7 Tips to Make the Most of the Study Abroad Experience

By Elizabeth Hilfrank on June 15, 2017

slate.com 

Studying abroad next semester? Nervous? Don’t be. It will be the greatest experience of your life. I know you probably hear that daily, and why would you believe me more than others?

So, instead of just telling you it will be the best, I am going to tell you how to make it the best.

1. Do the small things

Not everything abroad has to be big and extravagant. Just going to the local parks and cafes can be enough to give you a taste of the culture and occupy your time.

2. Learn to always say “yes

This statement is the opposite of what the typical phrase is, but you’re abroad, so normal rules don’t apply. Say yes to every opportunity and fill your schedule because you really never know when the opportunity will come again.

3. Don’t be afraid to spend money

If you don’t blow all the money you made over the summer, then you’re doing abroad wrong. You will have years on years to earn back that money, and won’t it be more rewarding knowing that the money went to crazy fun experiences instead of groceries?

4. Be independent

Don’t be afraid to explore on your own. As long as you are aware of your surroundings, go for walks by yourself in your city. They will give you time to be with your own thoughts, and they provide you with time to gain your own perspective on the country.

5. Be a local

While Trip Advisor is great, go off of the web. Walk into the restaurants and stores that don’t look so … Americanized. The little holes in the walls are often the best spots and the spots that give you a true taste of local life.

6. Be uncomfortable

Do things you would never normally do. As they say, “When in Rome!”

7. Don’t stress

A major part of education abroad is not what you learn in the classroom but what you learn outside of it. Your professors understand this fact, so do not stress if you are not in the library for as many hours as you usually are. You are not supposed to be.

Live it up, eat a lot of food, travel all over, and remember, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so YOLO!

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