Caleb Wilson, MTSU’s Blue Raiders Down Under Marketing Intern, shares 4 top tips for anyone travelling internationally. Caleb writes:

Traveling outside of the United States for the first time can make people experience many different emotions. There is stress (both healthy and unhealthy), excitement, anxiety and many more feelings that can arise from leaving your home and staying in an environment that is totally different from the one you have known all your life. These emotions are completely normal so these are just a few tips that I believe will help a first-time traveler get the most out of their adventure.   

1. Do your research 

This is something that can assist in using your time most efficiently while being abroad. The last thing you want is to show up to a foreign country and have no clue what is going on, where to go and what to see. While scrolling through the internet, find destinations around the area where you are staying that you want to visit the most and make a list. I understand this list will probably take up pages and you most likely won’t be able to hit them all, but it’s a good way to organize and prioritize your thoughts.  

2. Get “lost” 

Before I start this little tip let me be very clear.. DO NOT ACTUALLY GET LOST. Always have a traveling buddy and be smart. What I mean by “get lost” is that sometimes the coolest things that you get to experience and some of the fondest memories aren’t things you find on TripAdvisor. Go off the beaten path that all tourists are walking, and do what the locals do. This does contradict my first tip, but try to find a healthy balance.  

3. Eat the local food 

This is something that on my first trips abroad I did not take part in and I deeply regret it. I used to be one of the pickiest eaters you’ve probably ever seen. When I was younger, there was a story my parents like to tell called “The Green Bean Showdown.” So let’s leave it at that. But as I’ve grown older and have broadened my taste bud horizons, I truly appreciate other cultures’ food. Food is one of the main components that make up a culture and you can’t fully immerse yourself into that culture if you don’t eat the local food. And after all, that’s one of the main reasons you’re going abroad, right?  

4. Be Adventurous 

Going abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is a time to step out of your comfort zone and broaden your horizons. There are going to be things that scare you or make you nervous, but fight those feelings and do it anyways. I can almost guarantee that you will not regret it.  

I am not a traveling expert by any means, but I have been out of the country on a handful of occasions and these are the most important tips of advice I believe I can pass on. My last word of advice is to make the most out of this opportunity. Traveling internationally is truly a gift that not everyone gets to experience. If you are lucky enough to go, wear yourself out trying to soak up as much of the culture as you possibly can. Don’t miss out on anything you will regret later on in life.