7 Things every student needs to keep in mind when studying abroad

Studying abroad is exhilarating! You must be very excited about going abroad to look. It is the best opportunity as you can meet several people from different parts of the world with different cultures, languages, and religions. This is the opportunity for you to make lifetime memories and experience new things. However, it would help if you were prepared to stay away from your old family and friends, your comfort zone.

Going abroad and staying alone will be a roller-coaster ride for you with twists and turns. Several students face several challenging situations while shifting to another place. It is more complex than it seems to manage everything of your own in a new home. If only they had thought of some contingency plans for any possible situations beforehand.

To make your journey of studying abroad a bit less painful, here are seven things you must know when studying abroad.

Choose where to study.

Like people, no two countries are the same. You will always find it easier to be friends with people who are compatible with you. When choosing a country for your study where you will spend a significant amount of time, you will want the same. Some research can achieve this.

It’s essential to know about the culture, language, religion, food, and other details of that country first to avoid flying blindly. You may want to visit the place without prior expectations and conceptions, but knowing a little about the site will help you efficiently deal with problems there.

Weather and clothes

 Knowing about the weather will help you to have an idea of what to carry as clothes. If you are from a country like India or Malaysia with an average temperature of 37 degrees Celsius and you are visiting, let’s say, Canada to study, the clothes you need will be different in both countries. That is why you should know properly about the climate before packing your bags.

Budget and Finance

 This generally doesn’t remain in your mind when your parents are around, but when you are visiting another place, that becomes your concern entirely. So, you need to be aware of your monetary circumstances and budgeting. Make sure your bank doesn’t decline your payments when you buy coffee or rent your house.

So therefore, some technical things you should know are:

• Your bank will charge international fees for transactions
• The currency exchange rate between the country you are moving to concerns your country
• The monetary system of your new place

This information will help you to avoid fraud cases and embarrassing situations.

Phone Plan

 This is of utmost importance when you are going to another country. You never know if you have to make a call suddenly or use the internet to search for Google Maps, so you must know about international plans. Before traveling:

1. Check with your provider if they have international plans with the country you are moving to. If they don’t have one, sign up for a mobile program once you get down to the airport, so you have one less to worry about.
2. If you lose the first one or something happens, carry a cheap backup phone.
3. Always remember you never be too careful in an unknown place!

Emergency number

 Well, talking about emergency numbers, I’m not talking about the hotline numbers, which are different in different countries. (Make sure you know that as well). Here, an emergency number means the number of your school or university to whom you can connect in case you get lost. To be well prepared, write the numbers on paper and carry them with your luggage in case your phone gets damaged or stolen.

Electronic devices

 Phones and laptops are an integral part of learning nowadays, as many universities have introduced Google or other learning programs to facilitate learning. So, if you don’t possess a laptop or a phone, you may find it challenging to complete your assignment or make it on your phone or tablet. Therefore, have proper research about the electronic devices that are mandatory in your school or university. You can ask your school or any former students.

Culture Shock and homesickness

 If you are moving from your house for the first time, having a culture shock and homesickness in your academic years is undeniable. To avoid cultural shock, keep an open mind and be prepared that the culture is entirely different from what you have faced before. Having prior knowledge about the place may help you to some extent. If you are facing problems, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Don’t isolate yourself. As you are an adult, now you have to take responsibility.

For homesickness, it is a self-evident thing to face. Call your friends and family regularly and try to have home-like food. Remember that no matter how much you miss your home now, holidays are always on the corner, and when this phase ends, you will also miss this. Therefore, don’t forget to enjoy this period to your fullest.

Conclusion

 Being scared is undeniable when you are away from your home. The people, places, and everything are unknown to you, and it’s OK to be scared. You will experience several “new things” there that you may not have experienced before. Each of the students there will be equally scared and will be dealing with similar problems. Make sure to be helpful to them and enjoy this time to the fullest because this will not come back again. Lastly, don’t forget to study. This is the sole reason for which you are visiting a new place. Before leaving, please be prepared mentally and enjoy the roller-coaster journey of the upcoming years!