Study Abroad Tips & Advice?

Introduction.

If you are looking to study abroad, there are a lot of things to consider. Here are some tips and advice for studying abroad that will help you get started on your journey:

Be Open To Different Experiences.

My study abroad experience was one of the most eye-opening periods in my life. It was a constant learning process and I discovered new things about myself and the world around me every day.

I learned that it’s important to be open to new experiences, different cultures, foods and languages. You can’t know what it’s like unless you try it!

You’ll have a lot of opportunities to learn about your own culture as well as others’ while studying abroad, so take advantage of them!

Meet People.

It goes without saying that you’re going to meet people. Lots of them. In fact, this is one of the best parts about studying abroad: you get to meet people from all over the world, and make lasting friendships with them. You may be surprised by how many different walks of life are represented in your host country. But more than anything else? You will meet people from all different cultures, backgrounds and religions!

Do Your Research Beforehand.

There are tons of things to prepare for before studying abroad, and it’s important that you do your research beforehand. There will be many differences between the country in which you choose to study and the United States, so make sure you’re aware of what these differences are.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Culture shock: You will be exposed to a new culture, and this can be both exciting and challenging. If there’s one thing I wish I had known about my first time abroad was how different life would be compared with living at home in America (and yes, I am American). It took me many months until I adjusted back into American life after being abroad for six months!
  • Language barrier: Depending on where you study abroad, some countries may not speak English as much as others; therefore having a basic understanding of the local language is helpful in getting around town without trouble or confusion during your stay there.
  • Time change: Although this might seem obvious since everyone knows that we live on Daylight Savings Time right now (DST), many people don’t realize how much time changes affect them when they move somewhere else around the world! For example if you go from New York City where it gets dark at 7 pm during wintertime then move somewhere where it gets dark at 5pm during wintertime—that extra hour makes all difference – especially when trying to fall asleep early because most likely people won’t wake up until 8 am or later depending on their work schedule

Stay On Top Of  Your Studies.

It’s easy to get stressed out about studying abroad. You might be worried about getting behind in your classes and missing important assignments.

While this can happen, it’s important to remember that you’re on vacation as well. While you are studying abroad, it is a good idea to keep up with your studies but not overdo it. Going above and beyond will just cause stress in the long run! If you do get behind or miss something, don’t worry—you’ll have plenty of time during your trip to catch up on what you missed at home.

Also, don’t forget that part of the reason why many people study abroad is because they want an adventure while still pursuing their education; make sure not to forget that aspect of your trip! Don’t spend too much time worrying about homework posts or papers; instead spend some time exploring whatever city or country you’re visiting so that you can take advantage of everything life has to offer.

Take Advantage Of The Culture And Traditions.

It’s important to learn about the culture and traditions of the country you are in. The best way to do this is to try and speak a few words of the local language. You can also try to learn about local customs, food, or history if you have time.

Keep In Touch With Friends And Family At Home.

There are many ways to stay in touch with friends and family while you’re studying abroad, but the most important thing is to keep your loved ones informed. Here are a few tips:

  • Bring your cell phone. While it may be more expensive than using a local SIM card, it’s a good idea to bring your own device so that you can use Skype or FaceTime with friends back home.
  • Check email regularly—and don’t forget about those filters! Emails from people you know will show up in the inbox of your email account at the university, so check them regularly; if not daily (or even weekly), make sure to check them at least once every two weeks or so. You’ll want to make sure that all necessary correspondence with other students and professors has been completed before heading home for break or leaving for good!

Be Prepared For Possible Culture Shock And Homesickness.

There are many things to be prepared for, and some of them may not be what you expect. For example, you may find that you’re more excited than homesick after the first few weeks of studying abroad. Or perhaps finding an internship and making friends with people from another country will help alleviate your homesickness. You might also find that it’s harder than expected to adjust to a new culture and language—or perhaps easier!

You could be shocked by how much food costs in the country where you’re studying abroad; or maybe surprised at just how good those sandwiches taste at lunchtime—and they’re so cheap! You could even discover that there are no tomatoes in any of their soups! The best way to prevent this kind of thing is just by being open-minded when moving abroad: Have an open mind about what life will look like on a day-to-day basis (and don’t forget your passport!)

Stay Connected With Your Program Back Home.

You will want to stay connected with your program back home. You can do this in a number of ways, but the most common is through email and/or video calls.

  • Email with your faculty member at least once a week (they will usually expect this).
  • Set up Skype or Google Hangouts with friends from home. This is especially important if you are going abroad for an extended period of time, because chances are good that some of your friends will forget about you after awhile! Plus, it’ll be nice to have someone else who’s also experiencing the same things as you and can offer advice or tell funny stories from back home that remind you why America is great!

If there’s one thing I learned during my study abroad experience in Europe last year, it’s that being homesick isn’t something anyone wants or expects when they go abroad—but sometimes it happens anyway! If this happens to you:

  • Reach out to other people in similar situations (the other international students on campus) and plan activities together so that everyone has something fun planned every day/night instead of just sitting around feeling bad all day long while everyone else goes out without them because they don’t understand what’s wrong -_-;;;

I personally found myself becoming very depressed after only 2 months into my 12-month program abroad because there wasn’t much opportunity for socialization outside school hours unless we wanted food poisoning…so I would suggest keeping busy by taking advantage of all available resources–such as language classes–to learn about different cultures before traveling anywhere else on earth 🙂

Studying Abroad Can Be a Wonderful Experience If You Go Into It With An Open Mind.

Studying abroad can be a wonderful experience if you go into it with an open mind. Traveling to another country is one of the best ways to learn about other cultures, but it also allows you to learn about yourself and your own culture in new and exciting ways.

You’ll find that the more time you spend living with people from a different country than yours, the more you get out of each day. You might find yourself being asked questions by your host family or other locals on how things work in your home country (and what we do differently). In turn, they’ll then teach you about their culture and customs as well as answer any questions about theirs. You’ll come away from this experience with a better understanding of how people live around the world—whether it’s similar to yours or completely different!

Conclusion:

Studying abroad is an incredible experience, but it’s important to remember that this isn’t a vacation. You’re still going to school, so take the time to plan ahead and keep on top of your studies. If you’re worried about homesickness, then make sure you have some regular contact with friends and family back home so that they can help keep you grounded. Finally, don’t forget about culture shock! This can happen when people go from one environment where everyone speaks English all day long into another country where everything is unfamiliar – just remember not to give up too easily because these feelings will pass eventually!

 

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