7 Tips to Have the Best Study Abroad Experience

If you've been bitten by the travel bug, studying abroad is a great opportunity to see the world while you're a student. Whether it's for a few weeks, the summer, a semester or a whole year, studying abroad can be a wonderful opportunity to experience a new culture, learn a new language and make new friends.

However, there is a lot you need to know before embarking on your journey. To make things easier for you, we've compiled a list of a few tips so you can have the best study abroad experience ever. Keep reading to see what we have to say.

Be Open to New Friends

Wanting to stick to a friend group of other exchange students from your home country is natural. They provide a sense of comfort and normalcy while you're in an unfamiliar environment. But while it's tempting to stick with what you know, not venturing out and making new friends with other students from different countries can inadvertently force you into a bubble. You lose the opportunity to meet people who can teach you about new cultures, challenge your thought process and possibly become great friends.

Aside from other exchange program students, local students at your host university will be more than excited to welcome you and share their home with you. By building those friendships, they can show you parts of your new home, such as authentic restaurants or local hangout spots that you might not have gotten the chance to explore otherwise. These new friendships will only make your study abroad experience more enriching.

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Don't Be Afraid to Practice the Language

Studying abroad is the perfect opportunity to strengthen your language skills, so if you'll be practicing a language in your host country or are doing a language immersion program, don't be afraid to speak the language as much as possible and make mistakes. That's how you learn. While responses can vary, locals will generally be excited that you're learning their language and be willing to practice with you. The more you use the language and get used to hearing the vocabulary and flow, the quicker your mastery will grow. Mistakes are nearly impossible to avoid, so don't be discouraged. Simply learn from them and keep going!

 

Explore Your Surroundings

One of the best parts about studying abroad is the opportunity to travel. For most study abroad destinations, you will be able to visit other countries relatively easily, but even if that's not the case, you can still explore your host country. Public transportation is a great way to explore and learn more about new areas without breaking the bank.  Additionally, carpooling with friends can be a great way to travel while creating shared memories.

 

Also read about: Everything I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a High Schooler

Capture the Small Moments

While you're abroad, you'll want to remember the big things, like tourist attractions or major events, by taking pictures, but the small moments are what really capture daily life that you'll miss when you return home. Taking pictures of small, seemingly insignificant things, such as the stray cat that lives on the street corner or the unique graffiti you pass on the way to class, will provide you with your own time capsule you can look back at to remember the small moments that made up your life in a different country. These pictures will help keep the magic of that special time alive when you miss your time abroad.

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Be Prepared for Homesickness

Even though you might be excited about studying abroad, it's natural to feel a little homesick at times. The feeling can often strike when you least expect so it's good to be prepared with items that remind you of home, such as photos of family and friends or your favorite foods from your home country. Make sure to stay connected with your family and friends back home by regularly texting or scheduling video calls. The constant connection will provide encouragement and support. And remember, homesickness is temporary, but the memories you make while abroad will last a lifetime.

 

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Have an Adjustment Plan

One of the best things you can do for yourself when it comes to studying abroad is to have an adjustment plan in place for when you return. Leaving your host country and returning home can evoke a mix of emotions, like being sad that your time abroad is over, while also being excited to return to your regular life. Knowing how to handle these challenges will be helpful. Journaling is a great way to process these feelings. Keeping in touch with friends you made abroad can also help. They will most likely be experiencing the same emotions as you, so it'll be nice to have someone to talk to and reminisce with.

If you find yourself missing your host country while back home, it can help to mix aspects of your life abroad with your regular life, whether that's visiting restaurants that specialize in your host country's cuisine or listening to music from the country. It might be challenging at first, but eventually you'll readjust and be grateful for the experience.

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Need help picking a summer study abroad destination? Click HERE to see the perfect destination based on your zodiac sign.