Traveling abroad comes with many challenges. Navigating a new area, fitting in with a different culture, learning a new language, adapting to a different coaching/team culture, making new friends, feeling homesick, maintaining long distance relationships, and dealing with different time zones from your family and friends are just a few that await you when playing abroad.  This is a much more stressful than college or getting your first apartment and it happens all at once.  Once the excitement of the first few weeks begins to wear off, the stress seems to settle in.  You can find yourself feeling alone, not understood, and unsure how to move forward.  Getting regular support from your family, friends, and a mentor can be vital in helping you grow strong and confident as you achieve your goals and overcome obstacles and challenges.