has your best interests at heart.

Don’t bring valuables to festivals, or celebrations – This applies to other large events as well. You’re most likely to get your belongings stolen, or run into bad situations where large crowds and lots of drunk people are. Be aware of this ahead of time, and don’t bring items like your really expensive camera or passport with you.

Act appropriately and blend in – Odds are if you are an American, you talk loud, so be wary of this when you are out. Just in general be wary of how you act in public, so you don’t attract the wrong kind of attention. If you are coming back from a night out and having fun with friends, make sure you don’t call attention to yourselves that either gets you in trouble, or makes you have strange encounters with sketchy people.

Have a reserve fund – Having some extra cash set-aside just in case is always a good idea. If you walk home at night and don’t feel safe, you can catch a cab. If you are on a weekend trip and something happens, you can buy a quick flight home. And if you do get mugged, you will have something to quickly give the assailants, so that the attacker will go away (hopefully this doesn’t happen). But it is still a good idea to think ahead because you never know.

Gender reality – You can probably guess where I am headed with this. Females and anyone who identifies as LGBTQ should be a little extra cautious. I wish this wasn’t the reality, but that is the case. Be on guard at night and at any time you feel like something is off, odds are your gut feeling is right!

Another important tip is to constantly stay informed. Read the news while traveling, so you know what is going on in the world. I’m not talking about just the Skimm or what’s on your Facebook feed either… read the actual news. Life doesn’t stop just because you are on the road, so check the news frequently to make yourself aware of any unsafe areas. You can also sign up to receive travel alerts from various government programs like STEP, Smart Traveller Enrollment Program or Travel Tracker. Travel Tracker sent me emails right away when there were attacks in Germany and in Belgium, so I knew to stay away from certain areas. 

If you want specifics on how to stay safe in a certain city or country, do your research. Use Pinterest, Google, Youtube and travel blogs to find out how other people have stayed safe while traveling. Ask your friends as well. Even a simple Facebook post can give you some extra information about somewhere you are headed. 

I’m not trying to be a downer with this post, but safety does come first! Like I said before, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

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This is a longer list of traveling tips, and Nomadic Matt is one of the best resources for travelers... Check it out!

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This is a quick 2.5 minute video that does a good job of telling you exactly “How to Travel Abroad without Getting Arrested, Kidnapped, or Killed”

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Culture Shock: Europe, The United States and Beyond

Each place is different. Different people, customs, sights… and overall a difference culture. When you go from continent to continent or even country to country, you can expect to experience things you have never seen before. It can come as a shock sometimes since the differences may be drastic from what you know to be the ‘norm’ in your hometown. So how do you make this transition easier, or do you even want to make the transition easier?

It’s all about perception. Once you start traveling, your worldview broadens and your mind opens a little door to the rest of the world. Often we get addicted to obtaining more knowledge, so you start traveling even more. It’s not enough for us to just know about our home, but we want to know who the people are across the world. The unknown becomes a sought after phenomenon we continue to seek to understand. The culture shock becomes less of a ‘shock’ with each new place we go.

If you know you are going to experience something new, I find that is enough to absorb the ‘shock’ of a new culture. Go in with an open mind, and you will automatically embrace the drastic differences of the people you are surrounded by in a new city, country or continent. Perception lies in the eyes of the beholder, so you take in your surroundings based on how you approach the situation. Always remember that. The more open you are, the more you will accept the unknown. So you ultimately have the opportunity to eliminate the ‘shock’... but only if you want to!

I hadn’t been to anywhere in Europe, except for a few weeks in Spain when I was fresh out of high school. I basically signed up for study abroad based on what I’d heard about Amsterdam and on how it seemed to be the “favorite city” out of all the cities my friends had visited while abroad. I had no idea what to expect when I stepped off the plane, but that made everything that much more exciting. I wouldn’t change it for a second. Looking back on it, I know that was the way to go, and I recommend it to anyone who asks.

Beforehand… I didn’t study up on much about the Netherlands. I didn’t pin articles to read about Europe. I didn’t buy any books or guides to the country. Instead I said to myself, “I’m going to go in and experience this new culture… in the moment.” Being present is something our generation struggles with. We are constantly planning for the future, applying to new things and looking towards what isn’t guaranteed to us. The slogan LIVE IN THE MOMENT is what we should live by. Being fully present allows you to enjoy the small things you would normally miss if you kept going from destination to destination on your list. Being present allows you to ask questions and get to know the locals on a deeper level instead. Being present allows you to realize that you have to enjoy the city you are in by making it your new home.

There are endless possibilities of embracing culture ‘shock’ when you choose to let the culture embrace you as well. I could’ve given you a list of what I thought was different from Europe to The United States, and then provided you with ideas on how to mitigate the ‘shock’. But what fun is that? I want you to experience it for yourself because you aren’t me, and you’re experience is going to be different than mine (although there are always ways to connect and similarities we will find).

The only advice I want to give you is that knowing how to broaden your idea of perception and knowing how to fully immerse yourself in the moment… will allow you to experience a culture how it was meant to be lived. Culture ‘shock’ won’t exist anymore if we start to live by this motto. So try it out… and see what uncharted territory your mind can take you to if you stay present.

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Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.

Anthony Bourdain, No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach

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