Tips for Summer Study Abroad
Last summer, I traveled to Luca, Italy with the college of liberal arts. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend doing a study abroad trip while you’re at Auburn! Here are some tips I learned along the way.
Use a Backpack and Pack Light
I traveled with a large backpack and cross-body bag for my 2-month trip and never felt short of clothing or any necessities. To account for any new purchases I made while traveling, I packed a foldable duffle bag in my backpack. This allowed me to pack super light but have an extra carry on just in case! The “Black Hole” backpack from Patagonia was my backpack of choice; it was very light, comfortable, and durable!
Keep Your Plans Open
If you want to on weekends, I recommend not planning anything until you get there! This made my trip much more flexible. I went to cities I never would have found if I had planned while I was in the U.S. My biggest advice is to ask your professors (or any locals) for recommendations on where to go. This can help you find more low-key spots that aren’t quite as touristy.
Delete Your Socials
When I left for my trip, I decided to delete all my social media. This was the best decision ever and I am such a big advocate for everyone doing this! By deleting my social media, I was able to be 100% present at every moment of my trip. I never felt the need to be posed, fabricate what I was doing, or keep up with anything online! Take the leap and live in the moment!
Go to Any and Every Sporting Event
Being Auburn students, we understand there is nothing that unites a campus, city, or country, like sports! I got really lucky and happened to be in Portugal during the Euro Cup! Going to watch the games was a great way to experience the culture of each country and meet some locals. It’s so fun to see the unity and pride other countries have for their sports, so I highly recommend going even if it’s not your typical sport of choice!
Buy a Mini Cam
I went to a pawn shop before I left and bought a mini digital camera for around $20! If you’re going to be traveling to big cities where pickpocketing is common, a mini camera allows you to take all the photos you want without the stress of getting your phone stolen!
Stay as Long as You Can
If you have the means to, I highly recommend staying after your program ends. It seems financially daunting, but traveling and accommodations can be crazy cheap in Asia and Europe if you aren’t afraid to rough it a little! I met up with my best friends from home and we traveled to Austria and Portugal. I had little to no expectations for each and was absolutely blown away by their beauty and culture!
Safe travels, and Be Well, Auburn.
Crystal is a junior majoring in marketing and double minoring in Italian and sales. She spent her freshman year of college at Baylor University (Sic ‘em) before transferring to Auburn where she found her home!
Born and raised in Montana, Crystal’s passion for the outdoors started at a young age. You can often find her hiking, floating in the river, or just sitting in the sun. When she’s not out enjoying nature, Crystal loves to read, travel anywhere new, listen to the oldies, and spend quality time with family and friends. After graduation, she aspires to travel as much as possible, pursue a career in real estate or social media marketing, and eventually find her way back to the Rockies.
