Back to Europe 10 Years Later: My Polarizing Study Abroad Experience

“I guess it just wasn’t meant to be” – Me as I’m entering junior year of college, unfortunately learning that the two professors who usually run a study abroad program in Vienna, Austria are skipping a year.

I was 22 years old, meaning it had been 8 years since my first trip abroad. Of course, I was starting to miss traveling, but now that I was an adult who hypothetically could travel, the whole “travel is too expensive & impossible” narrative had fully settled into my brain.

Let’s fast forward 1 year: I’m a college senior, thinking about what’s next. One of the professors who runs that study abroad program is now my research mentor. She says she’s running the study abroad program this upcoming summer. “Ugh I wish I could go. I wish I wasn’t graduating this year.”

“Well, technically you still can. I know you don’t need the credits, but you can still go if you push your graduation to summer.”

“But I want to walk during graduation”

“You still can”.

Suddenly, I was tempted.

I didn’t need the credits. I definitely didn’t need the student loan debt. But going back to Europe for the first time in nearly a decade? THAT I needed.

It helped that I had a handful of friends interested in going as well. We all applied, interviewed, & were accepted!… which meant that the countdown begins.

The Structure of the Study Abroad Program

Before I get into talking about the study abroad experience, I need to first explain how the program worked. It is very unconventional compared to your average study abroad program: Flying to that country, taking classes at the university & living there for a quarter, semester, or longer.

Yeah, that wasn’t our experience in the slightest.

First difference: we did not take any classes abroad.

Yup. We didn’t do any actual studying while studying abroad… There was a paper due a week after the program… but absolutely nobody worked on it while in Europe.

We took 1 month of classes at our home campus THEN we flew to Europe for a “study abroad tour.” By the way, this isn’t how they did it in the past. The study abroad program a couple years before spent an entire summer quarter in Vienna, Austria (with side trips to Prague & Munich).

After our 1 month of classes, our actual time in Europe was pretty short: 14 days.

Itinerary:

3 nights in Berlin, Germany

3 nights in Prague, Czechia

5 nights in Vienna, Austria

2 nights in Zagreb, Croatia

Me & my friends at the time had some other ideas: London + Amsterdam before. The coast of Croatia + Venice + Paris after. So for us, the whole trip was about 3 1/2 weeks long.

Unlearning a limiting belief

While booking the portion of the trip we were doing on our own, I came to an insane realization: travel really isn’t as expensive as everyone said.

Yeah, the flight to London wasn’t exactly cheap. To be totally honest, I don’t remember how much getting to & from Europe was. I’m certain it was much less than $1k. The flight from London to Amsterdam was $40. The flight to Berlin was $45. Some of the ferries & bus rides we booked were less than $20 USD. The Airbnbs we were booking were affordable.. You get the point.

All my life, I was told that travel required an ‘endless supply of money’ and maybe I could travel if I won the lottery or married a rich man. Turns out none of that was ever necessary. To learn that travel is much more accessible than I had been told, all I needed to do was actually travel.

Plus, I learned about the right resources: Google Flights, Hostel World, FlixBus, etc. There are SO MANY resources out there to find affordable travel options!

London

Let’s get to the good part: The start of the trip!

No need to talk about the actual study abroad course… we took the Psychology of Food & Culture and the Psychology of Superheroes. Both very interesting… but I know you’re here for the travel content..

We flew direct to London & were greeted by… jetlag. I remember my group wanting to sit back and & relax and I wanted to wander. So I wandered.. I saw Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, The London Eye, some double-decker buses, & plenty of red phone booths.

I would have loved to see Big Ben, but it was being refurbished.

At night, I got to see Wicked on West End! I still find it funny that I saw a West End show before a Broadway Show (I wouldn’t see a broadway show until 2022!).

Day 2 (final day) in London was a lot of quick sightseeing: The London tower, the Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, etc.

2 days in London is far too few, but it was a good start. It had been 10 years since I visited Europe, so London served as an easy adjustment!

