First 50 Days: The Joan of Arc Syndrome

Going abroad to study is a tough decision. And in most cases a life changing experience. Of course, you never think about it until it actually happens! Until you get on that plane, alone, and realize that you are not travelling to your holiday destination but to your new home.

To me it happened a few minutes after takeoff. Have you heard of the ‘Joan of Arc Syndrome’? Well, she was listening to voices in her head; I was listening to voices asking questions in mine. ‘Did I make the right decision?’ ‘How my life will be living abroad?’ ‘Will I make it?’ ‘How about classes and study load?’ ‘Will I make new friends soon?’ By the time lunch was served, I realized that I was freaking out and I forced myself to stop thinking.

Now that I have already been in Tilburg for a month, and recently officially registered as a resident here (!), all these questions are being answered one by one. Turns out I did make the right decision because I am studying something that I love (although I am experiencing many ‘nerdy moments’ as all of us- you know, assignments, deadlines and everything), I have met some incredible people from different parts of the world, which makes my life abroad even more interesting and all these make me feel confident about the future. It might be difficult at times, to adjust and cope up with your daily schedule but… a new place, a new life! How cool is that?

By the way, I still catch myself sometimes, trying to figure out when is my return flight home. And then I realize ‘Hey! You live here now! It’s a one way ticket!’ I think that in time, I will get over it.

[Katerina Petropoulou (25) studies Business Communication and Digital Media at Tilburg University and writes the First 50 Days blog for Univers.]