Falling for Prague and publishing the playbook

Two Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo graduates tell USAC's Emily Schmith how they turned their study abroad experience into a roadmap for others. Jessica Sharpe and Madison Somerday, authors of A Guide to Studying Abroad: What to Do, Where to Go, How to Do It, get real about budgeting and dating abroad, choosing travel partners, and how to bring the mindset of living in the moment home in their first book.

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Transcript

[00:00:00] Colette Horton: Hi everyone, and welcome to the Study Abroad Pod today, two Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduates. Joined by USACs, Emily Schmith will share how they turned their study abroad experience into a roadmap for others. Jessica Sharpee and Madison Somerday, authors of A Guide to Studying Abroad: What to do, Where to go, How to do it, are about to dish on their first book.

[00:00:25] Colette Horton: They'll share advice on budgeting and dating abroad, how to choose travel partners and set boundaries, and how to bring the mindset of living in the moment into your everyday life.

[00:00:37] Emily Schmith: Hey everyone and welcome to the Study Abroad Pod. I'm your host, Emily Schmidt, and I'm a USAC alum from Cork Ireland. I studied abroad in spring 2015, and I absolutely loved it so much that I ended up going back for a one year working holiday visa. I'm currently living abroad in New Zealand where I'm working for USAC as a faculty led coordinator.

[00:00:57] Emily Schmith: I'm here today with Jessica Sharpe and Madison Somerday, who are better known as Jess and Mada. Welcome.

[00:01:04] Madison Somerday: Hi, I am Mada. Jess and I, we went to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California. We studied abroad in fall of 2018 in Prague with USAC, and I studied agricultural communication.

[00:01:20] Jessica Sharpe: Hi, I am Jess, and I studied journalism with a minor in marketing. 

[00:01:25] Emily Schmith: You both studied abroad in the Czech Republic. Did you know each other before you studied abroad or did you meet while you were there?

[00:01:34] Madison Somerday: We planned to go study abroad together. We were the freshman dorm mate success story. So yeah, we were freshman roommates and became best friends and then decided we wanted to, you know, have an abroad journey together while we're in college.

[00:01:50] Emily Schmith: Awesome. And what made you decide to study abroad in Prague?

[00:01:59] Jessica Sharpe: So at first we were really set on Italy. That's where my sister studied abroad and that's where like a lot of people were studying abroad. But then my Big in my sorority actually studied abroad in Prague through USAC and just had like the most amazing experience and kept talking to me about it.

[00:02:21] Jessica Sharpe: So we decided to take a look into that and it just felt right. And that's why we decided on Prague. Oh, also I have some family there. So 

[00:02:34] Emily Schmith: That really adds some extra depth to your study abroad as well, getting to meet family that you hadn't seen before and get to know them.

[00:02:44] Jessica Sharpe: Mm-hmm. Yeah, they had their own pub there, so it was like, such a cool experience.

[00:02:50] Emily Schmith: Hanging out at the pub every week. 

[00:02:52] Madison Somerday: Yeah. 

[00:02:53] Emily Schmith: Oh, I love that. So fast forward to today. You're both published authors, congratulations. That is no small feat by any means, and you've written a book titled A Guide to Setting Abroad: What to Do, Where to Go, How to Do It, and Real Life Scenarios to Guide You on your Journey.

[00:03:12] Emily Schmith: What inspired you to write this book? 

[00:03:14] Madison Somerday: Yeah. So, I just remember it was like over summer going into my senior year of college. So this was, we went and studied abroad junior year, and, I was blow drying my hair and just saw like on my bookshelf in my room, you know, the books my mom had got me, which were like, you know, A Guide to Adulting, like Guide to College, guide to whatever, you know, like lots of those different types of guidebooks that really helped me as I was like growing up and getting into college. And I realized looking back to like the prior year or couple years back, applying to studying abroad and then actually going, like there wasn't really anything like that out there. And the process was like a lot to navigate and I was like just thinking like, wow, this would be something that I think could be really valuable for students who are looking to go abroad.

[00:04:04] Madison Somerday: You know, it's an intimidating or can be an intimidating process, but it is a life changing one. So, you know, encouraging more people to, you know, go take that challenge. And then, yeah, I just called Jess because she was there every, almost every moment, of my study abroad experience with me. So, and it's always fun to do things, you know, not alone and write something with your best friend.

