Submitted by Emily Gray on the 2019 fall semester program in Prague, Czech Republic…
Nearing the halfway point of my time here, I have begun to reflect on how different my life here has been. I have met so many new people, seen so many places, and done things I never dreamed of doing. However, I think it’s important to remind myself that I do not have to be doing something every minute that I’m here. I’ve talked to a lot of my peers, and we all share a sense of guilt when we take a night in to watch Netflix or read a book. And that’s understandable, we want to make the most of our time here. Yet, we must also acknowledge our own personal needs. For instance, this past weekend was amazing. I went to a medieval city, saw my first ever opera, and befriended people from other countries. While this weekend was brilliant, I found myself incredibly drained from it. I needed time to decompress and be alone for a while.
Living in a new country can take a lot out of you. Tasks like going to the market are infinitely more difficult when you don’t know the language, and it’s easy to get lost or confused. It’s only logical, then, to feel exhausted sometimes. The fear of missing out is strong in Delaware, but it’s so much stronger here. My advice to people studying abroad in the future is to make the most of your time abroad without the constant fear that you should be doing more.
Medieval city of Cesky Krumlov