Adulting Abroad: the hard truth about what to expect when studying or interning abroad

cre: Adulting Abroad: the hard truth about what to expect when studying or interning abroad

Nobody really wants to grow up. We want the advantages and independence that come with adulthood, but none of the disadvantages. Studying abroad is much the same. We all want to see the Eiffel Tower, swim in the Mediterranean, carefree eat pizza and ice cream in Italy, hike the Great Wall of China and hike the Andes without worrying about logistics, funding and security. risk management. But, like in life, studying abroad requires us to put on our big girl/boy panties and grow a little taller.

I find that as study abroad becomes more accessible and more students go abroad each year, fewer and fewer students leave their countries with the hope of moving on. time in a foreign country. What students need to know boils down to a few points: you can’t know everything before you go, be prepared to adapt, use good judgment, and develop your problem-solving skills.

Photo by Tim Graf

Learn and adapt

Accept that you can’t know everything before you go and adapt. With so much information available on the internet, we are used to avoiding “blind-jumping” in almost all situations. I have noticed a growing attention from students who want to know exactly what their life will be like, which goes against the very notion of studying abroad. When I studied abroad, I received an acceptance letter and a brochure before I left. That was it.

The magic of studying abroad is not knowing what to expect and then inevitably being impressed. Of course, you should ask what to pack, what classes are available, and what accommodations are available if you have medical or academic needs, but be sure to leave much of the rest to the imagination; and most importantly, be ready to adapt to anything you find when you get there.

use your brain

Make good judgment calls. Exciting new opportunities await every student abroad, but that doesn’t mean every opportunity should be taken. Living in a foreign country can influence students to make decisions that they might not necessarily make at home. If something is dangerous or misjudged at home, the same behavior is misjudged abroad.

Building a Community Abroad

Be prepared to think on your feet. Those who study abroad are constantly faced with new and changing circumstances. Push yourself to solve problems on your own by observing what those around you are doing. While parents can be wonderful at giving advice, it’s not effective to call your parents to resolve a housing issue or to schedule a doctor’s appointment for you while abroad. Count on those around you – on-site staff and your friends – to help you solve problems as they arise. Integrating into your network abroad will not only help you solve problems when they arise, but will also help you adapt to your host culture.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez

If you’ve made the decision to study abroad, chances are you already have some degree of independence. Being away from family, friends and the lifestyle you’ve known isn’t always easy. But if you’re willing to adapt and reflect, studying abroad can be a life-changing experience. By all means see as much as you can, experience as much culture as possible, go on an adventure and have fun. But do it while allowing your time abroad to cultivate your adaptability, judgment, independence, and growth.

Kristyn O. is CAOT’s Student Services Coordinator. She studied abroad in Stuttgart, Germany, majoring in German and International Studies

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