Making arrangements to study abroad can be exhilarating, but anxiety is frequently a side effect. The sheer thought of traveling to a different country and encountering strange people and circumstances can be unsettling and may even lead someone to abandon their plans to pursue international education. It’s okay if you want to study abroad but are concerned that you won’t be able to adjust to living away from home while a student.
Making the daring decision to study abroad requires courage, but there are ways to get through it. You may have a number of challenges during your first week at your new school, whether you are a natural speaker of the language used in the country you have chosen for your studies or not.
The first week of your foreign education may surely be the most challenging for you due to the strange surroundings, people, and activities. Everything will be unfamiliar in a new environment, from street markers to the faces in the classroom, making it challenging to learn how to navigate.
5 Tips To Help You Survive That Crucial First Week at School Abroad
Here are 5 practical tips to get you through your essential first week of study abroad:
1. Make contact with a local authority to make adjusting to your new environment easier.
Having someone to answer your questions or help you in an emergency, despite the fact that they may be a stranger, might make you feel more at ease.
2. Take advantage of all the opportunities for events and activities.
Notwithstanding their concerns about their limited language skills, the majority of people are excited to meet you. Joining international clubs and going on field excursions is a terrific way to meet new people who probably feel the same way you do.
3. To prevent jet lag, acclimate as quickly as you can to the local time zone.
Keeping active is a good approach to recognizing the new time zone. Make sure you’re awake and engaged until at least 8 o’clock at night. During your first week, use local time to assist you to get used to it quicker.
4. Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance.
Although many international students encounter comparable challenges when studying abroad, there is always someone at the institution prepared to help.
5. To meet people and become accustomed to your new environment, socialize and tour your campus.
Participate in welcome and orientation events, network with as many people as you can, and keep an eye on the college or university website for updates on upcoming events.
To make it through your first week of studying abroad, you’ll need to connect with a local expert, take care of visa processes and other necessary tasks on your own, learn what to pack, be tech-savvy, select the right lodging, and manage your finances wisely. Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience that gives you the ability to travel to new places and interact with people from all over the world while earning credits. Coming home after a study abroad experience can be challenging and upsetting for some people, but it can also be an opportunity to think back on the experience and appreciate the personal growth it resulted in.
References
How to survive the first year of studying in the US. (2018, January 16). Study in the USA. Retrieved from https://www.studyusa.com/en/blog/1277/how-to-survive-the-first-year-of-studying-in-the-us
Salisbury, L. (2019, October 21). How to survive your first week of study abroad. Go Overseas. Retrieved from https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/study-abroad-tips-for-surviving-first-day
USA StudyAbroad. (n.d.). USA StudyAbroad. Retrieved from https://studyabroad.state.gov/
