Studying abroad is exciting, life-changing, and amazing, but it can also have its ups and downs. Here are 16 things that happen when you study abroad as told by “Once Upon a Time”.
1. Dreaming about all the places you can go.
Wait, I can go to any of these places?! *Immediately starts googling photos of Italy, Australia, Costa Rica, and Kenya* All of these countries look amazing. Who needs Tinkerbell’s wings when you’ve got plane tickets?
2. Receiving your letter of acceptance.
Researching study abroad programs and writing applications can be very stressful. Getting your acceptance letter from your choice host university is the best feeling and you will just want to tell everyone you know!
3. Arriving at your new home.
Everything looks so foreign and your new campus is huge. You cannot wait to start exploring your new town! Think about all the photos you can Instagram.
4. Getting settled in.
Figuring out living arrangements can be tough and confusing, especially when you are living off-campus. Thank goodness you have international office support staff at your university to help you learn the ropes.
5. Not knowing what is going on and experiencing culture shock.
Things at your new university will probably be different, and it will take awhile to figure out school and cultural traditions. No matter where you go, you will be exposed to a new culture and society. It will be overwhelming at first, but you’ll learn to make sense of it all.
6. Not understanding the local lingo.
New country, new language. Even if the country speaks the same language as your home, there will be regional slang that you’ll have to pick up on.
7. Stressing over making friends.
Moving to a foreign country all by yourself can be daunting. You worry about if you will even make any friends.
8. But you do make new friends… lots of them!
There are new people to meet literally everywhere: classes, clubs, the dining halls, etc. You will find your new BFFs away from home and you will love them to pieces.
9. There will be times when you miss home and time zones will make things complicated.
Being so far away and trying to fit into a new society can be hard. You will make several phone calls to your friends and family back home because you miss them so much. Calling home can be hard when it’s the opposite time of day where your parents are. “Oh, it’s 2 a.m.? Sorry for waking you up!”
10. Feeling lonely over the holidays.
Lots of your local friends will go home for the holidays, but your home is too far away to go back to for a couple days. Party for 1 anybody?
11. Getting asked the same stereotypical questions over and over again.
People will be curious once they hear where you’re from. No, Canadians don’t say “aboot”, live in an igloo or have pet beavers- but thanks for asking. Sorry about that.
12. Traveling and exploring over the weekends.
Your study abroad semester/year will give you plenty of opportunities to travel over the weekend and during breaks. You will get to see some pretty cool sights and pretty cool places! Trust me, it will look better in real life than in photos.
13. Snapping a million photos.
With so many new experiences and cool places to see, you will end up with what seems like thousands of photos from your exchange. Whether on your phone, GoPro or DSLR, these photographs will make awesome memories and keepsakes.
14. Taking really interesting courses that aren’t offered at home.
Okay, so you are really there to study, not travel. Luckily, your host university will offer classes that you wouldn’t be able to take at home otherwise. Since you’re probably using your elective credits, you will have the flexibility to study whatever you want.
15. Pigging out on all the foreign food and desserts you can’t find back home.
You discover how delicious the local food is and you just can’t get enough of it. What is this “whoopie pie” and why don’t we have it back home!?
16. Saying goodbye at the end of your semester will be the hardest thing you do.
Over the course of your exchange, this place has become your home. You will miss the walk across campus to your dorm from class. You will miss the new faces that have become familiar friends. You will miss everything about this place. You will leave a piece of your heart at wherever it is you chose to go. You will leave this place as a changed person.