Top 10 Tips for Study Abroad

Bags are packed and you’re on your way to another country that is far, far away from you. You reach your destination and you start to wonder, “What am I doing?”

It’s not an easy decision to decide to study abroad, but once you make that decision there is no turning back. As an exchange student myself, I have some tips

to get by with the experience.

1. The first tip is to pack light! I know you want to bring your wardrobe and a bunch of shoes but don’t! While on exchange you will be purchasing a lot of new items and you don’t want to worry if you have enough space in your suitcase when it’s time to leave.
2. The biggest piece of advice is to just go with the flow. Don’t have plans on a daily basis, make sure you go out and see things just because others are going. Having an open schedule is one of the best ways to meet other people. Try not to stick around people that live in your same country. If you wanted to do that wouldn’t you have just stayed at home?
3. Meet the locals and start to use their slang. It’s not only fun for you but its fun for them. They get to see that you’re trying to adapt to their culture and language. I am finally saying “chips” instead of “fries,” among other slang words.
4. Go out to the local clubs and restaurants because if you try to find places that you’re used to, you will be very sad.
5. Another tip is to try new foods. No matter what country you’re going to there will be different foods. I tried kangaroo and crocodile, two things that are not regularly in my diet.
6. There will be a point where you just want to go home. Where you cry yourself to sleep or start counting down the days until you return but just remember that you’re only there for a couple of months. Your family will still be there and your friends will still be your friends. Make sure you download Skype, Voxer, or any other program where you can have free chats with people in your home country. The mini Skype chats will put your worries at ease.
7. You will have many opportunities to go on trips while you’re abroad. Make sure that you budget your money before and after. There is no fun in being broke half way through the semester where you can’t go and do anything. It’s not realistic to have a budget before you go but once you get settled in take the time to write one out. Not only will you be happy but your parents will be too.
8. Studying abroad will most likely be the most fun experience you will ever have. Make sure you make contacts with professors. If you’re studying journalism, try to get an internship. If you’re studying to be a nurse, maybe get a part time job at the local hospital. Think about it, you are making contacts with people on the other side of the world. That can really help you in the future. Don’t forget why you’re studying abroad. Make sure you go to class and do the work asked of you.
9. It’s a waste of time to just do nothing but drink on your semester abroad.
10. I have taken this time to really evaluate the kind of person I am. I look back at who I was before I got here and how I am now. My study abroad trip is just half over but I see the difference. I am more independent and understanding of other people. I am even more social than I was before and I handle stress a little better. My last word of advice to you is that you look at who you are as a person as well. We all have things about us that we want to change or improve on. Make your abroad experience help you do that.

So, go out and do things, try new foods, budget, improve yourself, and most of all have fun!