14 Gems From My Study Abroad Experience

Studying abroad is one of the most dreamlike and surreal experiences that you may ever have during your college years. It is a time to explore a new country, meet new people, and live while making lifelong memories. This time of your life will inspire, impact, and influence you in ways you won’t even believe.

I studied abroad in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in January 2026. I absolutely fell in love with this beautiful and enchanting city. The golden sand beaches, the gorgeous sunsets, and the clear ocean water instantly enamored me as well as the grand Sydney Opera House and the remarkable Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Even as I am reminiscing and writing this right now, I am in awe that I experienced this phenomenal opportunity. I am truly blessed and thankful to God for this answered prayer.

That is why I am exceptionally excited to share these 14 gems from my study abroad experience. From exploring alone, building a dream bucket list, and capturing moments, to getting lost and embracing spontaneity, I hope that these gems will help guide and encourage you as you consider and plan your own study abroad journey. My experience truly transformed my life, and I know that yours will too!

Explore Alone

This gem may seem crazy to have as the first piece of advice, but this is probably one of the biggest things that I learned during my time abroad. Exploring alone is something that should be embraced.

Of course, during your time abroad you should spend time getting to know people and building friendships, but there is also so much power in independent travel and exploration.

I encourage you to set aside a day, a morning, afternoon, or evening on occasion to get dressed, go out, and go to that part of town that you have been dreaming of since the first week you touched down. Go to that restaurant that you have on your bucket list, go to that museum that you saw on a walk that you took a week ago, visit that park or beach that you still have yet to explore that you keep on thinking about.

There is something so special about solo traveling even if only for a few hours. You can truly become immersed in a moment, go where you want to go for however long you want to go for, and you learn so much more about yourself in the process. Solo travel gives you space to be yourself with yourself, and allows you to be present in a different way you are when you are around other people.

I definitely wish I did this more sooner. There are so many things I wanted to do and places I wanted to go that I didn’t because I was either waiting to see if anyone would join me or because I simply wasn’t sure if I wanted to experience them alone.

But looking back to one of my favorite days in Sydney, it was the solo day I spent by myself exploring alone that still lives rent-free in my mind. Getting brunch at a local restaurant down the street from my apartment building, going to the Victoria Buidling and observing the stunning architecture, riding the train to an art museum that I had on my dream bucket list, having a sunset picnic at one of my favorite places in Sydney as I watched the golden sun go down and saw the sky shift to twilight. It was absolutely incredible! And I want you to also experience such a special golden hour moment that will stay with you well after you depart from your study abroad trip.

Key Takeaway: Don’t wait for someone else to experience what your heart desires. Sometimes, the most unforgettable moments are the ones you experience on your own.

Research Your Host Country

As someone who loves research and learning about new cultures and environments, researching a new country comes naturally to me. But I know not everyone is a planner and some are new to travel as a whole. So I encourage you to take some intentional time before your study abroad trip to research your host country.

This can be a really exciting time when you are planning your study abroad experience. When you do this, you are able to have an idea of the direction you want to go and the places you want to see. It also helps you to truly figure out if this is the place you really want to go.

Before I went to Sydney, Australia I had originally thought that I would choose somewhere in Europe, like Italy. But upon further research, I learned that Australia offered courses that were more aligned with my aspirations, and I could escape the cold of the Northern Hemisphere. I realized that I could indeed go 16+ hours away and become immersed in an Australian summer while taking my dream course. And that choice ultimately changed my life.

I had so much fun researching online about Sydney. Reading articles and blogs, and watching Youtube videos and TikToks. Doing this allowed me to envision the places and activites I wanted to experience before I even set foot in Australia. It helped me not to be blind about what neighborhoods and landmarks were around me.

Researching your host country is also an essential time to get to know where you will be living for weeks or months, and to become acquainted with what to expect. Familiarizing yourself with your host country allows you not to be unaware of the culture and to respect customs. It will allow you to embrace your experience even more.

Key Takeaway: Researching your host country allows you to plan accordingly and familiarize yourself with the culture before you even step foot there. It allows you to come in knowing some things to expect, while still being open to all the new things you will soon experience.

Be Open to New Experiences & Immerse Yourself in the Culture

You will most likely be studying abroad in a new continent, country, or city. Because of this, it is vital that you come in with an open heart and mind to live and experience new things and immerse yourself in the culture.

