Getting Grounded at HQ 

I was lucky enough to be able to only have classes on two days of the week when I was studying abroad in Prague. I was also lucky that I had outgoing flatmates who connected with others who lived in our apartment building. We were able to get together and get to know each other. Do what you can to create courage in those first few weeks when you enter a new environment. Write out a game plan. Do research on events in your area. Be someone who can offer knowledge and places to go. Be the experienced tour guide that others want to have around. Express your desires to explore a certain restaurant, museum, or event. Do some research on where you can find your favorite type of cuisine and other common cuisines that others may request. Learn.  

We took a trip to Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic with the CEA CAPA team. 

Be a resource for others and you will find travel buddies and friends to explore cultures with. Find community events. Learn where the locals eat. Go to a few restaurants a day if you want. Find your favorite drinks and snacks and recommend them to friends. Make it yours. I was extremely grateful to have lived in Prague. The city is quaint, safe, cheap, and gorgeous. It’s big enough to be able to explore without getting tired of scenery (not that anyone could) and small enough to feel at home. Find a headquarters where you know you can restore and recover from your time traveling elsewhere. Personally, I knew I valued gothic beauty, a walkable city, an efficient transportation system, and a lively beer culture. Prague was the obvious choice. Outline your priorities before choosing your HQ and do the required research to find the best match.  

A Copenhagen ship captain returns to port. 

Purposeful ‘Planlessness,’ Let the Mystery Find You  

Search in a guidebook, ask a local, or go online and find a safe area where there’s a lot going on. Maybe you hear about something of interest that you want to check out or you know there’s a marketplace or a stretch of green space that you know you’ll love. Go there without a plan and set off on a trek. Perhaps you know in Paris’ 11th arrondissement there’s a fromagerie you wanted to check out. Make yourself a goal of walking into four shops before you can enter the fromagerie. Or maybe you can choose to try a pastry from two different boulangeries before you can nab that stinky cheese. Some of the most joyful experiences from my travels are in happy little accidents. The post-museum pretzel from the stand across the street, or the semi-dilapidated breakfast place around the corner from the hostel were often the highlights of my days.  

I visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris. 

Prepare a Plan… but You Don’t Have to Use It

When traveling, do prep work. Know what’s interesting and fun. Having an itinerary can be great for cities/countries that have a lot to offer. I also advise you to get sidetracked if you see something appealing to you. This is your time. If you want to spend a day lounging in a café in Amsterdam because that’s truly what you want to do, do it. There were plenty of times when I decided to chill out at a restaurant instead of doing hardcore sightseeing and I never regretted it. This does come with the caveat that I was traveling nearly every weekend so I could get burnt out. Nonetheless, sitting down at a local watering hole and people watching is a form of cultural immersion. You don’t have to go to every stop on the online travel guide to do it right. Keep a journal. Write down the things you liked doing and the things you didn’t. Account for the good days and the bad. What were you doing on the good days? How many steps were you walking? Who were you with? If you find patterns, note them. By tallying these metrics you can create a framework for your travel days. Find your rhythm and stick to it. Learn what works for you and what doesn’t. This is the rooftop of a Marrakech hostel where I stayed.  

I visited Theth, Albania with some travel buddies. 

This is the rooftop of a Marrakech hostel where I stayed. 

Respect the Locals and Respect Yourself  

Don’t be the obnoxious kid who is screaming at the museum. It’s easy not to be that kid. Don’t be the person to wander off from the rest of the group and not tell anyone causing masspanic among your friends who are probably sick of you by now. Learn some basic phrases of the local language. Say please and thank you. Represent your country with respect and treat the locals’ country with respect. Simple pleasantries are also a way to make new friends. Other than that, have fun and take some calculated risks. This is not something you will forget anytime soon.