[00:04:27] Madison Somerday: So called her and we were like, let's, let's just do it. Let's put it in action. 

[00:04:32] Jessica Sharpe: Yeah. We were also writing things for fun while we were there, so like it kind of just flowed. 

[00:04:39] Emily Schmith: Was that like journaling or actual like papers? What did that look like? 

[00:04:44] Jessica Sharpe: Both. We are definitely doing a lot of like personal journaling, self-reflection, but also we would go to coffee shops, to cute little places and write blogs and publish 'em.

[00:04:56] Jessica Sharpe: So we, we kind of started that journey being in Prague as just like short little lists of places to go and about our experience and documenting just the time while we were there. And then, like Mada said, kind of evolved. 

[00:05:16] Emily Schmith: Yeah. I also blogged while I was abroad 'cause I found that that was a good way to.

[00:05:23] Emily Schmith: Keep it fresh. You know, because of course it's so much easier to write about something as it's happening and as you're feeling those things. But it's also a really nice way to keep people back home, up to date on what you're doing, which can be really nice. So I love that you all blogged and then it was kind of a natural progression to take that blog and turn it into a book at the end.

[00:05:46] Emily Schmith: I am curious just how that process was. Were there any major roadblocks in the publishing process or unexpected things that you didn't know about? 

[00:06:00] Madison Somerday: Yeah, so we wrote the book in, like winter of 2019. We did a lot of it over winter break and we were home for three weeks and, we were planning to publish it in March or April of 2020, and that's when COVID hit.

[00:06:16] Madison Somerday: So our publishing. Um, our publish date obviously had to get pushed back. No one was gonna be studying abroad for the foreseeable future, so we didn't see it as a good time to publish. And then we were also graduating 2020, so when the time came where things started getting back to normal, post COVID, we were starting our careers off and just really involved in that.

[00:06:43] Madison Somerday: And it just, we were living in different places as well and just, we just would text or call each other like every month and probably be like, "Hey, when are we gonna do it?" And then finally, last November, we were like, okay, this is enough. We need to stop with this back and forth. So we finally just decided now or never, like, let's just put it out there.

[00:07:04] Madison Somerday: It's better to do it sooner than later. So glad that we did it. Yeah.

[00:07:09] Emily Schmith: Did you have plans to be writers prior to going abroad and doing this journey, or did you decide to become published authors purely because of your study abroad experience? 

[00:07:22] Jessica Sharpe: I know I majored in journalism, so a lot of my classes were all about writing and the blogging in that aspect.

[00:07:31] Jessica Sharpe: I can't say I, I thought I would be an author. Like I didn't, I didn't necessarily see that. I've always enjoyed writing and, using it as a tool just to understand the present moment and to really like tune into those emotions and feelings and to keep people updated. But then it kind of just evolved into, into a book.

[00:07:59] Jessica Sharpe: And once Mada called me about that. I, I know that we just got super, super excited and it's something we are both so passionate about and loved. We would write for ourselves, so it just was really natural. A lot of the blogs that we had already wrote, we used pieces of that. Um, yeah. And they're still like up on our website and everything, so it's, I would say it's something that's kind of a part of our personality, but just came out in a, a different way.

[00:08:31] Madison Somerday: I think from my perspective, like I agree on that. I think it's kind of both the maybe wanting to be a writer at some point. Not like any definitive plans by any means, but I think the studying abroad definitely is what helped or was the ultimate piece that made it come to fruition. But I mean, as a kid, I would write stories or like novels all the time, never finish them, but, my dream when I was younger I was like, I'm gonna be the youngest author ever to be published. And you know, obviously that didn't happen. I was like nine years old, um, so it's always just been something I've enjoyed. And then when I had the idea and like, called Jess about it, um, yeah, I was, I was just got really excited, like Jess said, to actually, you know, do put a hobby into something more.

[00:09:17] Emily Schmith: Do you think it's a hobby that you're planning to continue and try to publish more books? 

