How to Cope With Your Last Few Days of Studying Abroad

Almost as quickly as the Olympics closing ceremony creeps up on us, sadly, your time studying abroad will eventually come to an end as well.

Chances are, you ‘ll be experiencing some mixed feelings. You’ve probably made some great new friends studying abroad, experienced new cultures and are not quite ready to go home yet. On the other hand, you might also be looking forward to returning to more familiarity, friends and family.

In order to avoid any regrets or an existential crisis (“what am I DOING with my life?”, “what do I do with myself now?”, “WHO AM I?!” ), here’s a list of things you should tick off before you return home from studying abroad:

1. Take lots of pictures
2. Make a scrapbook of your memories (virtual photo album also acceptable)
3. Go and do the things you wouldn’t be able to do back home
4. Eat all your favorite foods (especially if you can’t get it back home)
5. Meet all your new friends in a large group
6. Meet the really special ones on their own
7. Spend a day just walking around the place with no set agenda
8. Go off the beaten path-you may discover some hidden gems
9. Go and do the most touristy thing the place has to offer (you may have shunned it as a student, but there’s a reason why it’s popular!)
10. Go and do that thing you said you’d never do
11. Walk around the university campus one last time
12. Go and sit somewhere and just do nothing for a few minutes, soak in the atmosphere
13. Buy a postcard- write something nice to yourself and send it to your home address so when you get back, you’ll have something to remind you of your time studying abroad.
14. If you really can’t bear the thought of leaving, book your next trip back now. You won’t regret it.

There is one thing I would not recommend…

Never ever ever ever listen to “leaving on a jet plane” when you’re about to take off. You will be the bawling baby on the plane. 

Must.. finish… this… post…without… crying…

What would you do before leaving your beloved study abroad destination?