There are exactly four days before I fly to Scotland for my first ever trip to Europe and, although my trip’s duration will be only four shorts weeks, I cannot help but feel my anxiety slowly encroaching. I’ve suffered with general anxiety and panic attacks since early childhood, and have always attempted to keep them at bay by maintaining routines and avoiding the unknown. However, in just four days I will be doing the exact opposite and my current mental state is both apprehensive and (obviously) eager. I am aware of how incredible and rare this opportunity is and I am more than grateful that I have an amazing support system and the resources to be able to do this.
I intend on taking full advantage of my time in Scotland, which requires consciously paying attention to my mental and physical well being and also being very well prepared. This to me means one thing: lists.
I have to-do lists, shopping lists, packing lists, and lists of things to help me sort out my thoughts and concerns and address them in a healthy way. This is the number one thing I can recommend to anyone struggling with anxiety or panic attacks, so I have decided to center today’s post about logistics and prepping for traveling abroad.
Some fleeting concerns (irrational or rational) I’ve had include:
What if my debit card doesn’t work over there?
What if I don’t like the bed? What if I can’t sleep?
What if I get homesick?
What if I have a panic attack or pass out?
What if my bags get lost?
What if I miss something that happens at home?
The “what ifs” are a nuisance more than anything, but they can quickly become very overwhelming. Addressing each and every concern either through self-talk rationalizing or talking it out with my Mum/Dad/friends helps to at least lessen the amount of sheer “noise” these thoughts create in my mind. If my debit card doesn’t work, there is a Santander bank on campus. If I can’t sleep I will bring ZzzQuil pills in my checked bag. If I get homesick I can always Skype my parents and I can keep myself busy enough to avoid it. If I have panic attacks or need medical attention I have insurance and there are doctors in the UK. If my bags get lost they will find their way to me.
I made sure to assign my seats on the flights well ahead of time and become familiar with my itinerary and various travel guides from my sponsor university so I felt more comfortable and confident with what I will be doing. Taking the time to do a fair share of research certainly helps to alleviate a lot of unnecessary worrying.
Here is some good information I found about currencies in Scotland and the difference between the Scottish and British pound, one article from About.com and another from Trip Advisor.
Here is some information about using an iPhone 5S internationally (sorry iPhone 4/Android users!).
I will include my personal experience with the technicalities of cell phone use/currencies when I get there!
If you’re thinking about studying abroad but are too anxious or nervous, I promise you that it will be worth it!
You are not going to a deserted island. I have had to tell myself over and over that the UK is a very populated place with plenty of stores just like at home! If I need or forgot something, I can get it. Which brings me to my next anxiety source, packing.
Packing is difficult and it is tedious. I am still baffled by how students pack for four months in only one fifty pound suitcase, because I am struggling to pack for just one! I have a table set up in my basement with clothes I want to pack and I can already tell I am bringing way too many items. Most helpful so far has been reminding myself to stick to the bare essentials and avoid bringing anything I can buy over there (shampoo, conditioner, etc). I am checking one fifty-pound suitcase, carrying on a small suitcase to go in the overhead, and a backpack to go under my seat. When preparing my packing list I used a few different sites to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything. Here are a few that I found helpful, one from Study Abroad.com and another from Her Campus.
Some of things I found most important were to: bring a copy of all important documents like your passport, itinerary, credit cards, and insurance cards, have a list of emergency contacts both at your school abroad and home university, research and buy appropriate power adapters for wherever you are going, make sure you have enough of your prescription medications to last your entire time abroad, and bring a few comfort items. I also opted to buy Brita filtered plastic water bottles and specific hair appliances that work with 220 voltage plugs. These were pretty inexpensive on Amazon.
I recommend you limit the amount of shoes you bring and be sure to include a pair of good walking shoes. Lastly, I think it is worth looking into signing a power of attorney or health proxy form. Although seemingly unnecessary, anything can happen and it is better to be prepared than not. These do need to be signed in front of a notary so don’t wait until last minute, but it is not a long process and it is another way to be prepared and have a little peace of mind.
I am spending as much time with my friends and family this week as I can and mentally and physically gearing up for my upcoming adventure by taking plenty of vitamins, probiotics, eating healthy, and staying hydrated.
I hope I have touched on some helpful tips and topics for those who feel nervous about studying abroad.
I have found many blogs online extremely beneficial in the preparation process, especially those of my peers at UNH Manchester also studying abroad this summer.
All in all, I am feeling incredibly optimistic about what the next month has in store for me. I have friends who will be in the UK in July and my best friend Melisa is traveling along with me! I can’t wait to see what I will be doing in two weeks when I sit down to write my next post. Expect a lot of pictures!
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Olivia Marchioni is a sophomore in the business program at UNH Manchester and a graduate of Salem High School
