Here are some life lessons that you should understand before you go abroad, many of which I, myself, have learned on my voyages
Be thankful for what you have, and don’t compare it to what someone else has, or say what you were given isn’t fair. Someone else will always have more than you do, but you have more than someone in Jamaica or Nicaragua would ever hope for. In Nicaragua, Pastor René said, speaking to his church members: “We should be thankful for what we have. We have little, but there are those who have less than we do.”
Eat the food, it won’t kill you. I’m not an adventurous person when it comes to food. I don’t even like vegetables for the most part. I’ve never liked potatoes, tomatoes or beans. Guess what they serve in Chile? Carrots, onions, pumpkin, beans, lettuce, corn, etc. Potatoes are the staple food, and served with almost every meal. One meal was basically shredded spinach with a little cheese on top (and potatoes on the side, of course). I’ve also eaten some kind of vegetable soup at least two or three times a week. Note: Butter and salt are your friends.
Bring a squishy bowl. I have used mine a lot. These take up practically no space and weigh a couple ounces. I didn’t think the place I was staying for a month wouldn’t have bowls big enough for something other than a two-year-old’s snack, but that’s exactly why my roommate eats cereal out of the tea kettle. Check them out. The same rule applies for duct tape, flashlights, string, small tool kits and Lego pieces.
Explore. Walk in every shop, down every street, talk to any person who has the time and a smile. I’m not fluent in Spanish by any means, nor am I very social; but I met some cool people and learned some interesting things I would never have otherwise known had I not taken the time to chat.
Bring your rain boots, especially if every single person who has ever gone to the place you are going tells you to. I did, and I stayed dry today. Many of my friends, however, had to literally wade through the sidewalk to get to class today. But the underlying message is to listen to those that are more experienced than you. You won’t have to repeat their mistakes, and you can laugh at the people who do (with them, not at them, of course).
Just dance. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing soccer in the park, speaking Spanish, singing in church or in the car, attempting to cook for somebody, or learning to salsa dance in your friend’s hotel room. Just because you aren’t good at something doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it anyway. Don’t feel intimidated because you aren’t the best. Just tag along with whoever is doing what at the time, and you will have fun.
The question should be “Why not?” instead of “Why?”