[00:09:22] Jessica Sharpe: I mean, why not? Like I'm sure there's going to be another like time in my life that brings up, brings those feelings like study abroad broad and make me want to like write and get it out. Um, so far we're still kind of focused on this book, but I definitely see it in our future.

[00:09:46] Madison Somerday: Yeah, I, I agree. No immediate plans right now just with, you know, everything going on in our lives. Um, but would love to write again in the future. I think that'd be an amazing opportunity. 

[00:10:00] Emily Schmith: And what advice would you have to give to any other students or alumni who maybe wanna turn their experience abroad into something creative or impactful 

[00:10:10] Jessica Sharpe: to do it?

[00:10:11] Jessica Sharpe: Don't overthink it. Um. Just do it and break it up if it's, if it feels overwhelming. Um, we, we broke things up to really small pieces, which made it a lot more doable. And also just not to lose like the essence of the why you're doing it and the fun of it. I think that's the biggest thing is just like, have fun with it.

[00:10:35] Jessica Sharpe: You know, it's your own creativity and, and just do it. Who cares what anyone thinks? 

[00:10:43] Madison Somerday: Yeah, I think. Like looking back to the years where we didn't publish it, it was just always in the back of my mind knowing like that thing left on the table that you need to do. And I think if we didn't do it, I would just forever have that weight on me and potential regret in the future of not, you know, something that we worked so hard on and that we cared about, like not being published.

[00:11:08] Madison Somerday: Put out there, like even if it was a total flop, you know, it's like we did it.

[00:11:15] Emily Schmith: So you both know a lot about budgeting, packing visas and so on. What are a couple of things that you really wanted to prioritize getting students to understand before going abroad? 

[00:11:27] Madison Somerday: Good question. Um, I think for me, I think part of it was just taking the fear away from it. Like when I first got to school my freshman year, I thought I would never study abroad.

[00:11:42] Madison Somerday: It seemed so out of reach. It seemed so hard to do, and then actually going through the process and obviously going abroad, it was life changing. So I'm very grateful that I did it, but I think I have an outgoing personality where it was just like something I was just gonna push outta my comfort zone.

[00:12:01] Madison Somerday: But for people who, you know, aren't as comfortable going outta their comfort zone, wanting them to feel comfortable and like have that experience as well. Um, from that, I think one of the most challenging parts to navigate was the visa process. Remember Jess and I spending hours trying to figure out how to do that whole application.

[00:12:21] Madison Somerday: So that was definitely something that was top of mind. But Jess, I don't know if you had anything to add. 

[00:12:27] Jessica Sharpe: I would say on my end also just like being mentally prepared, you know? Um, and not to say like, like kind of the opposite of putting expectations so, being prepared in a sense of like being open to this experience and trying not to put pressure on it to be something that maybe you saw like a friend had on Instagram or you know, that your roommate was having.

[00:12:55] Jessica Sharpe: And just like really go into it with a clear mindset and like intentions of what feel right for you. And, um, just being open. I feel like, I remember before, before we left, that's, that's what I was really working on and talking to my mom a lot and my grandma and like, you know, my grandma always says to not have expectations and I feel like I kept that throughout the process and it kind of just made it even better to, you know, just be open. And, yeah, the visa was definitely um, logistically one of the, the harder parts, but, um, USAC and Cal Poly were very helpful and yeah, it's not, it's not too crazy. You just have to have to be on top of it and know the timelines. 

[00:13:47] Emily Schmith: Yeah. And with the pre-departure process, because there is so much involved and you know, before you ever step foot abroad, like there's ginormous list of things that you have to get through before that happens.

[00:14:02] Emily Schmith: So did you ever get so bombed down with all these things you needed to do, that you started feeling overwhelmed? And, you know, if a, if a student was feeling that same way what would you wanna say to them to help keep them motivated to continue with this process? 

[00:14:20] Jessica Sharpe: Yeah, I, I know we definitely felt overwhelmed, like we would call each other and, um, and feel that way, but you don't have to navigate it on your own.

[00:14:32] Jessica Sharpe: Um, so I really would say to lean on your resources and to just break it down step by step and to know that, you know, you're settling into something new. It's kind of like, if you think about how you felt when you were going to college, you know, there was a lot of things you had to do to get ready.