This may include trying new foods that you may have never tried or may have never even heard of. Or waking up really early and going to a secluded beach to watch the sunrise. Or taking a hike along one of the most famous mountains in that region. There are so many endless possibilities when it comes to travel and exploration, and the only limits are usually the ones you put on yourself.

When I was in Sydney, I tried so many new things that I would have never dreamed of. If I didn’t go into this experience with an open mind, I would have stuck with what I already deem as comfortable. But travel is about learning and growing, taking adventures and exploring the unknown. Through this experience I learned so much more about myself. What I truly love, what I want to experience in the future, and the things that are not for me. Experience is one of the best teachers in life.

Spending three weeks in Australia also changed me for the better, because I immersed myself in the culture and embraced it. Australians are very easygoing and relaxed people. They do very well with balance and being present. They are people who wake up early and watch the sunrise from the beach. People who walk to cafes and restaurants for their lunch break, breaking bread with their friends and colleagues. People who say “no worries” and flow gracefully throughout the day.

When I was in Sydney, I was more relaxed. I spent so much more time outside. I was present, and I became more of who God has called me to be. It transformed me in ways that I will never forget and will always cherish.

Key Takeaway: Go into your study abroad experience with an open mind and heart. Try new things and go outside of your comfort zone. You already are taking the first step by going abroad, so just take that next one.

Make A Dream Bucket List

This gem is one of my favorites because it is such a fun and exciting process! Making a dream bucket list of cities to visit, restaurants to eat at, beaches to dip in, mountains to climb, and sunsets to gaze at, can make your study abroad journey more focused and fulfilling. It allows you to have a general idea of the type of experiences you want to have while still being spontaneous and free.

Those times when you and your friends are figuring out what to do on one of your free weekends or when you are seeking out an opportunity to explore alone, pulling out that dream bucket list can do a world of wonder.

For example, I organized a list of cafes, resturants, markets, beaches, and other activities that I would want to do during my time in Sydney. I wrote about four or more choices for each category that I found as I researched my host country and used that as a starting point for some of my adventures. (And I will definitely write more specifically about my study abroad experience in Sydney and what places and activities were my favorite.) On this bucket list I also made a list of free and non paid activites, so that if one day I wanted to save money I could know ahead of time some places that I could go.

My dream bucket list is definitely a tool I used throughout my study abroad experience, and I know that it will be a great help for you as well.

Key Takeaway: Building a dream bucket list allows you to have a tool that is readily available for you to plan a fun day or be spontaneous in a time when you are wondering what to do when you are out.

Get Lost & Embrace Spontaneity

Some of your favorite memories during your time abroad may not be the ones you put on your bucket list. It may be:

The random café.
The unexpected conversation.
The wrong bus.
A spontaneous walk.
A change of plans that turned into the best evening ever.

It can be fun making plans, but I believe there should always be room for the unexpected and the spontaneous.

I encourage you to get lost… Walk around that eclectic neighborhood, go to that secluded beach, try those directions that a local gave you to the best restaurant in town.

Embrace spontaneity - go to that last-minute showing at the outdoor cinema, talk for hours at that rooftop, go catch those fireworks that only happen on the third Saturday of each month…. Some of your most cherished memories during your study abroad experience may come from these spontaneous moments.

Let life surpise you! During my time in Sydney there were lots of times that I took unplanned adventures. Maybe it’s because I’m a spontaneous person, but even when I wasn’t feeling spontanous I would go to places with my friends that were unexpected, and it would make for a fun time more often than not.

One time early on in my trip, we actually did get lost because we took the wrong bus. It made for an entertaining night trying to navigate bus routes, having conversations with strangers in a local beach town, and seeing an area of Sydney we probably would have never discovered on our own. It felt like one of those unexpected moments that happen in a book or movie that feels like it wouldn't happen in real life, but actually does. In the moment it was annoying and frustrating, but now it is a memory that will continue to make me laugh and that one day I will tell my children.

Key Takeaway: Make space for the unexpected and spontaneous. Get lost from time to time and allow yourself to enjoy the adventure.

