Poverty

One of my worst fears came true today. I have no money to my name. I’ve spent it all on clothes, food, local attractions, and crappy nightclubs. When the ATM made that horrible beeping sound as the screen said “insufficient funds” I felt a pang of guilt and panic. My parents and relatives have been pouring money into my bank account so I can have the time of my life and I’ve gone and spent it all like a madman. What’s worse is that I’ll have to keep asking for it. Eventually, the money on my tube card will run out, the food in the fridge will run out if it doesn’t go bad, and eventually I’ll have to pay to wash my clothes at the nearest laundry service. The walk back to my dorm was a blur of defeat and helplessness.

I blinked the panicked glaze from my eyes for a second and saw a homeless man sitting outside Whole Foods. That’s when it hit me: So THIS is why people have jobs! It’s all so clear now; if you don’t have a JOB, you’ll end up with nothing and your only form of shelter from rain will be your three-foot long toenails, and that’s only if you’re really flexible. I started thinking of ways that I could make money under the table. Then I remembered I’ll be working at my internship eight hours a day, five days a week. Would I be willing to break my visa contract and give up one of my days off for money? Considering my strong aversion to toenails, I’m definitely considering it.

So, a word to those who have yet to study abroad: conserve your money. Have fun, and get out there to see as much as you can, but don’t go crazy. It’s a bother to discipline yourself by choosing to sit some things out but it’s a worse feeling to not even have the choice at all. Ultimately, it’s not your money you’re spending; it’s your parents’, or guardians’ – the people who are actually making a living. This may not be the case for everyone, but who between the ages of 19 and 21 can afford the ridiculous amount of money it costs to study abroad? If you can, great, if you can’t, join the club, we call ourselves “The General Public” – we have jackets and meet every Tuesday for coffee and sponge cake.