[00:14:50] Jessica Sharpe: Try not to let the overwhelm, like, take away the fun of it. You know, at the end of the day, it's supposed to be an experience for you and to enjoy. So, yeah. 

[00:15:00] Emily Schmith: Yeah. I 100% agree with you and it's something that I. Tell myself in my daily life as well, is the first time you do anything is always the hardest. It's the scariest, it's unknown. You don't know how to act, how to get through it, but as soon as you've gone through it, it becomes less scary and it's like, oh, I can do it. And so I think that's really great. 

[00:15:26] Madison Somerday: Exactly. Yep.

[00:15:31] Madison Somerday: I remember there was a period of time. Towards the end of my time abroad where I was starting to worry about summer internships the next year, which looking back at that seven years later, and I don't, I don't think, oh, I did do an internship, but I didn't do any of the ones I was like applying to or thinking of, and now it's down the road.

[00:15:52] Madison Somerday: It just, I did not need to be focusing my time on that when I had this precious time abroad. So while those types of things like your future. All that, like internship wise, school-wise, whatever. That's all important. What's also really important is from a life perspective, really just soaking in everything you have while you're there and like really just, especially too with having access to social media and your phone and everything, like putting the phone down, looking up at your surroundings, like being very mindful and taking it all in because the day you leave, you're gonna miss it.

[00:16:29] Madison Somerday: And for years to come, you're gonna really miss that time. And, um, I think yeah, just soaking in every moment and knowing that you made the most of it and didn't spend it on your phone or thinking about the future or anything like that, I think you're gonna come out of it feeling very full andyeah.

[00:16:46] Jessica Sharpe: Yeah, I agree with all of that. 

[00:16:49] Emily Schmith: I think it's really common for us to be so focused on the future. It, it's a, it seems to be a very American thing that, you know, we always have to be on the go and thinking what's next and stuff. And so it can be quite difficult for us to just enjoy the moment and like the space that we're in, so.

[00:17:11] Jessica Sharpe: Mm-hmm. Yeah, 

[00:17:11] Emily Schmith: I think that is a good piece of advice to just be present in your study abroad. 

[00:17:17] Madison Somerday: Yeah, I remember too. We were traveling in Italy. And, um, I saw people just sitting on the bench in a park, like a ton of people in this park, just sitting, not looking at their phones or anything, just sitting. And I was shocked.

[00:17:33] Madison Somerday: I'm like, I've never seen this before. You know, like, where do they have to be? And it really just hit me where I noticed how much I'm just thinking ahead and I, like, I still do this so much all the time, something I wanna work on myself, but just always thinking, what's next? What's next? What's next? Like take a step back and you know, what about right now?

[00:17:54] Madison Somerday: Like let's enjoy now. And I just love that all those people in Italy were enjoying the sunshine of the day. I thought that was great. 

[00:18:02] Jessica Sharpe: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I think that's the main thing of like, um, immersing yourself in, in the culture as well and you know, the way people, people behave there and act and it's very different.

[00:18:17] Jessica Sharpe: And being in America, um, I'm in Los Angeles, so you know, it's super fast here and Mada was in New York, so she can relate. But yeah, just kind of observing, observing the way that, the way that, like Mada is saying, that they're just sitting with their loved ones and like so focused on the moment that's right in front of them.

[00:18:42] Jessica Sharpe: Um, and I know for me, like that was one of my favorite parts of it, felt like I could feed off of their energy. You know, when you see someone like that who's just so present, just like living life, and I feel like the, those moments and experiences that we had abroad and those insights are like why we wrote the book also

[00:19:05] Jessica Sharpe: 'cause it just, it made us feel so good and insights that we didn't necessarily have before. 

[00:19:13] Emily Schmith: A bit of a perspective shift. 

[00:19:15] Jessica Sharpe: Mm-hmm. 

[00:19:16] Emily Schmith: Yeah. Huge. And thinking kind of along those same lines, can you think of any moments during your study abroad, especially in Prague, that completely caught you off guard? 

[00:19:30] Madison Somerday: Um, I think for me, the first couple weeks we were there, um, my, I was, I'm just a very smiley person and our Czech teacher.

