Staying in Touch as a First-Time Study Abroad Traveler

Like me, many students attend college in their home state, for financial reasons, convenience, specific programs, or to stay close to home. I go to an in-state school that’s ten minutes from home. Fortunately, I live on campus and stay away from home as much as possible to develop independence. Still, I’ve felt that my college experience lacks the environmental change and distance most college students have. That said, going abroad was a big step—for me and my family.

So many firsts

As a new traveler, studying abroad was an exhilarating experience full of a lot of firsts. First time on a plane. First time out of the country (and continent). First time being far away from my family, friends, and hometown for an extended time. None of my family has been to a different country, yet here I was heading to Buenos Aires, Argentina, over 5,300 miles from my home in Connecticut. I was terrified, but excited to experience a completely new environment.

Staying in touch with home

During my first month in Argentina, my family and I checked in once a week, and sometimes sent photos back and forth to stay connected to each other’s daily lives. Even though I was far away, those moments helped me feel less alone and reminded me that my support system was still there. The two-hour time difference seemed insignificant at first, but it soon became challenging to find time to talk with my family. Our schedules conflicted more and more as I got into the rhythm of Buenos Aires.

Everyone in my family has a spring birthday, including me. Typically I go home or video call to participate in the celebrations, but this time I was missing my parents’, sisters’, grandmother’s, and even my dog’s birthdays, and they were missing mine. We started off with birthday calls, which quickly became birthday texts, and that was enough. I celebrated my birthday with my host family instead!

Although I adjusted well, there were still moments when homesickness hit hard—especially during holidays or quiet days when I felt far from everything familiar. But those moments also taught me resilience and how to find comfort in new people, places, and routines. And as direct communication became less frequent, I tried to connect indirectly, taking photos of things I knew my family would like or that reminded me of them.

I wrote in my journal, attaching stickers and receipts to help tell the story when I get back. When I went to Salta province, for example, I taped my plane ticket to a page and wrote about my experiences. I made sure to mention the good and the bad, so I could look back on how I viewed different situations at the time.

Coming home

After nearly four months in Argentina, my return home felt so natural, though so much had changed. When my parents asked me about my adventures, I had so many stories to tell and pages to show.

I came back a different me—more independent, braver, more aware of the world, and more appreciative of things I once took for granted, like being close to home. Reuniting with my family helped me reflect on this and appreciate our bond even more. Being away made coming back that much sweeter.

Ashley N. | Trinity College | IFSA Study Buenos Aires: Psychology and Neuroscience | Spring 2025