Tenacity and adventure were combined into one on this interview! College study abroad trips fascinate me. A young lady I’ve known since she was a toddler took an extensive one last year. This beautiful and savvy friend of mine has a luminous spirit and heart. I admire her tenacity to follow her dream with this trip experience.

How did you find your study abroad trip and what grade were you in?

I was a junior in college and freshly 21 years old.

I remember discussing it with you beforehand and your mom was hesitant to let you go. So, what was the tipping point?

I don’t know. It’s really crazy because when I brought it up to my parents, they just laughed. Since my older sister hadn’t done a study abroad trip, they wondered why I wanted to do it. I got the Provost scholarship so there wasn’t anything extra my parents had to pay. The tuition and lodging transferred over to that.

How did you qualify for the Provost scholarship?

I wrote a couple of essays; one about why I wanted to study abroad and what I hope to gain from it. I don’t remember what the other essay was about. I also said I wanted to study in Austria because I was born in Germany and really wanted to experience the culture. Austria has a lot more English so I knew that would be better for that reason.

Can you name all the countries you visited?

Spain, Italy, Hungary, Greece, France, Netherlands, Croatia, Austria, and Germany. The most expensive flight is getting over there… but you know that. Once you’re there, Austria is so centralized so flying around was easy.

So, you had to pay for the flight to go over there…

Yes, it’s funny because I saved $2.5k before I studied abroad and I’m not kidding, a month in, I ran out of money!

On what?!

I paid for many trips in advance so ….I had done a lot of planning and had to borrow more money from my parents. My sister got Lasik and my parents paid for that…and I never got Lasik so I kind of consider that equal.

You have another kind of vision from going on this trip! haha….How long was the whole program?

Feb. 15- June 27.

Did you have a favorite country?

Surprisingly, it’s Hungary! Budapest was so cool….everything about it. The mineral water in the baths is so good for your skin! They had really cool bars…called ruin bars. They were actual ruins but with decorations. Very Aztecy vibe…in Hungary.

What was the craziest thing you experienced over there?

When I went to go visit my friend in Spain, she and I were walking the streets of Barcelona completely alone at night with a dead phone. I remember thinking how dangerous that was. We didn’t know where we were and trying to find her apartment. Looking back now, I know that was not a good decision and I’m glad we weren’t in a bad situation.

Also, we stayed in hostels and there was a time when I kid you not, when we woke up in Italy and there were SIX spiders on me!! When I say I was not ok,…. I just jumped out of bed, woke up Augustina and said, “Let’s go!” And the breakfast was always like oatmeal.

Aren’t youth hostels like $10 a night to stay in?

That one was $5!! (we both erupted into laughter).

What was the most eye-opening thing you learned?

I noticed especially in Austria and other countries that people stare at each other. Here, in America, everyone has their AirPods in or looking at their feet. When someone looks at you, you look away but over there, they stare. I’d catch someone staring at me and I’d look them dead in the eye and they’d keep staring.

As far as you incorporating a custom back home….did you bring back any customs? Are you staring at people, now? (laughing) 

I will say my roommate from England was vegan and I’m NOT vegan at all but I ate so healthy over there. The impossible burger, etc…

Were you doing vegan when you came home?

I do have vegetarian weeks (what I call them). I do one week a month where I do that. I try to eat plant-based, lots of veggies, etc.

Seeing the differences there….I had a whole other life for all those months. I had never experienced taking trams to catch the subway to go to school, etc..And now, I’m right back to my old life again.

What did you appreciate about the United States while you were over there?

RANCH DRESSING!! I love it so much and they don’t have it other there. I had a friend visit me and bring me some ranch dressing!

Next time, take it over there in dry packets. Were you required to do a certain amount of online work or curriculum?

I was in classes over there and 10 hours counted towards my degree. I’m a 5th year senior because I was in Engineering, then Nursing, now International Business and Marketing.

I would think that makes your resume strong.

My resume is pretty nice! The classes I took abroad were all Humanities, Austrian Studies, a Finance class,  and Art History (which was really in depth.)

How did you budget?

Terribly! I bought a 6 month tram pass for transportation (250 euros) I planned all the trips within a month and a half. The rest I did spontaneously.

Did you take a boat?

I took a boat in Santorini to do the hot springs. Ryan Air is a cheap airlines and I found a flight from Vienna to Santorini for $90 round trip. I was living in Gratz, (also spelled Graz) near Vienna, and always took a bus from Gratz/Graz to Vienna and flew out of there. (many connecting flights).

Were you ever totally alone on any of your travels?

Only while flying to two different places and I’m so glad I was never alone.  I actually think I budgeted alright compared to some of my friends.

What inspired you to go on the trip?

I always wanted to study abroad and go somewhere to start a new life like Eat, Pray, Love vibes. My parents weren’t against it; they just thought it was a joke until I got that scholarship, and then another scholarship. There was one day when I went to my dad and asked, “When can I buy the flight for Graz?” and he asked, “What do you mean?” I responded,  “I’m going to go.”

I could just see his face!

I said, “No, I really want to do this.” I’m grateful that I went when I did because my parents wanted me to wait until this year. Can you imagine if I was over there now? Timing! You have to take opportunities when you get them.

I know! Because many kids this year were sent home or missed their trip because of the quarantine and travel ban. I say that ALL the time in my travel articles! Timing is everything! You listened to your heart.

I ask everyone this question in my interviews…how has that trip enriched your life?

I always considered myself to be independent and I know my parents doubted it. But actually being able to really be out there on my own proved it. Everywhere I traveled, I made all the plans, itineraries, went on Google maps to figure out my transportation and figured the day to day out on my own. It was also the first time I ever went camping. We had a really good time with very nice views of Austria. What was crazy is that during the day, we’d be sweating with shorts and a tank top and at night, we were freezing with a jacket,  hoodie and sweats.

I’m really proud of you. If someone was on the fence about going on a study abroad trip…what would you say?

Oh, GO!!! At first, I was a little sad because I did miss out on many of my friends 21st birthdays or them making memories without me but the memories I made and the things I experienced… I would do it all over again!

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