[00:19:41] Madison Somerday: Like, oh, you're like, you just smile at everyone you see, you've been flirting with everyone and and she's like, you don't smile at people that much unless you're like friends with them. Like everyone's very friendly, but they're not gonna like smile at, plus you know them. They might think you're flirting with them. I thought that was, that was a funny cultural difference. 

[00:20:00] Jessica Sharpe: Yeah. I think for me. It was kind of like what I was saying, just um, the presence and the beauty of Prague.

[00:20:11] Jessica Sharpe: It felt like I was living in a fairytale and all the castles and the architecture. I feel like I really found like that part of myself and how much I appreciate, um, architecture and design and like the older, older buildings. I know that in Europe it's common everywhere for that, but in Prague it's just a little different.

[00:20:32] Jessica Sharpe: Um, and it felt very like the gothic architecture and then the area where it was more like castles and bright and, um, so I would say it, it just felt like a dream, honestly. And it's hard to pinpoint one specific moment, but, um. It was just amazing. 

[00:20:56] Emily Schmith: And you two have both mentioned, you know, some trips and some traveling.

[00:21:01] Emily Schmith: So how did you manage to navigate group travel dynamics and learn who to say yes to and maybe who to say no to?

[00:21:13] Jessica Sharpe: I love that you brought that up because I feel like we went, um, there were a ton of people from our school that went and it was very clear like early on that there were, you know, people kind of getting close and, you know, just different group dynamics and stuff.

[00:21:35] Jessica Sharpe: And I feel like Mada and I, like we, we stayed just so true to ourselves and like always checked in with ourselves and like speaking for myself, just always. Really just checked into my intuition, like, okay, am I hanging out with these people to be part of like the larger group dynamic? Or is this feel, does this feel right?

[00:21:56] Jessica Sharpe: Um, does this feel good? So I feel like that was just a learning curve in general. But I mean, I don't know, just you kind of figure it out like, oh, you find your people. And even though Mada and I went together, we made so many friends, like not from Cal Poly, so most of our friends weren't from there, which was awesome to just meet new people from all over. Um, I'm really glad that we branched out. But yeah, Mada and I mostly did trips together. We had a few where she went with some people and I didn't go and vice versa. Um, so really just checking in with yourself and like pleasing yourself, no one else is how we kind of went about it.

[00:22:40] Madison Somerday: Yeah, and I think too, it was something going back to like the thinking, being overwhelmed, going into abroad. Like I felt overwhelmed with, okay, who am I gonna travel with? Like, I have Jess, which is amazing, but like, who else are we gonna hang out with? Where do we go? Like how does it even, like how do you even plan trips on the weekends?

[00:23:01] Madison Somerday: When we got there, we wouldn't, like, sometimes we wouldn't even know, like for the upcoming weekend where we'd be going, like usually we'd plan like two to three weeks out and it all fell together very well. And I, I liked it that way, um, where it was almost like serendipitous. And with the meeting people too and kind of branching out, um, I actually, I was, when I was in between, um, leases this past year, I had like a three month.

[00:23:28] Madison Somerday: In between period where I needed to go, like figure it out. So, um, a couple of my friends in New York, they, um, met studying abroad with us. They have an extra room and I got to stay with them. So these friendships that you make abroad really do last a lifetime.

[00:23:48] Emily Schmith: So you're both very candid in the book about being abroad and managing long distance relationships. Jess, I was wondering what advice do you have for students that are navigating single life abroad? 

[00:24:02] Jessica Sharpe: Yeah. Um, I would say like. Make the most of it in the sense of like, I'm not saying like go and like, go crazy with all, all the guys or girls, you know, but saying like, you, you are there for you solely and with you solely

[00:24:20] Jessica Sharpe: so like that's such a benefit and you have no one else to worry about. You know, is just a really awesome, fun experience to like date people, you know, from a whole other part of the world. And to obviously be safe about it, but, um, yeah, I mean I wouldn't have wanted it any other way for myself. Um, and yeah, I think that's about it.

[00:24:48] Jessica Sharpe: Just you're lucky to just be there and worrying about you. 

