In the fall of 2024, I began the journey of a lifetime. I lived in London for three months, studying at The Metropolitan University. Although London was my “home base,” I hopped from country to country every other weekend, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and seeing history come to life right in front of me.
I first looked into exchange programs at the beginning of my sophomore year. I never thought anything would actually come from going to the study abroad fair held in Student Union. Little did I know that simple curiosity would lead to over a year of preparation and a lifetime of memories.
The process was not only time-consuming but also expensive — another task on top of working a part-time job and managing a full school schedule. Applying was the easy part. Then, I was faced with selecting classes, considering transfer credits, arranging housing accommodations and navigating financial difficulties.
My program was hosted through SUNY Cortland instead of UB, which created even more complications. I was bounced around between my advisor, the study abroad office and the financial aid office for months. No one seemed to have the answers to my questions and would simply send me to a different department. I felt like a ping-pong ball, someone no one wanted to deal with. I began to feel discouraged and overwhelmed by my choices, wondering if studying abroad was really worth the stress, anxiety, frustration and financial debt I was facing.
My study abroad accommodations, tuition, application fees and SUNY Cortland fees totaled roughly $15,000. This did not include plane tickets, food, local transportation to and from campus or spending money. Committing to a semester abroad is not a decision anyone should take lightly. I got lucky — all of my transfer credits fulfilled the course requirements in my program. However, this is not feasible for every major, and traveling abroad could mean being set back an entire semester. So the real question is: is it all worth it?
For me, every penny and ounce of stress was 100% worth the adventures I took, the cultures I explored and the knowledge I gained.
London was the first time I had ever been outside of the country. The eight-hour flight to Europe was a perfect mixture of nerves and excitement. So many expectations and questions ran through my brain on a loop. The city resembled a combination of Boston and New York City — modern and updated, with swarms of people hustling through the streets. But there were hints of historic architecture, breathtaking parks, and eye-catching scenery sprinkled throughout the city.
In Greece, life moved at a slower pace. People prioritized keeping their cultural traditions and authenticity, steering away from the effects of Western modernization. Santorini is a city that I recommend to everyone who has the chance to go. The island is everything I had pictured it to be. The water is crystal clear, the locals are welcoming and animals roam the streets willingly. After living in London for a few weeks, it was a refreshing change of pace to travel to an island where everyone acted like neighbors and took care of one another.
Rome was grand and surreal. I remember standing in front of the Colosseum in awe of the massive, historically iconic structure. The charismatic banter from the locals every time I walked into a restaurant or coffee shop was both amusing and comforting. One of my most unforgettable moments will always be the night I took a cooking class from one of Rome’s professional chefs. He invited a small group of us into his home, giving us the most intimate and authentic Italian dinner experience one could ask for. His apartment overlooked the city with a clear 360-degree view of all of Rome.
As magical as experiences like those are, I think the biggest misconception about studying abroad is that every day feels like a fairy tale. You still experience everyday stressors and homesickness from being away from friends and family. Some days are easier than others, and there were times I wished I had never gone on the trip to begin with. However, nothing replaces the feeling of freedom and independence you gain. You are forced to rely on yourself to make the most of your journey, even when life doesn’t go as planned.
So yes, extensive traveling comes with a price — but then again, nothing in life is free. The only way to know what you want from the world is to explore it for yourself.
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