The 8 People You Will Inevitably Meet On Study Abroad

If you haven't met one, that's you. *** This post is dedicated to the folks of the Congress-Bundestag Program, who gave me the chance to meet every person on this list and more. #savecbyx

1. The Language Whiz

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They somehow managed to fit a hardcover dictionary, its pocket companion, and a 100-page grammar guide in their suitcase, but they never use them. You love to hate them, but also use them as your personal unpaid translator.

Catchphrase: who knows. They're probably speaking Aramaic or something.

2. The American Loyalist

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They celebrated the Fourth of July, have an American flag hanging in their room, and only semi-ironically talk about freedom and 'Murica. Tend to be shocked when people are not also American.

Catchphrase: "It's ok guys, everybody speaks English anyway."

3. The Frat Star

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You will never speak to him again when you get home, but watching him introduce beer pong to the locals is worth all of the "this one time, I was so drunk" stories.

Catchphrase: "Bro.'

4. The Culture Geek

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Every outing is an ethnographic study. Even Friday nights are an in-depth study of the local social structures.

Catchprase: "oh yeah, I wrote a paper on this."

5. The Under-21er

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Don't worry. You'll find out EVERY TIME they don't get carded. Brace yourself to carry this one home.

Catchphrase: "GUys. AmmmERIcaN laws aresO. DUmb."

6. The Hostel Junkie

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you won't see them for days, sometimes weeks at a time. But when you take that spring break trip to Spain, you'll want to hit them up for tips.

Catchphrase: "I'm thinking of couch surfing in Hungary this weekend."

7. The Luxury Traveler

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Absent about as frequently as the Hostel Junkie, but posting pictures from first-class seats and VIP lounges.

Catchphrase: "I was thinking of going clubbing in Ibiza this weekend."

8. The Best Friend

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Everyone who goes abroad is a little bit crazy - and somebody will be exactly the same kind of nuts as you. No matter where you both come from, and where you go in the future, that bond is gonna stick.

Catchphrase: "Skype date?"