Studying abroad can be both very exciting and scary, especially as a young woman traveling alone for the first time. Having health conditions does not make the scary part any easier. I go to school back home in Philadelphia, PA at Drexel University, but I am doing my study abroad program at Dublin Business School (DBS), which was organized by FIE. I’m currently on my study abroad journey, navigating Dublin as an American, and also as someone who lives with some health conditions. I’m at the point in my journey where I will receive my official diagnosis in the fall when I return to the states, so it’s been tricky figuring out what works for me and what doesn’t, especially abroad. I'm hoping to help out any other students who are going through a similar experience as me, and who still want to take advantage of the opportunities around them.
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead as much as you can is the key to a successful study abroad trip, regardless of health. Regarding health though, I spoke with my doctors back home in the months leading up to my departure for Dublin, to plan with them about what will work best for me. I'm spending 72 days away from home (36 in Dublin and 36 in London), so I had to make sure that I had enough of all my medication and doctor's notes to bring through TSA. I also recommend packing anything you could not live without (like medication or anything else important), in your carry-on, as recently there has been an issue of lost luggage in many airports.
Self-Care
If I’ve learned anything from living with a health condition, it would be that self-care is most important. Before leaving for my study abroad journey, I reached out to my school’s disability office to see what accommodations they could provide for me, to make my life easier, and less stressful. The disability officer was very kind and understanding, once I brought my doctors’ notes and explained what was going on. Through the disability office, I was able to get accommodations for extra breaks and flexible attendance which has made a huge difference in my stress levels if I have a flare-up and cannot fully participate. I definitely recommend taking care of yourself first and taking advantage of all the resources around you.
Asking For Help
Asking for help is not easy, but it’s crucial when living with a health condition while studying abroad. I won’t lie, I’ve had a bit of trouble adjusting. For some reason, my disability accommodation letters did not make it to my program in Dublin in time, and several of my accommodations were not able to be met, affecting my participation in my program. I was really scared to ask for help, but I began to reach out to various individuals at DBS and FIE, and now I have a whole group of people who are working to better accommodate myself, and hopefully, those in the future who have similar struggles.
Communication
Related to asking for help, communication is key. Communicating what your needs are can be really scary, but it is so important to avoid any unnecessary issues. I definitely struggled at first communicating with the various program directors and disability officers here at DBS and FIE, especially because they were strangers to me. It can be difficult to be vulnerable and open up to strangers about your struggles, but these people are there to help us and make our experience the best it can be.
Go At Your Own Pace
One of the things that stressed me out a bit, was the fast pace of many of the activities run by DBS and FIE here. I've found that communicating that sometimes I need a slower pace, or even doing activities on my own has been both more manageable and enjoyable. I also have found that going at your own pace allows you to slow down and take in all that your study abroad location has to offer. The happiest I've been so far is exploring Dublin on my own, or at a relaxed pace with my friends.
Most Importantly, Have Fun!
Relaxing, going with the flow, not taking things too seriously, and having fun as much as you can is the best piece of advice I can give. Issues will come up when studying abroad, but embracing these and growing because of them is so important. Studying abroad is one of the best, and most fun, experiences you can take advantage of in college and I think everyone should try it if they can. Having fun and taking in the local culture will make your experience unforgettable.
Going outside your comfort zone doing something like studying abroad, is very scary, especially with a health condition. Although I’ve struggled with anxiety and flare-ups of my condition, I am growing and learning so much about myself. I’m so grateful that I decided to take on my fears and participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you’re on the fence about studying abroad especially if you have a health condition or disability, I would definitely recommend doing it! With the right planning with doctors and the other resources around you, it is very possible to have a great experience.