Skip The Hysteria: General Advice for Study Abroad Students
About the middle of my sophomore year of college, my friends and I were hit with study abroad hysteria. Would we go abroad, as is traditional for third year American college students? Where would we go? Would we have to speak a foreign language? What would the exchange rate be? Would the academics be more or less difficult? Would the food be alright?
In a lot of ways, the study abroad process is similar to the college
process. Choosing where you want to go, applying, being accepted,
figuring out how to get there and how to pay for it. On top of that, you
have the transition to deal with when you get there
making new friends and figuring out a new social scene, adjusting to a
new assessment system where classes and grading might be totally
different from what you're used to, a new country where people might
speak a new language or just act totally weird. This all sounds pretty
stressful, but here're some things I learned that have made my study
abroad experience absolutely the time of my life.
1. Choose your
Destination for the Right Reasons Are you going because you think the
Sorbonne would look good on your resume or because you love French
culture and language? Are you going to Sydney to party or because you
think the programs offered at UNSW are the best for your major? Are you
going to Cordoba because that's where your girlfriend is? Balancing work
and play is one of the most important considerations in going abroad.
You can always have both! Also, making decisions about where to go based
on other people is never a good idea. This has the potential to be one
of the best experiences of your life, so make sure you're deciding!
2.
Be Prepared for a New Country You're going abroad so expect it to be
different. Don't be frustrated when it takes you a few days to figure
out which coins are worth how much and don't be shocked when you hear
profanities on European radio. Part of avoiding culture shock is being
openminded about the new things to which you'll be exposed.
3.
Put Yourself Out There You didn't come all the way to Argentina to sit
on AIM all day and wait for your friends to come on to hear all about
their crazy frat party last night. Take advantage of being somewhere
new! Go to bars and pubs. Go to a sporting event. Go to rallies. Go to
free lectures and readings. Contact your college or university's foreign
students group. There's a ton to do and there are loads of ways to meet
people.
From: articles.student.com
Photo: espresso.com.pl
last modification: 2011-02-10
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