Overall Impression of London: It’s massive! The weather reminded me a lot of home (the PNW). Every neighborhood had a different vibe. While London didn’t blow me away… (I didn’t find it particularly pretty or fascinating) I could tell that it was a city where there is something for everyone. If I had to spend time in London, I could easily find things to do. London isn’t my favorite city in the world (though I will say I’m due for a revisit- maybe my view will change), but it does have an endless amount to offer & has fascinating history. That alone makes it a city I appreciate.

Amsterdam

It’s time for me to tell a very special love story…. the story of me & Amsterdam.

The story of how I felt love at first sight of the beautiful Jordaan neighborhood.

Honestly, back in 2018, I was deeply unhappy. To cope, I turned to disassociation. I was rarely present. I lived either with my nose in my phone or in my own head. It was very hard for me to take a deep breath, calm my mind, and be in the moment…

But in Amsterdam, I felt that presence effortlessly. It was even greater than being present… I felt at peace... for the first time in at least a year.

The Perfect Day in Amsterdam

My day in Amsterdam was filled with incredible memories! We started off at the Anne Frank Haus (a difficult, but absolutely essential visit), then we were off to the Rijksmuseum where I got to see Rembrandt’s Night Watch.

I don’t remember much of what I ate in Amsterdam, except for breakfast. The Pancake Bakery in the Jordaan neighborhood made such a lasting impression, I’ve gone back every time I’ve been in Amsterdam. It’s just that good.

The rest of the day was spent walking the streets, going on a boat tour through the stunning canals, & visiting the Red Light District. I get that a lot of people visit Amsterdam for Red Light District and the “coffee shops”, and honestly, while those are certainly interesting parts of the culture, I find them to be some of the least compelling reasons to visit Amsterdam.

Since my first visit to Amsterdam, I have visited over 25 countries and what seems like countless cities. To this day, there is no other city I would rather wake up early just to walk the streets. Despite some of the more out of pocket things you can do & all the amazing nightlife, Amsterdam is a place where I find my inner-peace when I need it most.

When it was time to leave, I was actually really sad. “I’ll see you soon…somehow”, I said to Amsterdam (yes, I talk to cities).

The Study Abroad Program Begins in Berlin

Our few free days of travel were over, and it was time to start the travel (study abroad program).

I gotta keep it 100%… I’m not crazy about Berlin.

Yes, the history of fascinating. Yes, there are SO many amazing museums. The food is decent & I definitely had some great experiences. So what’s the problem? There’s just something about Berlin that didn’t click with me. Maybe part of it is personal bias… When imagining Germany, Bavaria comes to mind. Berlin really doesn’t look like that now for very obvious reasons.

I can appreciate the history & everything Berlin has to offer, while also admitting that it’s not quite my cup of tea. Berlin is amazing if you love museums & nightlife. Neither really applied to me back then. Maybe I would like it better if I visited now. Still, It’s not a city I’d rush back to.

Ok, now it’s time to be positive: I LOVED East Side Gallery, Checkpoint Charlie, & this place we went for swimming (I couldn’t tell you what it’s called. One downside of this study abroad program happening 7 years ago).

Prague

Of the countless travel discussions I’ve gotten into with hundreds of people from all around the world, I have yet to hear a bad thing said about Prague.

Because there isn’t anything bad to say!

Prague is truly special. Despite being in the center of two world wars, it was relatively untouched so it still has its medieval architecture. It’s a city that’s been rediscovering itself these past 30+ years after communism. There is such a historic feel, yet modern ideas are so prevalent (go out in Prague for just one night & you’ll see what I mean). People eat fried cheese & drink lots of beer. Prague is a vibe.

We took a paddle boat onto the river, walked the Charles Bridge countless times (don’t care if it’s touristy- it’s so gorgeous!), & went on this incredible food tour! Prague has such an interesting food history because of communism. Over the past few decades, people have been finding old family recipes and the Czechs are reclaiming their food culture!

