10 tips and advice for studying abroad
1.Read. Find out about your study abroad destination. Try to read the local newspaper and familiarize yourself with the general situation of the country and the city you will visit. Choose a travel book, such as a Lonely Planet, to learn about the main monuments, transportation, local sites, as well as the good and bad areas of the city. Read RateYourStudyAbroad.com reviews of their program and other programs in the area, as well as other blogs dedicated to the student experience abroad. Visit Glimpse.org, Foreignview.org, and Transitionsabroad.com to see first-hand accounts of expat students and their experiences abroad. Not only will you be able to converse better with the locals, enhance your own experience with insight into the cultural peculiarities of your country, but you will be more informed compared to your other study abroad participants.
2.Travel. There’s no easier time in your life to travel than when you’re young, have the time, are willing to go the extra mile to save a few bucks, and are adventurous enough to visit the towns and festivals off the beaten path. If you’re in Europe, head to Munich for Okterberfest in the fall, check out the Alps hikes in October, before the ski crowds, high prices, and cold weather hit, hit the Greek islands in May before the crowds arrive and when the weather is nice or the south of Spain in the winter months. Research opportunities for cheap travel within your region. See the Helpful Links section of RateYourStudyAbroad.com for links to websites and resources for low-cost airlines, lodging, package tours, and travel blogs. Don’t forget that much of the world travels by train and bus, which can be cost effective and one of the most interesting cultural experiences you’ll have. There’s nothing like sitting on a 10-hour bus ride with a family and the family’s pet pig or taking an overnight train to your destination and combining the cost of accommodation and transportation all in one.
3. Student discounts. Take advantage of student discounts if they are available in your study abroad country. Depending on the country you study in, student discounts can save you money at museums, tourist attractions, transportation, shopping, and even at the movies. In addition, many hostels and other businesses have negotiated discounts for holders of the international student card or ISIC that you should take advantage of.
4. Communication abroad. Find out how you will communicate with your loved ones and friends in the United States, your new friends, and the locals in your new home, as well as the local emergency number (probably not 911). To call your friends and family in the United States, as well as others with an Internet connection, VOIP options, including Skype and Vonage, can be a great cost-effective option for you. You may need to invest in a microphone and speakers for your computer if you don’t already have them, but these VOIP options are inexpensive, reliable, and you can call anywhere, as long as you’re near your computer. As for keeping in touch with your local friends, check out the cell phone plans available. Some countries won’t let you sign up for a monthly cell phone plan unless you have a local bank account, but most countries offer pay-as-you-go cell phone plans that can get the job done for just a little more than the cost. of a monthly plan. Don’t forget to also check the landline options while abroad, for calls made locally (landline to landline and landline to mobile) and international (landline to landline and landline to mobile). Sometimes landline rates can be quite reasonable.
5. American food. If your idea of comfort food is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you’ll probably need to stock up on peanut butter before you leave the US. Most countries have their own version of some American foods or nothing at all. absolute. You may not realize it until you’re already abroad, but it will come up with foods you CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT and that you won’t be able to find anywhere else abroad. In my experience, living without a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup, brown sugar, real BBQ sauce, or even American ketchup made the one trip my mom took to visit him that much more exciting because she brought these staple American items that she had been missing. much.
6. Money. One thing you will notice after your first month of living abroad is the foreign transaction fees that your credit card company charges on all purchases made in another currency, as well as the transaction fee for most ATM withdrawals. Although the bank does not provide any service for these fees, which range from 2 to 3 percent of the charge, they can add up quickly. So if you don’t plan to open an account at a local bank, check to see if your US bank has any agreements in place with international banks and affiliates to reduce this expense. Capital One does not charge foreign transaction fees on credit card purchases, but it does on ATM transactions. If your bank doesn’t have any special arrangements with a foreign bank, another idea is to withdraw a large sum of cash each month and review it as needed. Don’t forget that if your debit or credit card is lost or stolen, it can be difficult to replace it quickly. Check out this NYTimes article here to read more about credit cards abroad.
7. Do something different. Many who go abroad are happy to spend time with other Americans, party late into the night in different bars and clubs, and speak English during the trip. However, I encourage you to do something outside of your comfort zone, whether that be studying in the local language, living in a homestay with a local family, joining a local sports club or team, volunteering, or finding a local internship. , or just get off the beaten path when traveling. Not only will you get a better sense of the cultural nuances and how things work in the country you live in, but you’ll be more resilient and gain a different view of the country you’re in. Do not forget that when you return to the United States, you and others will be very impressed and will have the best memories of how you integrated into your new environment.
8. If you play a sport, participate. Although most Americans associate college sports with intense practice and competition programs, the rest of the world doesn’t think of college sports that way. At most colleges, there are sports clubs and teams with more informal practice and competition times. Not only do you get to play a sport you love, but you get to meet other students and it’s always a great break to study. Depending on your skill level, you may also consider giving lessons in your sport or volunteering your time to coach a youth team or league. If you plan to play a sport abroad, don’t forget to bring your equipment, as sports equipment can be difficult to find or very expensive. Click here for an article about a student’s experience with swimming while living in Paris, France.
9. Act like a local. You will always be an American, but the history of the country and the people you live with is worth reading and respecting. Follow the behavioral cues of the locals, especially in regards to dressing more conservatively in churches and the local tolerance for drinking in public. Know what is an appropriate tip when you are in a restaurant and for a taxi ride.
10. Take pictures. Studying abroad will provide you with memories that will last a lifetime, be sure to capture these moments to share with friends and family, as well as to remember for years to come. Using photo sharing websites like (ophoto.com, flickr.com, webshots.com, shutterfly.com, kodakgallery.com, etc.) can help you organize your photos without taking up a lot of space on your hard drive. Many of these sites also allow you to create photo albums and photo books (check out Blurb.com for photo books as well) that will allow you to create a print version of your experience abroad.