10 Tips for Who is Going to Study Abroad

By Tiago Noce

Studying abroad is a challenging experience that put a lot of doubts and fear in our minds. With that in mind, the Class 2022 of LIU Global brought up a list with 10 tips for future world explorers.

1. Research the place that you are going to. Once you already know where you are going, start researching your destination. Looking for things like what to do there, cultural aspects, where you can stay, and interesting bars and restaurants, will help you feel more situated once you are there. A good idea is to take a look at the news from that place so you can arrive with more social, political and economic context.
2. Be organized and prepare for adversities. Since the begging understand that not everything is gonna happen according to the plan and some difficulties and different situations will happen. That is why is important to be organized. Actions like having all of your documents in one place, having all the information about how to come and go from places, and having the emergency phone numbers always close by, can easily take you out of difficult moments.
3. Pack light and smart. Researching the place that you will stay in also helps you to figure out what you actually need and will use. For instance, if you can wash your clothes there you might not need to bring 20 different T-shirts. Or if you have a school supply store close, you don’t need to bring notebooks from home. Another important thing is to organize your bag thinking about what you need the most, for example, put a jacket in a place of easy access or your documents in a secure but easily accessible place.
4. Be open to talking to new people and don’t let the language barrier stop you. Not speaking the language should not be a problem! When people see that you are making an effort to communicate and to connect with them, they will interact with you and help you to understand better the language. Also, there is no better person to explain to you the culture of the place than a native of the country. Ask questions, open your ears for their answer and try to relate as much as you can with your experience, let the conversations by a sharing moment, a cultural exchange.
5. Don’t be afraid to try new experiences. Open your head and your heart for everything that is to come. Do try that dish with something that you never ate, do try that sport that you always wanted, enroll in a different class, you will never know if you like it or not if you don’t try. Try to have fewer expectations for activities and let things surprise you. Trying new things is a part of the process to get to know yourself too.
6. No matter how similar cultures are there will always be a cultural shock. You can be traveling for a country that speaks the same language, have the same holidays and even have the same currency, but that doesn’t mean that cultural shock won’t happen. Each person has a different take on cultural aspects and has to deal with various socio-economic aspects, which will be highlighted once your cultural aspect and practices are exposed to others. It is important to comprehend and respect the difference between perspectives and understands its importance.
7. Eventually, you will feel homesick and that’s okay. Having a cultural shock experience can be very hard and most of the time makes us miss home very much. However, it’s okay to miss your house and loved ones. A great tip to overcome homesickness is to have with you a little thing that reminds you of home like photos, songs, and movies. You can also try to do things that are part of your routine back at home.
8. You don’t need to like everything and everybody. Understand that sometimes you are just not gonna like the experience and there is nothing wrong with that. Maybe in that country, the food is not of your taste or the activities don’t aline with the ones that you like. The same goes for people, you don’t have to get along with everybody. Each and every one of us has a different past with multiple experiences that shaped us into who we are at the present moment.
9. Understand that you need time for yourself. Being around people all the time and always experiencing something new can be tiring. Know that you need to reserve time for yourself and for your interests. Take a moment, relax, and think about what you have lived so far. It can be something as simple as walking around the neighborhood or taking yourself to dinner, something that you do for your own joy and to please you and you only. No need to hurry, take your time, nothing is as important as feeling in peace with yourself and with what you’re living.
10. Mental Health Studying abroad is a daunting task with many traps and barriers for our mental health. Understand that you need to put your best interest first, recognize people, locations and situations that can be harmful and those which bring joy and well-being for you. Also, studying abroad is a time for you to get to know your boundaries and to respect them, knowing when is the time to get out of a situation, to develop your emotional control and end toxic relationships. Above all, it is a moment for you to better understand what you can and cannot take, in other words, its time for you to get to know the most interesting person in the world for you, yourself!

In a nutshell, studying abroad is actually an amazing adventure for self-knowledge that motivates us to confront our best and worst qualities and many times put us face to face with our greatest fears. Regardless of the challenges, nothing is as gratifying as the opportunity to get to know new places and, above all, to get to know yourself more. Moreover, we have always to learn how to live with ourselves because, at the end of the day, we are our own eternal company, and why not to do that while traveling the world?