Prague has been at the top of my list to return to, and I still have yet to make it happen. Give me some time… I will return to Prague & I will make sure to dedicate the time and energy it deserves! Even with how long it’s been since visiting, I definitely consider Prague to be a top 3 European city for me!

Vienna

Vienna was the base location back when students actually studied abroad in the study abroad program, so that’s where we spent the majority of our time.

I would say Vienna is one of those cities I can appreciate in hindsight. While there, I didn’t find it particularly impressive. It’s a big city with a lot of different neighborhoods, and visually, it didn’t wow me. However, after visiting, I recalled all the cool things I did. There really is so much going on in Vienna!

Some highlights: visiting Sigmund Freud’s apartment, Schonnbrunn palace, and the National History museum. Most of all, I loved swimming in the Danube river!

I’m due for another trip to Austria. There is so much I’d love to see, plus I would love to revisit Vienna to see how I feel about it now!

Day Trip to Budapest

Oh yeah, this happened!

We had a free day in Vienna, and me & 2 girls in the program chose to spend it by checking another country off the list!

The day I spent in Budapest was really beautiful! We mostly just explored, drank & yapped (some of my favorite things to do!). I would love to return someday since 1 day is not nearly enough, but I remember Budapest being really cool. The architecture was amazing. Plus, it had such a laid back vibe.

Zagreb

We took a long train from Vienna to Zagreb. We passed through Slovenia- speaking of places I need to return to so I can have the proper experience!

Zagreb was… fine.

I remember taking a walking tour & spending a lot of time at this park next to the hostel. Because we were there in the middle of summer and most of the locals were on the coast, it felt pretty dead & unexciting.

But with ending up in Zagreb meant that the study abroad program was coming to a close. I was pretty sad about it, because that meant I had to say goodbye to some new friends I made. I knew I would love Europe. That was pretty obvious- traveling the world is a childhood dream. I wasn’t expecting to befriend so many people! I’m so happy I delayed graduation to study abroad!

The Journey Continues: Croatian Coast, Venice, Paris

Oh, but we weren’t done yet! Or at least I wasn’t.

The day after the program ended, me & the same people I went to London and Amsterdam with were on a bus on the way to the coast of Croatia. Rovinj to be exact.

After a nonstop jam-packed couple of weeks, it felt amazing to hang out by the beach and just relax. Plus, Rovinj is just gorgeous!

Just one day later, we hopped on a ferry to Venice. Venice is unlike anywhere on earth. The busy areas are overwhelmingly crowded (keep in mind, this was as in the dead of Summer) & kinda hard to enjoy, but if you go off the beaten path a bit, you’ll find more residential neighborhoods that are way quieter & really pretty!

A day 1/2 later, we went to our last stop: Paris! (Yes, we moved way too fast. This isn’t at all how I travel today).

The short amount of time we had in Paris was spent hopping on & off the metro so we can see all the famous sights: Notre Dame, Sacre-Couer, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, & Moulin Rouge. We also grabbed some macarons from the famous Lauduree. I spent the rest of my time wandering the streets alone since my group didn’t really want to do anything.

The journey home was long. We went back to London, had a long layover, then back to Sea-Tac airport. What a jam-packed 3 1/2 weeks!

The Truth About the Study Abroad Trip (Behind the Scenes Drama)

If you look at the photos & my Instagram at the time, it would seem like I was having the time of my life! And I was!… however, it wasn’t all sunshine & roses.

I should probably mention the fact that I didn’t get along well with a few people I was traveling with. More specifically, the people I did the pre- & post-travel trips with. The people I was stuck with for the entire trip.

I did get along with them very well while we were booking the trips. I’m still not 100% sure what caused the shift, but things changed in between finalizing the bookings and actually going to Europe. I think part of it had to do with some other drama that had nothing to do with me directly, but I was associated with it. Also, I think our personalities didn’t mesh well long-term. Additionally, there was a lot of toxicity & hypocrisy going on in that group. If they did anything questionable or even immoral, it’s fine. But if I showed any signs of being in a meh mood or was indecisive, THEN it was a huge problem. It didn’t really matter what I did. They didn’t like me. Therefore, anything I did was annoying.

