Little Moments, Big Memories

This post was originally published on Sam Inman's study abroad blog.

My 5-week European adventure is finally coming to a close. I came in with no expectations. I wasn’t sure how to predict how things would go and I’m glad that I didn’t try because I now know that it’s not possible. I would have never guessed that I would make such great friends and do the things I was able to do here. Things as great as this in life cannot be predicted. 

I’ve come to learn that my favorite memories come from the smallest moments. The times when things were unplanned and raw.

If I could give you any advice, I would tell you to make sure you do at least 3 things:

  1. Make Friends
  2. Make time for yourself
  3. Get lost

Make Friends

In Barcelona there was a small stir fry restaurant, called Wok Street, that was our go-to spot. It was cheap, delicious and also happened to rest in the shadows of La Sagrada Familia. My favorite memory wasn’t going into Sagrada Familia, even though it is mind blowing and breathtaking at the same time every time, it was going to stir fry. At Wok Street I made some of my closest friends, brainstormed ideas for school projects and shared stories. We would sit there while the sun was going down and I would have a surreal moment when I would look up and see the sunset on the beautiful church, surrounded by great friends in Barcelona. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Make Time for Yourself

Our week in Cannes was nonstop. We were balancing the festival and getting homework done everyday. I started to feel like I was missing out on experiencing Cannes. I left the festival early one day, grabbed a towel and my journal and went to the beach. The sunset in Cannes turns everything purple, the sea, the sky and the mountains. I sat on the beach and wrote in my journal for a while. I felt like the beach I was sitting on and the mountains I was looking at weren’t real; Another surreal moment. The experience felt out of body, I was completely happy for the first time in a long time. I am the kind of person who needs to be alone sometimes, if you are the same I highly recommend getting away from everything for awhile and experiencing something by yourself. You will have a different experience that you can only share with yourself, which I think is special.

Three things to take advantage of if you go abroad

  1. Being in uncomfortable settings
  2. Public Transportation
  3. Connections

If you go on agency visits or meet people in the industry, make sure you receive what they have to say. I really enjoyed seeing how different agency’s work and what they are looking for in employees.

Last but not least here are some things that you should be prepared for

  1. Things go wrong… all of the time
  2. Your bed won’t be comfy
  3. Different cultural customs
  4. You’re going to spend a lot of money

Limit your expectations when going into an adventure like this. Open yourself to experiences,  they will come and possibly change you for the better. Push yourself to overcome troubles when things get tough. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there but don’t forget to make time for yourself. Some opportunities are once in a lifetime, recognize that and take advantage.

These 5 weeks have been the best weeks of my life.

By Sam Inman