At this point in the semester, I am now entering my seventh week of studying abroad, and to say it’s been a learning experience would be an understatement. Going abroad has taught me far more than the curriculums of the courses I’ve taken, and as many would expect, many of the lessons have taken place outside of the classroom.
For those of you planning or considering studying abroad, here are six lessons I’ve taken away from the six weeks I’ve completed so far.
- Do your research, no matter how prepared you think you are.
Whether you’re staying in the same location or planning to travel around throughout the term (as I have), it’s crucial that you have a solid understanding of where you are and what you’re getting into. Every location comes with its own culture, social norms and attractions, and while winging it may sound like a fun idea, it may end with you feeling overwhelmed and unprepared. In my experience, it can be helpful to make a game plan ahead of time regarding the highlights you want to visit, restaurants you want to eat at, and even places you would want to travel to during your time abroad.
- Show up ready to learn and listen.
This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s such an important thing to keep in mind, especially when entering a new culture. While your first instinct may be to compare yourself to the people and customs around you, it may be better to leave your prior knowledge at the door and simply exist in the moment. The culture shock will come at its own pace, but preparing yourself for the onslaught of knowledge and information can be the difference between feeding fascination and immediately burning out. You’re not going to become a local no matter how long you’re staying abroad, and you’re not expected to be! Let yourself take each experience as it comes and know that every day will be a new lesson and opportunity to grow.
- Listen to yourself, your body and know what you need.
Something that I struggled with in the first six weeks was pacing myself and listening to my body. I found myself going nonstop from day one, as there was so much to do and see, and forgot to take time to rest and take care of myself. Even if you only have a few weeks in your host country, it’s so important to take breaks when you need them and tap out when you feel yourself hitting your limit. The alternative here is that your body decides for you, and you find yourself hitting a wall, or at the worst, getting sick and having to go home early. Don’t push yourself and remember that only you know what you need; don’t compare yourself to everyone else.
- Don’t lose yourself in trying to acclimate to your host country.
To expand on the last point, you will likely find yourself trying to fit in with the culture of wherever you are. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; in fact, immersing yourself in your host country is an incredible way to learn more about the environment around you, but it’s equally important not to lose sight of yourself in the process. Being in such a different place is likely to make you compare yourself, even if only subconsciously. You may compare yourself to the other people in your program as you try to make friends, or to the locals in your host country that live so differently than what you’re used to. As important as it is to connect with those around you and appreciate your location, remember that you’re traveling for you, and you don’t have to change anything about yourself in order to be valid in your host country. The odds are that you won’t find many people who are 100% like you, and that’s a beautiful thing. Don’t change yourself to fit the description of anyone else, and remember to give yourself credit for being brave enough to travel in the first place.
- Know why you’re studying abroad and don’t forget it.
This can go hand in hand with not losing yourself in the other cultures around you, but it’s important to remember why you’re abroad and to not let yourself get led astray by anything or anyone. It’s likely that you’ll meet many people with many different interests than you, but know that you don’t owe anyone anything if it goes against your own values or prerogatives. If you’re going abroad to learn or work, don’t feel pressured to go out every night or spend a ton of time traveling. Stick with what you know and what you want to get out of the experience, and definitely take advantage of other opportunities if they appeal to you, but remember the reasons you’re there and don’t feel pressured to change them.
- Understand that things will go wrong, and that’s not a bad thing.
One of the most common phrases that gets thrown around in the tourism industry is that “… there will always be at least one thing that goes wrong.” The good news is, this isn’t necessarily a negative thing at all, and can oftentimes lead to a far greater learning experience than what you ever expected. Be prepared to go with the flow, and know that not everything about your experience abroad will be picture perfect. At the end of the day, it’s still an incredible thing to study abroad, and with the bad will come an overwhelming amount of good. You’re going to walk away with an authentic and immersive experience no matter what, and you’ll have stories to tell and memories to reflect on for years to come! Breathe, smile, and remember to give yourself a hug every now and then – you deserve it!