Capture Moments

Capturing moments is one of the most important gems for your study abroad experience. Studying abroad is one of those experiences in your life that you will always want to remember and keep close to your heart. So many core memories and worthwhile moments come from this period during your university years. So I encourage you, whether you like to take photos and videos or not, to remember to capture moments during your trip.

Most places that you go and the things that you experience will most likely be new to you, and it’s so amazing to be able to look back and reminisce on the times that experienced.

If you want to go all out and buy a digital camera for this experience, I say do it! This is the perfect time to practice those photography skills or even just be able to take cute vintage-looking photos. Or if you just have your phone that is totally fine as well.

And I say capture moments and not take photos, because it doesn’t always have to be the most perfect and aesthetic photos. It can be the messy dinner table after everyone has eaten, you and your friends mid-laugh, the view from your bedroom on a cloudy day, a blurry photo from a night out. These are the type of moments that are so special to capture as well as the cute aesthetic ones. But also make sure you live in the moment and have fun. And every now and then, capture these moments so that you can look back at them and treasure them for years to come.

You will be thanking yourself when on a random Wednesday evening, three months after your study abroad experience ends, you are going through your photos and smiling at a photo of you and your friends at your favorite restaurant or in awe of one of the most beautiful sunsets that you took during your trip. Capturing moments like this will uplift and inspire you in ways you wouldn't even imagine.

Key Takeaway: Capture the grand and everyday moments. Both are so special, and it will allow you to remember the sweet experiences that you lived through during your time abroad.

Put Yourself Out There & Make Friends

During your time abroad, I guarantee you will find some special people to join you along your journey. Most people who are studying abroad come in with the same mindset: they want to meet new people and make new friends. So also come in with the same mindset and put yourself out there.

Depending on what agency you go through, there will usually be opportunities to reach out and connect with people a couple of months or so before you even fly to your host country. Those who run the study abroad program encourage students to do this, so you can come in having already reached out to a few people or at least seen their face so that you can recognize them once you touch down. And even if you don’t reach out or connect with people before your trip, that’s okay. There are usually orientations, meet-and-greets, and other fun activities that they have for students to meet each other and warm up to the new country they are in.

I came in doing both: I reached out before the program and also met so many people at orientation. Also, if you are in a dorm or apartment building you will most likely have roommates, so that is also another opportunity to become close to someone or even just meet mutual people through them.

Also don’t forget one of the main reasons you are there… to learn! You will meet people in your classes that you will most likely get close to. You are spending almost every day with them in these courses, and even going on excursions or field trips with them, so do not be afraid to put yourself out there and allow someone to get to know you.

Also, don’t be afraid to talk to locals either. Doing this allows you to gain so much more perspective and learn more about a place. And hearing their accents is also a bonus!

So put yourself out there and make friends. You will be able to have memorable late-night study sessions, go on fun weekend trips to neighboring cities, talk for hours and lose track of time, enjoy exploring your country and create some of the most fun memories together.

Key Takeaway: Come in with an open mind to meet new people and build connections. Be intentional about talking with others and making fun plans to go out and explore. Allow others to get to know you and be yourself.

Journal Your Experiences

Study abroad is full of memorable and unforgettable moments, moments that you should be present for and also capture as well. I truly encourage you to bring or buy a travel journal so that you can write about your experience abroad. Whether you just debrief about your day in the journal or tape receipts, tickets, or photobooth pictures into it, you will be able to have a physical keepsake to have with you for the rest of your life.

Journaling is also a great stress reliever. Writing your thoughts out on paper is therapeutic and has been scientifically proven to help with emotional healing. A lot of the time we hear about all the good parts and fun times people have abroad, but whether they share it or not I guarantee everyone experiences some down moments on occasion whether it is homesickness, fatigue, burnout, or even FOMO. It is important that you take some time to yourself, reflect, and be aware of your emotions so that you can try to process them in the healthiest way possible.

But again on the other side, journaling your experiences can help you remember the small details of a day that you may not remember a week later. Or if you want to vividly relive a moment that you experienced, writing it down can help you envision yourself in that moment again.

Either way, journaling is a gem I definitely recommend. During my time abroad, I would have loved to journal more, but honestly… I was living in the moment. And when I did want to write something down, I may have been too exhausted to write it all out. So also give yourself grace if you have every intention of journaling but you don’t get to it. Just consider yourself and find out what best works for you.

