A TC Girl’s Guide to Study Abroad: The Basics
By Madeline Hoffman
There’s nothing like experiencing another country to make you realize how much you love your own.
I looked forward to studying abroad ever since my first high school French class. After years of daydreaming about living in Paris, ‘nervous’ was the last emotion I expected to feel before boarding my flight...but sure enough, all the unknowns that awaited across the pond slowly began to cloud my excitement. “Would I get along with my host family? Would my French conversation skills stand a chance outside of the classroom? Would my clothes measure up to the standards of Parisian fashion?”
If you’re preparing to study abroad and are feeling the same pre-departure jitters, you’re not alone. Here are some of the tips I wish I’d known before I left.
Make Lasting Friendships (and some solo memories, too)
Word to the wise—the first few days of your abroad program will probably feel like college orientation all over again (minus the freshman gawkiness). You can rest assured that everyone is eager to make friends to explore the city with, so you’ll be surprised by how quickly friendships form.
With that said, you may find yourself adjusting to a more independent lifestyle. Most people in my abroad program lived with host families, and my closest friends lived on opposite ends of the city. While living so far away from friends was lonely at times, spending time by myself allowed me to travel solo and take myself on day trips, discover new cafes, and make friends with the local crepe shop owner. I gained confidence navigating a foreign city on my own, and it forced me to speak French (instead of slipping into English with my friends). If you’re like me and have never experienced city life before, you’ll gain a whole lot of street smarts, too.
Make It Home
When I felt homesick (or simply stressed over homework), I found that the best remedy was to invest in my community the same way I would if I were at home in the U.S. I taught English to French preschoolers once a week, and it was the best decision I could have made. Nothing made me forget how much I missed my own little brothers than spending an hour with adorable French tykes. If you have the ability to volunteer, do it! It will make a foreign place feel a little more familiar.
You won’t be able to do everything (and that’s okay)
When I first arrived in Paris, I set out to visit as many tourist sites as I could each day. The only problem with this goal was that before long, I found myself returning home exhausted every night. That’s when I realized that since Paris would be my home for the next five months, I didn’t have to be a tourist every day. Instead, I could experience Paris at a more leisurely pace. I found joy in discovering a new running route or tasting a different pastry at my local bakery. I realized that I didn’t have to cross off a major tourist destination each day to feel like I was experiencing all that Paris had to offer.
Don’t let your eagerness to take it all in cause you to lose sight of the simple pleasures that the unique experience of studying abroad offers. Even someone who has lived in Paris (or London, or Rome…) all of their life still hasn’t seen everything that the city has to offer. You may not see every site during one semester, and that’s okay. It just gives you an excuse to come back for more.
Invest Your Money Where it Counts
It’s no surprise that studying abroad is a significant financial investment. While there are countless ways to travel on a budget, don’t become so caught up in sight-seeing frugally that you miss out on one-in-a-lifetime experiences. This is something I continually had to remind myself (especially every time I checked my bank account). When I “let go” a little and told myself not to focus too much on saving every last penny, I found that I had more freedom to enjoy myself. Why miss out on an incredible museum or a unique restaurant just to save a few dollars? You likely won’t be back again for some time, so my best tip is: make every experience count!
Scout Around
No two study abroad programs are the same. I recommend scouting around and surveying older college friends, siblings, etc to be certain the program you’re embarking on is a good one. Switching a program can redirect an entire semester experience. Your program is responsible for so much more than just your school alone-- housing, bonding activities, special trips, and the overall quality of staff, peers and everything in between. I was set on living in London, so I skimped on my program selection to make sure I was there. Had I done more research and due diligence, I would have likely ended up elsewhere, much happier, with many more American college students around.
Consider Buddying Up
It may seem painfully obvious, but if you have a great group of friends, consider going abroad together! Even branch out and talk to friends at other schools to see where they’re going. It is so much more fun to navigate the challenges that being abroad can present with people that you know and love. Loneliness in an unfamiliar place is not a great combination!
Plan ahead early
This goes for nearly everything involved with going abroad: if you know you want to go, start by making sure you're buttoned up to graduate on time back home. Start the process to get your classes approved early, get your visa, and book your initial flight over before you have to. Likewise, if you know you want to go to a specific concert, festival, city-wide event, or weekend away, get it booked in advance-- you'll be happy to have a plan set for the big ticket items on your bucket list. The rest will fall into place once you get your schedule and settle into some semblance of a routine.
Photo via @margot.lee
