You don’t have to say “yes.”
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I arrived more than a day later than the rest of the group, running on barely two hours of sleep after a restless overnight flight. When I finally walked in, a few students were already sitting around a table, eating breakfast together.
After a full day of icebreakers and policy presentations, the group wanted to go out. It made sense. Everyone was still a stranger, and a night out at the bar offered an informal, fun way for the group to get to know one another. Not only that, we were all processing on deciding who we wanted to be while abroad. With no expectations, established reputations, or precedents, everyone got a fresh start.
Once we arrived, people began ordering drinks. When the waiter turned to me, I said, “I’ll just have a water.” The waiter smiled and asked, “Sparkling or normal?” After a brief pause, I replied, “Sparking- I mean, you only live once.”
From that moment on, I was definitely known as the “sober one.”
You might assume that this would mean fewer invitations or feeling excluded from gatherings where it involved drinking alcohol. That was not my experience. I still continued to be invited and, more importantly, I felt welcomed. Over time, my classmates approached me to say how much they respected my decision to not drink. Rather than thinking less of me, they told me it made them think more highly of me. What often began as a simple question, “Hey, why don’t you drink?” frequently turned into deeper conversations that led to genuine understanding and meaningful connections.
If you are studying abroad and either do not normally drink or want to be cautious in a foreign country, I strongly encourage you to stand by that decision. Many students choose to drink while abroad, some because it is part of their everyday lifestyle, and others because they want to experience the local flavor. Both choices were common amongst my cohort. However, choosing not to drink is just as valid.
I made that decision for myself, and it worked out really well. Know that you can have a meaningful, fulfilling study abroad experience without drinking, and it can be just as rich and rewarding for you, too.
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