I Tried my Best to Make Things OK…

It sucks being around such negative people while you’re trying to enjoy your trip. To make it even worse, I ended up paying for one person’s 2nd part of the trip because he was dealing with some hardship (It cost me about $400). He promised he’d pay me back. 7 years later, He never did.

But yeah, I was the problem.

I never really spoke to them after the trip and I was completely fine with that. The entire time, I was more than willing to set aside some differences and make the most of the experience, but they never gave me that same respect.

The Breaking Point

There was a point in Zagreb where my research mentor pulled me aside & asked if everything was OK with them & at that moment, I completely broke down. I told her exactly how they’ve been treating me and how hard it’s been to put up with it. She was extremely kind & supportive. She told me that all I could do was just be nice & deal with it, and once I get back, I have so much more of my life to look forward to. I am so grateful I had such a wonderful mentor who had my best interest.

The Bright Side

On the bright side, I took my “friends” being too toxic to be around as an opportunity to get to know others in my group. I ended up befriending several girls! Some I still talk to today! I figured I could either let 3 people ruin my trip OR I could make the most of being back in EUROPE! That’s exactly what I did!

A Sentimental Moment in Paris

The most special moment of the whole trip happened the last night. Nobody in my toxic group wanted to really do anything (what a waste of being in Europe… their loss), so I decided to wander the streets of Paris alone. Probably not the safest choice I could’ve made, but it seemed a lot better than being in a hotel room with them.

I remember finding the most amazing view of the Eiffel Tower… then I walked over to see the Arc de Triomphe. For the first time in a long time, I could hear my inner child speaking to me. I felt deeply emotional. Remember, I was not very present during this time of my life… On that night in Paris, I was. I felt proud of myself for returning to Paris for the first time in 10 years and I remembered how it felt to visit Paris for the first time at 14, and here I was again at 24.

An Important Promise

I made a promise with Paris: I promised that the next time I visited, I will find myself in a better place. And that it won’t take another 10 years to revisit. I told Paris (yes, I was once again talking to a city…. I do this often.. never claimed to be normal) that I would distance myself from the drama & people who were no longer serving me and that I would go home and start over.

7 years later, I can say I fulfilled my promise. I did revisit Paris and it didn’t take 10 years.. it only took 5. And yes, I was much better off 5 years later. And yes, I did start over when I got home. I can’t say everything got better immediately. I actually made a lot of mistakes & become someone I now cringe at the thought of. That’s ok, though. It all lead me to where I am now, and I must say, I’m very proud of who I’ve become.

How that Trip Impacted Me + Future Travels

My study abroad experience was certainly unconventional, but no less impactful.

1. It showed me that international travel is not anywhere near as expensive as everyone said. Yes, getting to another continent can take some $$$, but once you’re there… it’s pretty easy to keep the costs down in a lot of places.
2. I realized that my current friendships needed to end… like, immediately. I learned who was in my corner & who isn’t.
3. It was my last quarter of college! I was officially graduated once I submitted my final paper!

The main downside of the trip was being surrounded by negative energy. It is what it is & I didn’t let that ruin my 2nd time in Europe.

Studying abroad brought me to 8 new countries! My official number went from 6 to 14!

In my post talking about my very first international travel experience, I say that this is the trip that really changed everything. And it’s true. Thanks to this trip, I learned that travel is more accessible than I had previously assumed. It also showed me that I could totally figure things out on my own.

Less than a year 1/2 later, I would return to Europe. It would be my first solo trip!

RIP Tori

About a month after the program ended, a sweet girl in my program named Tori tragically passed away. Tori was such a compassionate and loving human. She was kind, funny, and thoughtful. I did know her before the program, but being in Europe with her gave me the opportunity to get to know her. I am so grateful for that. Thank you, Tori. You gave so much light to my experience, and you’ll never fully understand how much I needed that. I am so happy to have known you.