Study Abroad. A two word phrase that inspires a range of reactions ranging from “wanderlust” to “immense fear”. The chance to study in a foreign country for a summer or a semester is a unique, and often life changing, opportunity that allows you to get a taste of a new culture while still having the safety net that being a student affords you. Because everyone’s experience studying abroad is unique and different, it’s hard to honestly give you a general portrayal of what you are going to experience. However, below are some common trends of what you may encounter on your semester abroad and different reactions to each.

You get out of your experience what you put in.

Just because you are in Spain for 4 months, don’t assume that you will automatically become fluent in Spanish. If your goal when you go abroad is to develop language fluency, then spend your time talking with locals and paying attention in class. Likewise if you want to see what it is like to work abroad, go on a program that requires an internship or seek out one yourself.

You will experience culture shock; that’s ok.

At one point or another, you will have your moment where everything about your new country is awful and all you want to do is go home, eat American food, and have your “real” friends and family surround you. Learning to adapt to new situations is a lifelong skill that goes into overdrive when you are alone abroad. Know that you have people back home proud of you for going on the adventure and that they are just a phone, email, Facebook, or Skype away from being able to say hi.

You will never take the little things for granted.

Trust us, when you’re lost in the middle of town and don’t know how to get home or get sick and need to communicate with a doctor who speaks broken English, when you are abroad—especially in countries where English is not a first language—every task requires three times as much brain power to get something half as good as you would back home. Even if you are lucky enough to study in a country where everyone speaks English, be prepared for the blank stares on people’s faces when you ask them where to find peanut butter.

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Contributed by Matt Zonis

Currently, there are 58 National Parks in the U.S. From national monuments and historical sites to places of conservation, there’s no shortage of National Parks. But how can you pick the best one to visit? Here are six suggestions:

Haleakalā National Park

A special place in Hawaii, this park explores the history of Hawaiian culture. The landscape is uniquely Hawaiian, with sub-tropical rainforests and volcanic terrain, which makes hiking here an unforgettable experience. Haleakalā National Park is also home to a variety of endangered species which exist nowhere else.

Denali National Park

Six million acres make up Alaska’s Denali National Park. Taiga forests blend into the alpine tundra and snowcapped mountains as you travel higher in elevation. This park is also home to North America’s tallest peak, Mt. McKinley, at 20,320-feet. If you’re ready to climb one of the seven summits, this is a good place to start.

Biscayne National Park

Located just outside of Miami, Florida, this park holds 10,000 years of human history. From shipwrecks to pineapple farmers, you’ll have the chance to learn about it all. Additionally, Biscayne National Park protects the sensitive coral reefs in the area. You can explore the park by boat or canoe, or choose to snorkel through the aquamarine waters.

Zion National Park

From sandstone cliffs to slot canyons, Zion National Park is one of the Southwest’s gems. One of the most popular hikes in the park is The Narrows. This hike takes you through the Virgin River along the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. The Subway, another popular hike, requires bouldering, rappelling and wading through waters. If you’ve got a sense of adventure, go for it!

Yellowstone National Park & Grand Teton National Park

These parks are so close together, you can’t visit just one. Yellowstone was the first National Park, established 1872. Today, the 3,500-square-mile, which spreads from Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, is visited by more than three million people each year. The volcanic hotspot is home to more than 100 animal species, canyons, alpine forests, rivers, hot springs and geysers.

Less than 100 miles away, is Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. The Tetons are some of the most magnificent mountains found in the United States. Both of these parks are beautiful and easily explorable, making these two National Parks must-sees for teens with wanderlust.

For more on National Parks, visit FindYourPark.com.

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Contributed by Lauren Topor