[00:24:54] Emily Schmith: Yeah, it can be really great. A really great way to learn the quirks, like different cultural quirks when you are dating people from that culture. Mm-hmm. Uh, I found the exact same thing when I went abroad to Ireland and studied there. And then also now being in New Zealand, I have a Kiwi partner and just the little things of Subaru versus Subaru, uh, you know, and that it's really fun. I'm glad that, you know, you had, that you were able to have that experience for yourself as well. So, Madaa, you had a very different experience as you were in a relationship, so could you maybe share some tips for others who might also be in a relationship and kind of how to keep that going when you are studying abroad?

[00:25:45] Madison Somerday: Yeah, um, it's definitely not easy. Um, can be worth it though, like we survived our long distance relationship abroad. Didn't survive it till this day, but that's okay. But, um, survived it for a while after, after we were abroad. And I think what helped was, um, having like a, a schedule for calls. So I'm a morning person in, um, so he was out in California, so 10:00 PM California time is 7:00 AM Prague time.

[00:26:15] Madison Somerday: So I would wake up before, like Jess would and my other roommates before we were getting our day going and like FaceTime him, um, while he was going to bed. He was more of a night owl. So that was a good cadence for us. And then, um, you know, just texting regularly, sharing photos and pictures of what's going on.

[00:26:36] Madison Somerday: Like making like he or she feel like they're, you know. They're with you experiencing it. 'cause it's hard for them when they're not there and they're back at home just living, you know, the routine that you'll, you were in before, you'll be back in when you get back and it's hard to, you know, see all the fun things that you're significant other is doing and having some FOMO as well.

[00:27:02] Madison Somerday: So I think just being, you know, cognizant of that too. And, um, I think as well probably a good idea to just be overly communicative. So going into, you know, your study abroad experience, be like, Hey, these are like my needs while you're gone. And then vice versa, like, you know, just kind of laying the groundwork there.

[00:27:22] Madison Somerday: Not that I did that, I wish I did that. I think that would've helped or so road bumps along the way. But, um, I think looking back, that that would've been good to have, you know, more of an open communication, um, before I, I had left.

[00:27:38] Emily Schmith: That is a really great point that you bring up that it's such a balancing act, right?

[00:27:44] Emily Schmith: Of keeping your partner informed and wanting them to be part of this experience with you, but also knowing that they're not necessarily, and so trying to find that line of. Sharing without making them feel bad that they're not part of it as well. And I think that happens quite often, even just with friendships as well.

[00:28:07] Emily Schmith: Um, especially when you return from your study abroad. Right. You're so excited. You just wanna share everything with everyone. And you know, your friends back home like they weren't there necessarily. You two were of course, but your other friends weren't there experiencing that, and so it can kind of quickly devolve into something else.

[00:28:30] Madison Somerday: It's probably part of the reason why we wrote the book too, how to like get it out.

[00:28:34] Emily Schmith: I totally understand. It was the same way with me. I was like, I just wanna talk all about it and mm-hmm. They'll listen to an extent and for a certain amount of time, and then eventually they're like, but why aren't you over it now?

[00:28:47] Emily Schmith: You know?

[00:28:47] Madison Somerday: Yeah.

[00:28:48] Emily Schmith: Okay. So continuing on with kind of dating and whatnot, how do you think that your sunny abroad experiences have made you a better date? You know, after the fact to this day, do you suggest crazy cuisine? Do you have really unexpected date ideas or, you know, had, had that affected your dating at all?

[00:29:11] Emily Schmith: Your dating style? 

[00:29:14] Madison Somerday: I think so, yeah. Um, I think, well for me, like studying abroad really opened up like the possibilities of like what I could do and what I could navigate and everything. And I grew up on the west coast. I live on the east coast. I'm now dating like an east coast guy and you know, living in new places.

[00:29:35] Madison Somerday: And I think without having that foundation of studying abroad, I think it would be hard to do that. We've also lived abroad with each other, like, I mean, for shorter stints, like a month at a time. And, um, that. I think made me a better person to date because, um, I was willing to go, you know, I wasn't scared.

[00:29:55] Madison Somerday: I'm like, oh, I'll go to Peru with you for a month. Like, I've already lived abroad. Like I, you know, I can get it down or whatever. So yeah, I think that, and just being open to new cultures and everything as well 'cause even dating someone from the east coast I learned is like a cultural difference as well.

