“The Passenger” by Iggy Pop

While study abroad takes you out of your element, Iggy Pop’s iconic “The Passenger” transforms that feeling from something scary into something freeing. Throughout different verses, Pop identifies himself, another person “him,” and a collective “we,” as the passenger(s) who “ride and ride.” He recounts the same experiences for each tale: there are good experiences, “everything looks good tonight,” which go hand in hand with the bad, “the city’s ripped backsides.” While a passenger and witnessing the depth of being somewhere new, he comes to realize “everything was made for you and me” and “it just belongs to you and me.” 

And in this upbeat trip of life and movement, he thirsts for more with the lines of “so let’s take a ride and see what’s mine.” The thumping of the tambourine and the drums keep the story mobile and serves as the song's constant reminder that things are only what you make of them.

In the spirit of “The Passenger,” students take advantage of their newfound international freedom and venture off to find experiences once unknown. One MSU student, communication leadership and strategy senior Katherine Goble, hiked, went on a ferry and ate dinner with locals in Norway.

The experiences were “magical,” Goble said, “I felt so lucky to have this unique experience where two cultures come together as one.” 

“For Tomorrow” by Blur

Anyone visiting the United Kingdom will need to listen to Oasis and Blur — that’s just the rule. Put aside the rivalry between the two of the biggest names in Britpop and listen to their biggest hits to soundtrack your rides in the Tube. While each have their fair share of must-listen classics, they also have some deeper cuts that give weight to the more hidden emotions involved in going abroad. 

While Blur’s “Parklife” is an obvious choice, “For Tomorrow" navigates the in between of fear and hope. The repeated line “holding on for tomorrow” comes after many mentions of “trying not to be sick again” and “holding on for dear life.” The optimistic instrumentals and Damon Albarn’s singing style keep the mood light while the lyrics give listeners peek behind the curtain to the deeper fears and uncertainty that come along for the ride. 

That adjustment period is a common occurrence for students studying abroad. 

Psychology senior Myles Reeves said that traveling alone was “scary at first but after some time I got used to the feeling and decided to travel solo more even after meeting new friends.” 

“Half the World Away” by Oasis

For many, studying abroad is the first big trip they've taken. Some have never traveled outside the country or their state beforehand.

That journey across the world is quite literally described by Oasis’ “Half the World Away.” The mental, and geographical, push and pull of the situation are echoed by, “my body feels young but my mind is very old,” while the line, “I’ve been lost, I’ve been found but I don’t feel down.” The lyrics address the melancholic feelings of leaving somewhere and arriving somewhere new, leaving you “half the world away” from what you used to know. 

Goble challenged herself “beyond anything (she) had ever done before” with her study abroad by navigating a foreign city, different transportation system and a language barrier. She did it all by herself and said it was “exhausting but so rewarding.”

“Mis-Shapes” by Pulp

Outside of the location change, a big part of going abroad is the people. The opportunity may or may not come along with a predetermined group of friends also from MSU or meeting up with other groups along the way, but in either case, students are bound to meet new people. 

Pulp’s “Mis-Shapes,” brings to life that collective bond between young people of different backgrounds with a hunger for more. The story draws clear differences, “we don’t look the same as you and we don’t do the things you do, but we live ‘round here too,” and similarities, “brothers, sisters, can’t you see? The future’s owned by you and me,” and “we’re making a move, we’re making it now.” The duality and passion of the empathic tale make it a perfect dancing anthem for anyone finding their place among many in a shared experience like going abroad. 

Reeves describes connecting with various people from all around the world, in Europe, Asia and Africa, some of his favorite moments while abroad.

“Being able to hear about the differences and similarities to our countries has made me realize that even though we are miles apart, our lives can still be similar,” Reeves said. 

“Lucky Man” by The Verve

The lasting impact that study abroad evokes can be encapsulated in The Verve’s “Lucky Man.” The soulful ballad speaks from the perspective of someone who is still learning, much like a student after going abroad. The rawness in the song’s writing can be seen in the “love that never dies” as well as, “it’s just a change in me, something in my liberty.” Throughout it, Richard Ashcroft repeats that he is a “lucky man.” 

This significant shift can be seen through first-year journalism graduate student Shealyn Paulis’ trip to Peru in 2024. Paulis loved the experience so much that she secured an MSU graduate research position based in Peru. 

“This trip was incredible in every way possible, we were fully immersed in the culture and language,” Paulis said. “(It) was an unforgettable experience I would repeat in a heartbeat.” 

The sentiment is shared by Reeves, who credited the experience with making him “more open to talking to people and learning about new cultures.”

Goble said her trip “opened (her) eyes to what is possible and (she) will feel more comfortable jet-setting across the world in the future for further explorations.”

This five-track assortment was selected to accompany the adventure of going abroad and provide a backdrop for the life-changing trip that you are bound to reference for the rest of time.