Key Takeaway: Journaling can help you remember the small details of a day, grand golden hour moments, and relieve stress, but don’t feel like you have to write down every experience…prioritize living in the moment.

Stay in Touch With Family & Friends Back Home

While you are off and away during your study abroad experience, you either end up being so immersed in the experience that you don’t really think too much about home, or you think of home not too long after you arrive and you start to miss your family, friends, and the familiarity of home.

Whether you feel any of these ways or even somewhere in between, you should definitely make it a priority to stay in touch with your family and friends back home. Sending photos, voice notes, text messages, and making time to call the people you love can mean so much to you and to them. I guarantee, whether they say it or not, that they are interested in seeing where you are and hearing about the fun memories you are making. It is also such a special thing to give them a little taste of the experience with you in this way as well.

Also remember, it is okay to miss home. When you may be feeling a little down or homesick, give someone you love a call or write them a letter on the back of a postcard from a local shop you passed by. Things like this help you stay connected to them.

But also, I want to challenge you to still enjoy the moment and make the most of building friendships while you are in your host country. Those people that you spend time with will soon start to feel like your own study abroad family because you will be going through similar situations, as them and they’ll even feel some of the same feelings as you as well too. So don’t be afraid to share how you feel and to lean on those who are beside you, the people you have built friendships with.

Key Takeaway: Staying in touch with family and friends is so important while you are abroad. It allows you to feel connected to them from miles away, and to experience life in another country in a fun and special way through the stories you tell and the photos you share.

Live in the Moment

Living in the moment is what we should all be doing every day of our lives, but we still find ourselves distracted and unfocused on the present because of the many circumstances of life. But it is vital that we take that deep breath, open up our eyes, and feel that breeze on our skin… and just be unapologetically present in the moment.

Living in the moment is such an important gem during your study abroad experience, because it allows you to experience all that this new country or city has to offer in its fullness. You will be able to enjoy the moment in its entirety, you will be able to remember some of the most minute details of a day that impacted you in such a special way that you cannot even explain. You will be able to see, smell, touch, taste, and feel where you are and it will soon start to become apart of you.

Being present is also about balance. The balance between capturing moments through photos, documenting life through writing, sharing about your experiences with your family and friends, while also just being. Just be. Turn off the music. Silence the phone. And just be. When you do this you start to lose track of time, you talk to your friends until two in the morning without even noticing, you end up lying on the beach in silence watching the sunset, you get lost in thought as you look out your apartment window and realize for the tenth time that you are indeed thousands of miles away from home. You are living in the moment.

Go on that walk, go to that museum, try that new dish, stand up and dance. Live in the moment…. Be.

Key Takeaway: You have a fuller abroad experience when you live in the moment and are present. Don’t get so caught up with everyday tasks, that you lose time in the present in this new place where you have dreamed of coming to, and that you are finally in. Just be.

Rest & Take Care of Yourself

Resting and taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you should do every day of your life, but especially when you are away studying abroad and having to juggle being in a new country while taking classes, making friends, exploring, and living in the moment.

It is all about balance. When you go abroad sometimes you feel that you have to go to every activity and function, or go out every day and explore something new. Although you should stay active and venture out as much as you can, it is vital that you rest when you need it.

Nine times out of ten, you know when your body needs rest. You can’t focus, you start nodding off, your feet start to drag, and you can barely move your muscles. So instead of ignoring it, listen to your body! Exploring and traveling is so much fun, but at the same time it can be tiring and hard on your body - more than usual. And even if it is the very first day you fly into your country and you feel tired, don’t feel guilty if you are jet lagged or need a little time to rest on the first day, that is expected.

There are so many times where - even though my study abroad experience was only three weeks - either my friends and I were like “I’m going to sit this one out” to just simply rest, recharge, and take a nap.

Of course, most of the time we were all down to go out and do things regardless, but a few times during your trip you may feel too exhausted from always being out at night, or walking around exploring, or doing work for you classes. So take the time to rest and invest in some self-care. Enjoy the lovely view of a new country from your bedroom for a time. It will make your other experiences and time out much fuller and enjoyable! Rest is never a waste of time.