[00:30:15] Madison Somerday: So being open to that. Yeah. 

[00:30:19] Jessica Sharpe: Yeah. I think for me it's like, it's shifted my perspective on who I would even want to date also um, 'cause I mean, it's just shaped me as a person, so like, I guess it's made me as a date just I think more fun and more open and spontaneous and great stories. Like I, I went to Europe by myself for three months, so.

[00:30:46] Jessica Sharpe: I just, I've got a lot of funny stories from that, remember telling to people about that. Um, but my, my boyfriend now, we just share that in common. He lived in Germany for a little over a year and we just share the love of traveling together. We lived in Hawaii with each other for a month recently. Um, are talking about where we wanna go next, but

[00:31:12] Jessica Sharpe: I feel like it's also given me a lot of bravery and independence, uh, to, to be able to navigate a country on your own without your parents there, or like your childhood friends, um, or your, you know, I had Mada obviously, but you know, your bigger support system. So I feel like it's made me more independent, um, when dating people, you know, just more sure of myself, um, more confident.

[00:31:41] Jessica Sharpe: I, I really feel like studying abroad helped build confidence, um, and connecting with people as well. Opening up your, opening up your eyes to the world and like. What, what life really is about and how much there is to see and you know, that drive to like, I want to go see the world. Like there's so much more than what's right here.

[00:32:06] Jessica Sharpe: You know, let's go explore and meet people that are from other places and like hear their stories and like what we were saying earlier, um, be inspired by just observing the way those, observing the way people from other places are. So. Yeah, it's a done a lot. 

[00:32:26] Emily Schmith: Love it. And that definitely probably answers my next question, um, on your side, Jess.

[00:32:33] Emily Schmith: So maybe this will be more for, for Mada, but just how did studying abroad affect how you see yourself as a traveler? A writer, or just in general? 

[00:32:46] Madison Somerday: Yeah, I think. Like Jess said, just a, a new sense of confidence or a better sense of confidence. Um, just knowing like, just everything you have to do to even get there.

[00:33:01] Madison Somerday: That's a lot. And then when you're there navigating even the public transportation system in a different language, like that's, you know, a big thing in every, you know, little puzzle piece that you're navigating throughout your whole experience there. That's just. Showing you like, like you're creating a habit of getting outta your comfort zone and learning and growing.

[00:33:24] Madison Somerday: And I think that's translated into my life now. I, I work in sales, which is like a grind. It's really hard, but I have to get outta my comfort zone every single day. And while it is hard and like I hate it sometimes, like a lot of the times it's like, you know what? I can do it. I can do it. And I think like.

[00:33:44] Madison Somerday: Like the, the two aren't like connected studying abroad with my career, but I think is shaping me as a person. It definitely had an impact there. 'cause like I said, just having like a growth mindset and, um, proving to myself before, like, I can do things I didn't think I could. 

[00:34:01] Emily Schmith: Yeah. So there might not necessarily be a direct link between your study abroad and your, your career, but the skills that you gained while you were studying abroad really lend themselves towards what you do for your career, it sounds like.

[00:34:18] Madison Somerday: Yes, definitely. I think too, um, what I've noticed is just the more I've traveled and learned about um, different cultures or places or ways of doing things. When I do come across meeting new people and having more mutual connections with people than I wouldn't have if I didn't have those experiences.

[00:34:39] Madison Somerday: It's like a great way to be able to more easily relate to new people that I meet and everything going through life. So that's also been something that's been helpful.

[00:34:51] Emily Schmith: You know, we, you probably have heard a lot about culture shock when you go abroad and there's something a little bit lesser known as reverse culture shock, right? So when you come home, what that looks like, what that feels like, what emotional challenges did you have when you came home and how did you work through those?

[00:35:15] Jessica Sharpe: I feel like, we have a chapter in the book called The Post Abroad Depression and like navigating it. So I feel like for me it was, there was that longing of like, oh, I miss, like how my life was there and you know, the longing of, of the atmosphere, just the pace of life as well as like just the environment and the people and the traveling that we did, of course.

