Written by: Paige Kosowan | Fall 2024
IES Abroad Amsterdam – Law and Criminology
Sometimes being abroad is the worst thing I’ve ever 
experienced and sometimes I feel like it’s the peak of my existence. One minute I am crying, scared of the unknown, of the unfamiliarity, of being uncomfortable and the next I’m smiling ear to ear and hoping it’ll never end. The constant switching of emotions frequently gives me whiplash. Some days I sit in my room and feel guilty for ‘bed rotting’ when I should be out exploring Amsterdam and all it has to offer. Other times my schedule is so packed full of activities that I’m a dead man walking at the end of the day. Each new environment has something different to offer me and I tend to be terrified of missing out. Being abroad has helped me truly understand that multiple emotions can coexist at a singular time. You don’t have to just be sad or homesick or happy, you can feel all of these things at once and that is OKAY. Ultimately, my goal is to be content with the time I spend here in the Netherlands, and that looks different for everybody.
Can You Do Everything?
The short answer is no, you won’t be able to do everything you want to do abroad. Truth is, I came to Amsterdam thinking I was going to travel to a new place every weekend. Did I? Of course not. First of all, who really has the funds to travel to a new destination every single weekend. If you do, I truly am happy for you, but with a recession fast approaching, money was and still is an issue I face today. My advice? Pick experiences over all else. I would much rather have some cheese and a 0.50 cent roll for dinner under the Eiffel Tower or on the coast of Italy than a new pair of jeans from Zara. Obviously, this is easier said than done, but sacrificing things here and there can lead to the best memories in the future. And although skipping out on a nutritious dinner or new clothes helps out a bit, the reality is that you’re not going to be able to do everything you want to do. This is okay! Prioritize what is most interesting to you. It is important to remember you are young and have the rest of your life ahead of you. You’re already doing something that most people don’t have the guts to do so take it easy on yourself (and your credit card) and remember that you are probably already in a dream vacation spot for many people. Explore where you’re living for the next few months, it’ll be over before you know it.
How Do You Get Through?
I believe I can do anything I set my mind to but traveling alone to a foreign country and living there for four months when I have never left the United States really pushed me to my limits. So I want to say thank you. Thank you to Sofia (right) and Jannat (left) for constantly being there for me when the day is hard, without you this experience would not be what it is for me. There is a high possibility I would be sitting back in Indiana without you guys. Thank you to my mom, my biggest supporter, and for reminding me that I’ll forever remember the memories I make here but not how much it cost. Thank you to my grandpa, who taught me bravery and perseverance through the toughest of times. Who is not here today but somehow still made it possible for me to have this opportunity. Thank you to my baby sister, who gets to say she has the coolest oldest sister ever. I do it all for you Tay.
It’s your support system that gets you through it. The people who wait for you back home and the ones you make along the way. But if all that fails, do it for yourself. My favorite quote that I have sworn by while abroad is this: A comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever grows there.