Studying abroad is an experience unlike any other. If you’re currently living overseas or have in the past, chances are you can relate to one or more of these dilemmas…

1) Trying to pay for something in the wrong currency

I currently have five different currencies in my wallet; Euros, British Pounds, Czech Crowns, Swiss Francs, and Croatian Kunas. Weekend travel out of the EU and/or Schengen Zone means a lot of ATM visits and mental math conversions. And when you get home and still have loose coins in your change purse, there’s a really good chance you’ll try to pay for your cappuccino with a Pound instead of a Euro.

2) And having leftover cash at the end of a weekend trip

Second to the struggle of trying to remember exactly how much you’re spending on that trdelnik in Crowns is realizing you have leftover currency that you may never use because you don’t know when the heck you’re actually going to go back to Prague. And if you exchange it at one of those stands, you’ll lose money on the fees. Sigh.

3) Never having clean clothes

You go to class by week, travel by weekend, when the heck do you have time to do laundry and take care of chores? If you’re like me, there have been a couple times where you’ve opted to buy new socks and underwear because it’s easier than taking the time to wash the ones you own. Oops.

4) Having to blow dry your clothes when you actually take the time to wash them

Italy is just not big on dryers. So when you do actually find time to do laundry, you gotta hang them to dry. Line drying all of your clothes is great until you realize you need to wear that skirt to go out tonight and it’s sopping wet. Sure, you could run to the nearest laundromat, but that takes precious energy and money. So you sit on the floor of your bedroom, running your hair dryer up and down your garment with the hope that you can just get it dry enough so that you don’t feel like you’re sitting in a literal puddle all night. I try to plan when I’m going to do laundry so that it has adequate time to dry on its own, but let’s face it, it’s usually a bust.

5) The shower drains are constantly clogged

I don’t know what it is about Europe, but something about the drainage seems to mean that the showers are constantly clogged up (especially if you live in a house full of girls… guilty). Pulling wads of wet hair out is fun fun fun. Drain snakes are your best friends you never knew you needed.

6) Deciding whether to eat out or stay in

One could argue that it’s really not necessary to eat pizza every night, especially when you live in Italy. You could opt to save money and just make pasta tonight, but you are only gonna be here for another month and a half and you have yet to try that place down the street your cousin recommended … it’s a constant inner battle.

7) Figuring out all the dang power adapters

Even within Italy, there are 2-pronged plugs, 3-pronged plugs, sometimes you need voltage converters for hair appliances but sometimes you can get away with just a converter… like omg. It’s definitely a learning curve. I stock up with a bunch of both Type C and Type L so that even if my roommates “borrow” one, I still have some on hand when I need them. And having one universal travel adapter for the other places you visit will come in handy! [For reference, you can use Type L converters in Italy and Type C in Italy and most of the EU (not the UK though); I’ve linked some good ones here]

8) Google Maps

Navigating a new place can be tough; navigating a new place using Google Maps and having the app literally lead you down alleyways and random streets makes it even more difficult. Add in public transit directions and everything get even more complicated. Once you’ve been abroad for long enough, you start to learn how to read the map more and rely on the directions less. The actual websites for the transportation methods can help, too.

9) Not Having Enough Coins to Use the Public Restroom

Public restrooms can frustrating as it is: questionable conditions, long lines, annoying tourists… in Europe, the struggles are only intensified when you have to PAY to pee. Don’t have the right coins to put in the machine or give to the attendant? You might be straight out of luck and have to buy something at a cafe or make it back to your accommodation.

10) Choosing whether to travel this weekend or stay in-city

On campus at home, every weekend consists of a pretty similar going out-sleep in-library-going out routine, with the occasional day trip to go apple picking or dinner at the diner. Abroad, you have to choose between exploring the city you’re living in and getting to see a whole new city or country. Go to Prague or wine your way through Florence? Decisions, decisions. To the outside world, your dilemma seems ridiculous. [Side note: if you do decide you want to travel but have no idea where to start, student travel company Bus2alps can be your hero for top-rated trips and adventures. Make sure you use code MURRAY for an additional discount too:)]

Let’s face it: No matter how ridiculous the situations you find yourself in may be, you wouldn’t change your abroad experience for the world. Just don’t forget to soak up every moment and take lots of pictures :)