Hannah Dirgins is a student at the University of South Dakota and an ISA Featured Blogger. She is currently studying abroad with ISA in Prague, Czech Republic.
One piece of advice I can give after this experience is to spend as much time as you can in the city and country you chose.
In the first few weeks, I was scrambling to plan trips elsewhere, trying to pack as much traveling as I could into my weekends. After a while, all the traveling was taking a toll. I was exhausted every day and never seemed to able to catch up. With spring in full swing in Prague, I found myself missing the city. I do not regret any of my trips to different countries, as they offered a new cultural and learning experience. I do wish that I had more time in Prague, because when else would I get to live in such a magnificent city!?
Staying in the location you’ve chosen gives you a chance for a full cultural immersion as well as a comfort within the area where you live. Towards the end of the program, I spent more time within the city and continued to find new things to do and see. I created a little life while abroad through spending more time “home.” Now as my program ends, I look back yearning for more time in Prague!
I strongly recommend taking advantage of the traveling options especially in Europe, but don’t forget to spend time in your home base. Remember the reason you chose that specific place and embrace to every day you have there, it goes by too quick!
The world awaits…discover it.