Written by: Diana Fernandez Caumol | Spring 2023
BU Exchange at University College Cork
The day I left the United States I was carrying two brand suitcases and a HUGE backpack
that I had never picked up before. It was raining, Los Angeles traffic was heavy, and we got to the wrong gate…twice. Little did I know that was only the beginning.
Let me paint you a picture. You are naturally bad at escalators, having to count three lines
before daring to set foot. You are carrying a 40-pound backpack that you can barely hold, a
carry-on that keeps tipping off, and a pillow that has touched the ground so many times you are ready to leave it in a seat and wave it goodbye. To make matters worse, you are overheating because you ran out of space with three jackets still unpacked. How does it go?
As expected, horribly wrong.
I remember thinking that maybe once I got to my gate the bad luck would end, but then the flight was delayed three hours because the plane got hit by lightning. And when I finally boarded, the real fun began.
In all my years flying, I have NEVER heard classical music as the boarding choice of an
airline, but right there and then Lakmé’s, Duo Des Fleurs started playing.
I looked inside and realized just how small the hallway was, to the point I could not physically fit in it. And so in a sea of annoyed glances, accidental bumps, things falling over, and fancy music, I made my way to my seat in row 77. There I encountered the next problem: all the over-the-head cabin spaces near me were full and the backpack could not fit under the seat.
And so in a second round of annoyed glances, accidental bumps, and my muscles failing to
carry the backpack, I made my way to row 50.
“Diana, sit down”, I told myself, and then the tears began. Sticky substances, dinners I could not eat and nausea all made a memorable flight. To close it off, my luggage got damaged and all my belongings got wet. Now hear me out, I am not intending to spike your fears. But in case you have a rocky start, I am here to tell you and reassure you that it gets better!
So here is my short guide to surviving a rocky start:
- Pack travel adaptors. Fun fact: The UK and Ireland use different plugins than the
rest of Europe and Europe uses different ones than the US! - Check the voltage of any electronics you have before plugging them in
- Make sure you have some essentials in your carry-on in case anything happens to
your luggage (including a change of clothes!) - Do not underestimate the power of sleep. Jet lag is not the nicest experience, so
please make sure you are sleeping well. 
Try to stick to the schedules you had at home! It is very easy to get lost amidst the
chaos and some sense of familiarity can definitely help. Do you have a specific
skin-care routine? Do you have comfort meals? Stick to those while you adjust to a
new place.- Don’t feel like you have to do it all your first week! There will be plenty of time to socialize and explore. Make sure you can still focus on yourself : )
- Ask questions. Even if it feels weird or self-explanatory. Here’s a little secret, I got
late to orientation because I did not know how to open the main door of my housing. - Make sure to reach out! Whether that is your family or friends at home, people at
your university, or licensed professionals, having a support system makes everything
easier. Side note: even if you are having a great time, it is good to keep your loved
ones updated on your well-being! - Allow yourself to feel and be gentle with yourself. Sometimes we forget we are
humans with needs and desires. Your study abroad experience is not meant to be
utopic, but it is meant to be a new adventure where you find out more about yourself
and the world. Allow yourself to reflect on anything that comes up and allow yourself
to go through the motions. And please remember to breathe! You got this.
I am pleased to announce that despite one of the worst flights of my life, I enjoy Cork every day. From some of the kindest people to some really good triangle hash browns, this place has brought many wonderful memories in the first month.