No matter how many times I travel to a foreign country, I feel the same surge of excitement the moment the plane lands. Traveling abroad allows you to immerse yourself in a new culture that's entirely different from your own, and it's a (highly enjoyable) learning experience that can't be found in any classroom. But if there's one thing I've learned during my years of living and traveling abroad, it's to expect and be prepared for at least one (or five) things to go not as smoothly as planned. More often than not, hiccups are fairly minor and easy to handle, but losing your passport falls into the "time to freak out" category.
While it's easier said than done, try not to panic too much if your passport is lost or stolen during your trip. It doesn't mean you'll be trapped outside your home country indefinitely, sleeping on airport floors, and begging every TSA agent in sight to let you board your international flight using your driver's license as ID.
Prior to embarking on your trip, it's definitely worth it to take the simple step of photocopying your passport. Bring one copy with you and leave another another copy at home with a friend or family member. This documentation will make the process of obtaining a replacement passport quicker and easier. And once you're abroad, follow these steps:
Dealing with a lost passport is undeniably a stressful hassle, but at the end of the day, you can rest assured that you'll make it home — and on the bright side, you'll have a good misadventure story to tell your friends.