For every beautiful Van Gogh painting I’ve seen, and every cathedral I’ve been able to tour, there are still a lot of negatives about being abroad. Besides the standard $25 hamburger that I’ve whined about before, there’s also things which should be simple, like keeping up with friends and family and making plans for when I return.

Being abroad means my life moves at a totally different pace. Right now, there is a six hour difference between Geneva, Switzerland and Decatur, Ill. This time difference makes it difficult to stay in contact with people, when I’m available in the early afternoon here, it’s hardly 8 a.m. there. When they’re free, I’m out with friends or asleep. It also makes it difficult to reply to things in a timely manner, or to set up interviews for internships over the summer.

Doing laundry here is also a nightmare. It’s six Swiss francs just to wash your clothes! Not to mention you have to haul them to a laundry mat first, and of course, if you have any issues getting the machines to work, no one will speak English so you’re totally on your own. Drying is another three francs as well.

Speaking of how no one speaks English, if you get lost, or worst, if there is an announcement made over the tram or train about a change in the schedule, don’t expect it to be made in English, or for anyone to be able to translate for you.

Buying food here is wildly more expensive than back home, not just eating out but in the grocery store too. I basically live off of a pasta based diet because it’s the cheapest thing I can get. I don’t even think about going out to a bar for a drink, that’s a solid $16 per drink. We’re not talking big or fancy drinks here either.

In terms of hours open, stores are nothing like the U.S. No 24-hours anything here. It’s nearly impossible to buy anything, whether it’s a candy bar or some toilet paper, past 9 p.m., and don’t even think about going shopping on a Sunday. Everything, and I do mean everything, is closed.

Even with all this, I’m still very glad I decided to study in Geneva. It’s a place that not many people get to visit, and it’s an amazing city filled with amazing things like the UN for human rights and the Red Cross Museum. I wanted my semester abroad to actually force me to live abroad and it has. I don’t speak the language, but I manage. I don’t understand all of their customs, but I get by. I don’t always agree with the Swiss way of doing things, but it all works out.

The end is coming up faster than I can even believe, and even though I complain about all these things now, I know that after I leave, I’ll miss them all. Even the crazy expensive hamburgers.