Spring 2023 #3

March 13, 2023

by Megan Harrison, MUDEC Student Intern

Hi everyone! Welcome back to another edition of the newsletter. It’s crazy to think that we’ve already been at MUDEC for over a month! Study tours are in full swing, and spring break is right around the corner. I’ve had an amazing time abroad so far, and can’t wait to see where the rest of the semester takes me!

Traveling (whether independently or on Discovery Tours) presents unique benefits and challenges for us, especially if we are first time travelers. For example, this semester is my first time in Europe. But throughout my time traveling, I’ve found a few things to be extremely helpful in my journey. Having this opportunity to travel is such a beautiful thing, and enjoying the process will help you appreciate the outcome even more. 

There are “must-see,” destinations for every MUDEC student. Some are common for most students abroad, while others are more unique. We are all navigating this opportunity of travel, and it is easy to get wrapped up in planning and logistics of certain locations. Especially when there is so much to do in each country, the thought of not seeing everything can feel overwhelming. Discussion of traveling can also make it seem scary or unattainable, or make you forget what you even want to see.

I encourage you to take a breath and then chase what you are looking for—whether that be the big monuments and cities, art museums and shops, or the little towns and countrysides. One of my wishes is to find certain movie filming locations in each country I visit.

It was important for me to realize that my travel journey is not the same for my friends and classmates, and that’s okay! Your time abroad can be about whatever you make it, and the beauty of it is that it’s completely up to you.

I am a firm believer in treating your life like it’s a movie, and a movie is incomplete without a good soundtrack. This is especially true when you are sitting on flights or train rides for hours between destinations.

I make Spotify playlists for all of my music, and assembled a playlist of songs to accompany me on every plane, train and automobile I take while traveling. I also created a playlist of songs I hear while traveling, or that remind me of fond memories I’ve made while in Europe.

I recommend finding and downloading songs that tie you to your roots, while also finding comfort in the songs you hear while abroad. Music further connects you to your memories and emotions, and is also a great bonding tool. This semester is full of moments unique to your experience: take the time to truly hear the music and let it help you keep the special moments close. 

Plan, plan, plan. That’s often one of the first pieces of advice given for your independent travels during the semester. I remember feeling stressed during the first week when some of my classmates had already planned out most of their weekend travels!

While planning is good (and I definitely recommend it), I also encourage you to leave a little room for spontaneity and change. Some of my favorite trips so far were to places I hadn’t intended on visiting and with people I hadn’t met before the semester began. Now I have extremely fond memories of our time together in those places!

One of my personal goals for the semester is to let myself live in the moment, and developing this mindset for certain trips has been extremely helpful. Combining these spontaneous moments with your planning can take a weight off your shoulders and open your eyes to experiences you hadn’t thought of. 

Traveling to new places brings uncharted territory. This experience is new for all of us, and it is easy to recognize the stresses of our independent travels. I find that incorporating my passions into my travels eases some of my anxieties, and I encourage you to do the same. I am so excited to see what’s to come during the rest of the semester! 

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