Where did we leave off? Ah, yes, I’m studying abroad.
For those of you who are new, my name is Gabby and I’m currently studying in Vienna for the spring semester. Last time, I gave you a glimpse of what getting here was like. (If you haven’t read it, you should probably go read my first article and then hurry back to this one).
I’m halfway through my great big adventure, and I’m begging time to slow down. I’ve fallen in love with life here, but it took some adjusting.
This time around I want to give you a little more insight into what exactly “culture shock” feels like, and how I handled homesickness.
Before I left, I was warned by countless people about culture shock. They told me I would resent the new country for a while, their cultures, traditions, way of life.
But it’s week eight… and I’ve yet to resent Austria. In fact, I think I love it more and more everyday.
However, here’s some things that I didn’t expect, or things TikTok and my research didn’t prepare me for.
Public transportation: I love to drive, always have, but I don’t miss driving nearly as much as I thought I would because I get to ride the trains or bus each day. Public transportation is so cheap. It was about $80 for a semester student pass, which covers all train and bus rides in Vienna until I leave in May. Oh, and did I mention the trains run off renewable energy sources like wind, water and sunlight?
Walking: I have never hit my step goal every day in a row until now. Everyone walks everywhere. Each city I have visited is so walkable. I rarely walk less than five miles per day here, and I walk much more when we’re out exploring.
The people: In Vienna, the thing most people associate with culture shock is the people. Most people are relatively standoffish and sort of… grumpy? Not all by any means, but most people keep to themselves. And people don’t smile at one another walking down the street. The midwesterner in me has still yet to break that habit, but maybe I shouldn’t? Just because you are studying in a foreign place, doesn’t mean you have to change who you are completely.
Furry friends: Dogs. Are. Everywhere. As a puppy lover, it makes me so happy to see dogs roaming the mall, walking in stores and even in restaurants. It’s currently winter, and many of them have teeny tiny coats. How cute is that?
Dealing with culture shock and living in a foreign country isn’t easy. But doing it all without your closest friends and family, your every day support system? That’s the hardest part.
When you’re placed in a new city, full of unfamiliar places, faces, foods and sounds, you tend to cling to what’s familiar. For me, it was my boyfriend, my family and my friends. But they are five thousand miles away.
So here’s how I handle homesickness.
Crying: Sometimes, all you need is a good cry. The first couple days I was here, I was in awe during the day, walking the city and taking in all its beauty. But as the sun set, the reality that I was alone on the other side of the ocean hit me like a freight train. A lot of tears were shed those first few nights, and that’s okay. In fact, I encourage it. Crying doesn’t mean you’re weak or you are ungrateful for your experience, but rather that you’re going through something huge, and you’re processing it.
Familiar faces: I spent quite a few hours on FaceTime with all my favorite people those first few days. I also put pictures up in my room to remind myself of the humans (and furry friends) I get to go home to at the end of my adventure.
Yummy treats: A sweet treat goes a long way, I’m just saying. For me, it was miso ramen. Ordering my favorite comfort food was literally a little taste of home and warmed my soul.
Write it out: I’m keeping a journal for every day I’m here, and as cliche as it sounds, it does really help. Plus, after you leave you can look back and see what you did each day, how you were feeling, etc.
Get active: I’m a gym girly, but you don’t just have to lift heavy things to feel better. A walk outside, a light jog, yoga, just movement of some sort will help you feel so much better.
Being homesick is normal and inevitable. But, as Winnie the Pooh said, “How lucky I am that makes saying goodbye so hard?” And while I miss my people, my furry friends and all the comforts of home, I know that they will all be waiting for me once my adventure is over.
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