Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, only if you want to travel across the world. I heard that studying abroad is such a rewarding experience for a few reasons. It will expand your knowledge and ways of life. You will learn about different lifestyles and cultures, resulting in self-growth and education. Next month, I will be adventuring on my first study abroad course. The feelings I have about it now are not what I thought they would be.
Everyone you mention your trip to will be exploding with excitement and explaining how much fun you will have, which is true; it will be fantastic to go out there and see the world. However, no one really talks about some of the feelings one can get before going abroad. Questions like, will I meet friends in my courses?, am I going to get there safely?, or am I going to get homesick?, will pop up in your head as the countdown begins to your awaiting trip. Of course, you will be excited, but concerns may worry you first. Relax, it’s normal.
Airports and Regulations:
Once you are there, settled in, and on the go, you will leave all those worries in the past. This opportunity could be intimidating if you have never traveled abroad or on flights. You have to go over international borders, which requires a few steps to get out of that airport and go on your own. Every country has different rules and regulations, so do some research in advance about Covid-19 regulations and laws. Don’t forget to register for a passport months prior if you don’t already have one! Once you arrive at your destination, you will make your way through security which may scare you at first because of the serious-looking employees or the humongous line awaiting you, but you will eventually make it through. After that, you are all set to go out on your own. Also, if you ever get lost and overwhelmed, just ask people; most will be willing to help.
Friends abroad:
Depending on what kind of study abroad program you choose, there can be various situations, such as a semester, year, summer, or a May/Jan term. You could spend most of your time with that singular class of people for a short-term course or attend a school with a bunch of courses for your semester and find a bunch of different friends. No matter what kind of program you choose, you will have people in the exact same boat as you. So don’t stress, they will be looking for friends too!
Many programs will help you meet people going to the same place ahead of time, so the best thing to do is to reach out and meet some of these people beforehand. You can make friends or just ask them questions if you’re confused. Most study abroad programs do their best to ensure everyone is well educated on what to do and who they will be studying with so that everyone is comfortable and confident for their trip.
Studying abroad with a friend is never a bad idea either. You can go to the same country and explore with them, or find your own friends and expand your connections. People should do what they feel is best for them. If they want to adventure on their own, they should because it will be the best experience of their lives.
Homesickness:
Homesickness is a serious thing that can strip away your happiness and experience abroad. It is possible that this may happen–especially if you ever feel homesick at college. The best advice for those homesick ones is to look at your study abroad more as a vacation, not as schoolwork. Remember that it will come to an end, so enjoy it while you can.
Arrival Date:
As the day comes, the nervousness may creep up. Just keep in mind this will be a huge learning experience for you. You will live your best life, and it will look great on resumes! Just hop on the plane and be ready for an adventure!