19 Euro-Tips For Studying Abroad

Basically, studying abroad in Europe will ruin you for life.

1. Pack every pair of underwear you own.

Pretty much everything else can stay home.

2. You will always have to pay for the toilet (it's not a bathroom unless you're planning on taking a bath in there) and there will never be any drinking fountains.

3. BUT, beer is cheap!

And you don't have to be 21. Or even in middle school.

4. Take an art history course.

"Class" will almost always be held in museums looking at the actual artwork. You might even go on an international field trip. With booze. AH-MAZING.

5. You don't need a car.

The trains in Europe are about 84,000 times better than American public transit.

6. And there are some dirt cheap flights.

If you don't mind briefly giving up a few basic human rights (cough Ryanair cough). But seriously, you can always fly to Poland for like $9.

7. Don't be afraid to travel alone and don't be afraid to travel with a group.

Both will be amazing, challenging, life altering, frustrating, exhilarating experiences.

8. Don't just hang out with the other Americans in your program.

The people who never branch out are the ones kind of wishing they were back home. Join clubs, hang out with your roommates, talk to people in your classes- shake it up!

9. Hostels are a great cheap alternative to pricey hotels, but you get what you pay for!

Paying $2 a night might not include a bed.

10. Laundry is really fucking expensive. Buy some strong deodorant.

Plus the dryers don't really work, and it will take days for your jeans to hang dry.

11. Let yourself eat dessert. You deserve it.

Plus, you're probably walking a ton. And it tastes real good.

12. Get lost. Often.

It'll probably be more fun than whatever it says to do in the guidebook.

13. Your passport is really important. Like really, really, really important.

A lost passport has the power to destroy your trip (and your wallet). Don't ever let that fucker out of your sight. Consider purchasing some form of a money pouch to hold your passport.

14. Leave the stilettos at home.

There is literally no way you’ll be able to walk up a hill of icy cobblestone in anything other than sensible, ugly shoes.

15. Stop in local grocery stores or markets when you’re traveling.

Get some relatively inexpensive snacks and see how the locals eat. Depending where you are, this can also be a great way to get some delicious fresh fruits and veggies that might be missing from your travelers diet.

16. Consider renting a flat for a few nights.

Private rentals are reasonable compared to hotels, and they come with the added benefit of a full kitchen (so you won’t have to eat out for every meal) and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms (so you can have a little much needed alone time).

17. Buy museum tickets ahead of time, within reason.

No one wants to waste precious time standing outside the Uffizi, when you could be inside mocking the ugly depictions of the Christ child. Do your research ahead of time, and find out where it’s best to plan ahead and skip the line.

18. Only touch the bread on the table if you're going to eat it.

In some countries, the bread left in the basket at the end of the meal is recycled!

19. There will be lots of paperwork.

It's not fun, but it is so worth it.