[00:35:50] Jessica Sharpe: So it was more adapting like back to back to this reality back at school and in San Luis Obispo, but also bringing all of what we learned. And kind of creating it in that reality for ourselves. And that's also why we wrote the book is like, we're like, this can't this, this experience that was so amazing.

[00:36:13] Jessica Sharpe: There's no way it could have just been like a one-time, one-off experience. Like no, it has to be something that we carry with us wherever we are, even if we're not in Prague studying abroad and traveling. So it's something to this day that I feel like I. You know, I try to remember certain feelings that I felt like, okay, let's like bring those feelings into this place where we are here.

[00:36:41] Jessica Sharpe: Um, so I would say it was more so a lot of reflecting actually. Just like kind of reflecting a lot after and being back and like figuring out, okay, how do I, how do I bring this into where I'm at now?

[00:36:55] Madison Somerday: I guess too, like, yeah, it was like hard adjustment to come home. Um, go back to. Full on school and jobs and normal routine and everything.

[00:37:07] Madison Somerday: But, um, I think what's helped keep that alive is explore like the current area that you're in, like go do little trips and stuff that you like would do abroad, like abroad. Like it's like, oh, I'm gonna wake up and explore this new coffee shop today, or a new restaurant or like on this new walk or whatever, like where we went to school, we luckily went to a place where there was so much nature and like day trips to offer.

[00:37:32] Madison Somerday: So we were able to like, you know, fall in love with where we're at and explore our area and bring some of like that same, try to bring some of those same feelings into a more local, um, 

[00:37:44] Madison Somerday: I don't know the word, but yeah.

[00:37:47] Emily Schmith: I love that. I think that's something that we take for granted of, you know, like what is in our immediate surroundings and, um, maybe not taking the time that we should to go explore those the way that we do when we're abroad.

[00:38:02] Emily Schmith: Because we're in that mindset of, oh, I'm here for, you know, X amount of time. I need to make the most of it. Then we kind of just, most of the time shed that when we go back home. And so I love that that is your recommendation to other students, uh, who might be struggling when they get back from being abroad.

[00:38:23] Emily Schmith: And it's like bring back that excitement to wherever it is that you're coming home to and explore that area and, you know, keep it alive that way. Mm-hmm. So we'll kind of just wrap up a little bit. Where can listeners find the book? 

[00:38:42] Jessica Sharpe: Yeah, so you can find the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble if you just type in a guide to studying abroad.

[00:38:50] Jessica Sharpe: And our names, it'll pop up. Um, if you wanted to find more information about us and read older blogs from when we were actually there, we have a website called travelmorestressless.com, and that's where you can find us. 

[00:39:07] Emily Schmith: Thank you. And do you have any final advice that you'd give to someone about studying abroad for the first time?

[00:39:15] Jessica Sharpe: Yeah, just do it. Have fun. Be open-minded and be as present as you can be and to reflect, keep a journal with yourself. 

[00:39:26] Madison Somerday: And although it can seem daunting at the time now to go abroad, um, one of the biggest regrets I hear my friends say who didn't go, is that, even though they had the opportunity to go, they didn't and they wish they did.

[00:39:40] Madison Somerday: So, you know, you don't want, don't wanna be that person. If you have the opportunity, so highly recommend going and you got this, you can do it. 

[00:39:49] Emily Schmith: Love it. Cheerlead all the way. Well, thank you so much for both of you for coming and sharing about your experiences abroad, how they have, you know, changed kind of how you move through the world and you know, just sharing tips and tricks for future students who are going abroad as well.

[00:40:12] Emily Schmith: I really appreciate it and, uh, wish you both the best of luck with what's to come. 

[00:40:19] Madison Somerday: USAC was the best. All the activities and trips and faculty and everything really made the program like super special. So 

[00:40:28] Emily Schmith: thank you. 

[00:40:29] Madison Somerday: Bye bye. 

[00:40:30] Colette Horton: Thank you for listening to THE Study Abroad Pod, a podcast brought to you by the University Studies Abroad Consortium.

[00:40:37] Colette Horton: Please listen, subscribe, and review us on buzzsprout or wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow USAC on all your favorite social media channels, @studyabroadusac, and if you have an idea for a future episode or you wanna learn more about Study Abroad, you can email us at studyabroad@usac.edu.