Key Takeaway: Resting and taking care of yourself is essential. Traveling and exploring is way more fun when you are well rested and rejuvenated. Listen to your body when you need a break, and don’t feel guilty about it. Embrace rest, and take that nap.

Say Yes, But Don’t Feel Like You Have To

Saying yes to new experiences is so important. While you are abroad you should embrace uncertainty and spontaneity. Everything should not always be planned to a T. Some of your most special moments will be the times when you and your friends decide at the last minute to go to the beach for sunset or to get dressed and go to that Indian restaurant you went to on your first day that you can’t get off your mind.

While saying yes is something that should be embraced, it is also vital to be aware of what you can or cannot handle. Say yes, but don’t feel like you have to. If you are wanting to take an evening to just go explore alone or spend time with just a couple of your friends doing something chill instead of going out with the group, do it. It is okay to have balance, and to do what you want to do on occasion. Don’t let yourself be pressured into doing something that truly does make you feel uncomfortable. Make sure you surround yourself with friends who know you well enough to not even try to push you past what you can truly handle. Not every place or activity is for you, and that is ok. Stay true to who you are and don’t feel bad about it.

Key Takeaway: The goal of study abroad is not to have the most experiences; it is to have experiences that mean the most to you. So say yes to new and spontaneous things that may be outside your comfort zone, but don’t feel like you have to.

Don’t Compare Your Experience to Someone Else’s

Don’t compare your experience to someone else’s. Your study abroad experience is uniquely yours.

Someone has already traveled to 10 countries. Someone else will be brand new to travel, and this experience might be there first time leaving their own state or city. Someone will make friends immediately, as soon as the plane touches down. Someone will feel lonely for the first couple of days before they get to truly connect with someone. Someone will have a seemingly perfect aestetic experience. While someone else will have had the best time of their lives, but just have the rawest and most blurry photos to remember it by.

You do not have to live someone else’s version of study abroad; live your own. Be yourself and stay true to your identity. Do not feel pressured to become someone you are not all because you are surrounded by people who may have traveled more than you or go out more than you.

Make your own memories, build your own community, and be thankful for the moments that you get to live out. Comparison is the thief of joy, and you don’t want to be robbed of that joy because you are so focused on being someone else instead of being yourself. It’s okay to aspire to achieve similar goals or dreams as someone else, but don’t count yourself out or feel like you have to become a completely different person in order to do so.

Key Takeaway: Don’t Compare Your Experience to Someone Else’s. Stay true to who you are and make fun and lasting memories based on your own dreams and aspirations. You can look up to others for inspiration without changing your own identity. Be true to who you are.

Let Yourself Be Changed By Your Study Abroad Experience

My study abroad experience gave me so much clarity about my goals and dreams in life. It solidified and magnified my love and passion for photography. It gave words to my desires, and feelings toward my dreams. It opened up my perspective and helped me to embrace and love a new culture.

Australian culture is so lovely - early mornings, balanced living, the beach before or after work. Healthy and delicious meals. No rushing, no worries. Laid back and easy going. It honestly is the way I have always loved to live - with peace and adventure.

Letting yourself be changed by your study abroad experience is such a sweet and special occurrence. Allowing yourself to blossom, bloom, and tap into another side of who you are that you may have not even known was there can be transformational and life-changing.

You discover areas of yourself that are bigger than you know, and you may end up wanting to live a life so different from what you could have imagined before stepping into this new experience.

Study abroad is an experience… meaning that you enter into it. Live it out. And learn from it. You go in one way, and come out another. Everything is new…new country, new culture, new friends, new hobbies, new customs, new traditions, new, new, new. And soon all those new things will start to become a part of you as you live from day to day without even recognizing it. You will start to be influenced and inspired to live in a way that broadens your perspectives, and makes you widen your comfort zone.

Letting yourself be changed by your study abroad experience simply means embracing each moment that you live out during your time abroad. Be open to new dreams, new aspirations, and new goals. Allow yourself to grow in your love for the culture and to even adopt some of its lifestyle habits. Live as a local and see how your life can change.

Key Takeaway: Fully embrace your study abroad experience. Live in the moment. Dream big. Explore alone. Make friends. Capture Moments. Write your most cherished memories down. Rest. Call home. Get lost. Don’t compare yourself. Let yourself be changed by your study abroad experience.

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