By Joanna Yip
Ever since high school, I knew I was going to study abroad in college. A built-up image of study abroad marinated in my head for years: Pinterest-worthy photos, delicious local food, beautiful sceneries, new city every weekend and new friends to experience it all with. Then finally, my application and visa were approved, plane tickets booked, and all that was left to do was go. I felt all these nerves going from my brain to my stomach, and I couldn’t stop thinking of the what-ifs. What if my luggage is too heavy? What if it gets lost during the transfer flight? What if I lose something important at the airport? What if they ask for a negative COVID test and I don’t have it?
The concerns go on forever, and the week prior to my departure I was more of a nervous wreck than an excited study-abroadee. Don’t even get me started on packing – it took me a week and a half, and the day of my flight I was still repacking and reweighing. I think I speak for most people when I say I wanted my dorm room to feel homey, so bringing things from home was essential and therefore made packing lightly impossible. However, NYU was not wrong in telling us that most home-essentials can be bought here, they are just a little different. But honestly, getting to explore TESCO and other stores with your roommates is all part of the experience.
Despite all the pre-departure nerves, the constant double-checking of COVID guidelines, and the never-ending anticipation that something might go wrong, my travel went without a hitch. Save for my time at the Zurich Airport where I was profusely sweating from lugging around my definitely-overweight duffel bag (my bad), disaster never struck. I even ran into fellow NYU people, in addition to a Prague university student, on the plane and already found myself feeling more comfortable. Navigating the airports was easy, and I was relieved to see my two giant suitcases come around the luggage belt safe and sound. We easily found the NYU staff and I could feel everyone’s excitement as we made our way to the dorms. It felt as though it was ending and beginning at the same time – my stress for traveling now that I’ve reached my destination is gone, and now I am faced with the actual start of my study abroad experience.
My successful arrival to Prague was a true testament to my newfound independence; having never been to Europe, done a transfer flight, let alone done any of that alone, it was intimidating to have to do it all at once. Just two and a half weeks ago I was a ball of anxiety, and now I am settled nicely in Prague and already accustomed to the route to school, the Machova neighborhood, and even how to grocery shop and cook meals in the dorm. Although my pre-departure nerves couldn’t have been eased by anything until I successfully arrived, I am proud of myself for making it here in one piece and feel prepared to begin what is to be an unforgettable few months.