Interrailing Do's and Dont's

The Interrail Experience...                                                                                        

After spending what can only be described as the best four weeks of my entire life travelling around Europe I am finally, and somewhat reluctantly, back on Irish soil. Leaving sandy beaches and scorching sun to return to a very dull and dismal Dublin airport last Sunday night was a firm reminder that the dream was well and truly over. Returning to work today after almost four and a half weeks away was a further realisation that I was back to reality with a bang.

So what better way to lighten my mood and my post-holiday blues than to reminisce about my Interrail experience. Like the J1, interrailing is quickly becoming an almost mandatory rite of passage for young Irish students. But before you set out on your trip of a lifetime, here are some do’s and dont's to consider…

Travel Buddies

DO: Travel with someone you know inside out and upside down. Someone you know has the same interests as you and someone you know will want to do and see all the same things as you. You are going to be spending 24/7 in each others company so choose wisely. I travelled in a group of four (my boyfriend and I and one of my best friends and her boyfriend) and it was the perfect combination. We were all interested in doing and seeing similar things and it made our trip a whole lot easier. 

DON’T: Go with people you may end up falling out with over a missed train, a bad hostel or deciding what to do. Interrailing is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do and see things you might never get a chance to do again. Make sure you’re doing them with the right person. Don’t waste your time away with someone who can’t be bothered to get up early or stay up late and has no interest in doing the same things as you.

Pack smart

DO: Travel lightly. Trust me, you really won’t wear half the things you think you will. It’s useful to pick out outfits before you leave; it’s more efficient and will hopefully prevent you from over-packing.

DON’T: Bring anything unnecessary. I’m talking hairdryers, straighteners etc. If the weather is good your hair will dry naturally or, if you're lucky, they might have one in the place you're staying.

Booking accommodation

DO: Book in advance. Not everyone is a fan of booking accommodation in advance but, personally, I would recommend it. After a long day/night travelling you really won’t want the extra hassle of having to try and find a suitable hostel in a new city. We booked all of our accommodation in advance (some weeks in advance, others just a few days) and found it really handy. Plus, booking in advance gives you the added bonus of picking and choosing the best value for money hostels in the exact locations you want.

DON’T: Leave it ‘til the last minute. During our trip we spent three nights in each place which really isn’t a huge amount of time. We wanted to make the most of each new place we visited by doing and seeing all we could. Wandering the streets looking for a place to stay wasn’t one of them.

Have an idea what you want to do

DO: Make a vague plan of what you want to see and do in each place before you get there. It’s important to have a rough idea of the attractions in any of the places you’re going as it will save you time and ensure you make the most out of each destination.

DON’T: Be lazy and waste your days. Interrailing really is the holiday of a lifetime so be proactive and make the most out of every day. You’ll only end up regretting it if you don’t.

Count your dolla bills

DO: Keep an eye on your bank account. You’re there to spend your money doing and seeing lots, but it’s important to remember you’re probably on a budget. Try not to blow your money in the first week as you get to grips with what you can spend daily. If you are on a strict budget cheaper countries like Slovenia will suit you better. Personally I found bigger cities like Vienna and Munich to be very expensive (but still worth it!).

DON’T: Think that money grows on trees. It doesn’t, unfortunately, and it will run out. Make a plan of what you can spend daily and stick to it. That’s the best advice I can give.

Picture c/o: Imgur

Embracing Erasmus

 

In January of this year I moved to Glasgow to begin my Erasmus semester abroad. Although it was only across the water, packing up and moving to Scotland was still a daunting decision. The girl that left for Scotland in January couldn’t find her way around an airport, lift her own luggage and was too afraid to ask for directions. The same girl that returned to Ireland five months later was a far cry from the often shy and quiet girl that left. Somewhere along my Erasmus journey I changed. Living abroad strengthened me, matured me and changed me for the better. It gave me independence like never before, allowed me to appreciate what and who I have in my life and it altered my perspective on life and how I choose to live it.

Embarking on a new experience abroad is, undoubtedly, an amazing opportunity. The idea of setting up a new life abroad is an exciting prospect and one that should be looked upon with enthusiasm and positivity. However it is perfectly normal to feel isolated and alone during the first few days of moving away from home. For many students it is their first ‘proper’ experience living away from the comforts of home and fending for themselves. Once the initial excitement subsides loneliness often creeps in and throwing yourself headfirst into a new environment is daunting. Being away from your nearest and dearest can be challenging.Ireland to Scotland would be, albeit for just a few months.

There is no Irish mammy around to land your dinner on the table in the evening, no reliable taxi man (dad) to collect you from the nightclub at half two on a Saturday night, you even miss having no annoying younger siblings around to fight with. Living away from friends and family was a lot harder than I anticipated and during my first few weeks abroad I felt l would never settle. I had misjudged how difficult the transition from Ireland to Scotland would be, albeit for just a few months.

It took me a while but eventually I realised it’s not meant to be easy. Moving to another country, starting a new university and making new friends is a lot to take in. I realised it was ok to feel a little bit lost and unsure and I also realised that it’s perfectly ok to ask for help. As American author Henry David Thoreau once said; “Not until we are lost do we begin to find ourselves”.

How right he was. It was in between doing the grocery shopping myself for the first time, improving my cooking skills, washing and ironing my own clothes and getting lost on numerous occasions while wandering around the city of Glasgow that I changed. I became the person I needed to become. I gradually became more and more independent. I learned how to handle weird and wonderful situations I found myself in and I learned to appreciate people and places I may have taken for granted at home. One of the most important things I learned was how lucky and blessed I am to be able to live the life I do, study the profession I love and take advantage of wonderful opportunities afforded to me such as studying abroad.

My advice to anyone lucky enough to be considering Erasmus would be to grab it with both hands. The benefits of studying abroad extend far behind the classroom walls and can really and truly have a positive impact on your life.

My Erasmus journey has left me with an insatiable hunger to travel and experience different cultures and customs around the world. Erasmus gave me a renewed confidence to try new things, travel to different places and, as I continue to grow, my destinations will hopefully continue to change.