Going To Study Abroad

If you are one of those students who have been lucky enough to be able to study abroad then you may be in for some culture shock. It can be a very scary yet exciting time in a student’s life but as fun and as exciting as it may be there are some things that you should take very seriously. Even though there are thousands of students just like you who will be studying in the same College as you, you have to watch out for yourself.

You will foremost be excited and scared at the same time. Don’t let the excitement overwhelm you. Before going over to the country where you will be studying, you will want to learn everything you can about that country. You should know the weather, culture, the food, the school where you will be attending and the crime and terrorist alert levels if possible. Now you will have to start packing, don’t take your entire room, you will be back. Some students go for a semester or a year. Take your clothes; try not to take a lot of valuables, since you aren’t familiar with the area. It is almost a mentality of don’t take something you aren’t prepared to lose. So you may want to keep your valuable jewelry at home.

You should have the phone numbers of your College sponsored Abroad Program. You should have the number of the local Police and Fire Department as well as the number for the U.S Embassy, it may sound far fetched but you never know. Things happen unexpectedly and you want to be prepared. Once you are over there, you will become homesick. Try to make friends while you are out of the country. Some students tend to seek out friends from the same country but try to make friends from the country you are studying in.

What better way to understand the culture by having a first hand look at the country where you are studying. Gather a group of people and take some tours of the local area where you are staying. It is a good idea to get out into the community but you should never venture out alone. Stay in a group and always stay in public. Never stray from your group, there are safety in numbers.

Discuss your hopes, fears and concerns with your parents or your school counselors. They can make suggestions on where to go and sites to see. You have to remember that you are there to study and a get a great education from another country. Not every student will get the chance to study in a different country. Think positive things about the journey and remember it is only for a semester or a year and not forever.

Find out all of the information ahead of time and see if you can do as much research as you can before going. This should be an exciting time in your life, don’t let your fears or anxieties get in the way. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity.