Navigating Emotions and Exploring on Foot in Prague

Throughout a study abroad experience, it’s common to experience a range of emotions. There’s excitement through exploring a new culture and making friends. Homesickness for the familiar routines, people, and foods. Independence built through self-sufficiency. Overwhelm from navigating a different culture and language. Accomplishment by meeting challenges that arise. And sadness and nostalgia for the lifestyle built abroad when returning to home.

Some feelings have side effects, like loneliness and a lack of motivation. When I traveled alone or had a set routine, a strong sense of independence made it hard to connect with my family and friends at home.

How Walking Helped Me Navigate Emotions

When dealing with these emotions, I’d simply take a walk. Aside from the health benefits walking actually provides (physical activity releases endorphins and neurotransmitters in the brain that improve mood and reduce stress), walking gets you out. When I was excited about my home city, I would walk to new areas before doing any research—so much more organic and fun.

On days when I felt unmotivated in schoolwork and exploration, I would jump on the bus, ride a few stops until I was in an unfamiliar neighborhood, and walk around. Sometimes I would make a game out of it—walking until I found a café serving a pain au chocolat.

Taking a walk always cured my loneliness. When experiencing homesickness, I would walk around my neighborhood, find something that reminded me of someone at home, snap a picture, and send it to them. This would instantly make me feel less alone in a new culture and allow me to connect my home life with my abroad life, two things that sometimes felt impossible to intersect.

Studying abroad brings a whirlwind of emotions, and taking a walk helps mitigate these emotions and builds a deeper connection with your surroundings, allowing you to create memories and gain perspective. Every emotion is part of the journey, and with self-care, the experience becomes even richer.

Jessie Gross | Butler University | IFSA Tech Career Accelerator, Prague, Czech Republic | Fall 2024