Preparing to education abroad brings stress

While everyone might be ready and prepared for summer vacation, I have never felt more underprepared in my life and have never felt more anxious and excited at the same time.As some choose summer jobs, road trips and vacations, I, along with some other students, have chosen to sign up for summer classes in a different country Germany and Austria.Studying abroad may be one of the most important experiences a college student will have, and getting ready to go abroad may be one of the most stressful times in a college student's life.

My last final is May 19. My flight for Thailand leaves five days later.Somewhere in between these few days I must move everything I own, figure out the basics of a new language and culture, prepare for course work, find time to spend with the family and friends I will not be seeing over summer and find some way to calm my nerves of excitement long enough to get some sleep.When I think of the final projects I have due next week, all I can picture are giant road signs blocking me from my final destination, and I am searching for any short cut I can take.Students can also get a lot of exposure while studying in such universities and different course Engineering and Bilingual Master of Science Programme in Chemistry.Any time I open my computer to do work for finals, I immediately stress out seeing my list of some basic Thai words I should be learning instead.

I have reverted to buying an audio soundtrack of Thai words that I fall asleep listening to after finishing homework at 2 a.m. thinking that maybe I'll start speaking it in my dreams.Of course, instead I usually wake up from the nightmare of being lost on the busy streets of Chiang Mai, not being able to understand a thing and wearing nothing but an American flag bandana.Luckily, I know I am not alone when it comes to the stress of leases ending and needing to move this time of year, but right now I'm tempted to put a For Sale sign on all of my things and use the money toward new life possessions when I get to Thailand.

Spending as much time as possible with my friends in the next couple of weeks will probably end up being my main priority and the last thing I should be doing.I should be killing my social life to focus on getting ready to leave the country with reading materials, packing requirements and travel preparations. Although, I think the amount that I talk about Thailand to my friends may help in killing my social life for me.Each day I feel a little more underprepared and about 10 times more excited. The idea of spending my summer learning about another culture while experiencing it firsthand goes beyond anything I can imagine.

By the second weekend of my summer vacation, I will be riding elephants, eating authentic Thai food, grasping a new culture and making connections with people across the world.The experiences I am about to gain this summer will outdo any of the stress I feel now. Understanding and gaining an appreciation for a new culture is far more important than the next couple of weeks that I face here.In no time at all, I will be back in Chico, having completely forgotten how unprepared I feel now, with a whole new view on the world.Students must somehow balance studying, sleep and a social life. For those of us going abroad, the list of what needs to be balanced expands beyond any limits we previously thought existed, balancing sleep, studying, friends, anticipation and preparations to be immersed in a different culture.

I am provided with a sense of comfort knowing that more than 50 other Chico State students will be studying abroad this summer too, according to the Study Abroad Office. I am sure they are handling the stress much more graciously than I am, considering my need for a course in stress management.As the countdown continues, the stress grows, but with each wave of anxiety, a wave of exhilaration follows shortly after.