The start of a new semester is nearly approaching, and for many students this new semester will be spent exploring and discovering unfamiliar territories. As someone who spent a semester abroad in London, I know firsthand the overwhelming emotions attached with planning and going through with an adventure like the one you’re about to embark on.

Overall you want to make sure that the next few months go as smoothly and as enjoyable as possible. Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience, especially if you have never left the country before. You want to make sure that you have a learning and adventurous experience, which, as a result, will hopefully give you a newfound perspective on life. Everyone has their own experience when studying abroad, and your location of studying can be a result to that. However, no matter where you chose to study abroad, this guide can be of service to anyone who plans on going overseas for their upcoming semester.

1) Packing wisely.

Anyone who frequently travels knows how hectic packing can be for any trip. Packing for a trip that lasts months can be even more so, especially with seasons changing in between. I personally have a lot of clothes, and considering what I wanted to take and leave behind was distressing.

Before packing, you need to know for sure the amount of luggage you’re carrying: How many bags does your airline carrier allow? How many bags am I willing to carry? And would I want to pay extra for the extra luggage?

With all of that into consideration, packing then becomes one step easier; at that point you know the exact amount that you need and the limit you know you can’t exceed. You also need to consider the fact that while you’re abroad it’s likely that you’ll be buying stuff that you’ll need to pack for your return, so you’ll also need to leave some space.

I was fortunate to have my sister visit me mid-way through my semester, so I had her bring a few of my winter outerwear and in exchange I had her take back all my summer clothes. With that in mind I packed exactly what I needed before her visit. Unfortunately you might not get so lucky to have someone do that for you. You might want to consider getting some stuff shipped, but that might be costly so If you want to keep expenses to a minimum that might not be the best option.

The best advice I can give about packing is to only pack what is essential and important to you. Include a few dressy options for special nights out, but keep things mostly casual since most of your trip will be spent exploring and you’ll want most of your comfortable pieces for that. Also don’t worry about packing toiletries or school supplies - those are all things you can buy when you get there and get rid of when you leave, and it will overall save you space for other things.

2) Becoming your own financial advisor.

Studying abroad is an overall expensive experience, and will likely leave a deep hole in your pocket by the end of your semester. I had worked two jobs the summer before I left, and by the time I was getting ready to leave, I thought I had saved enough.

My first mistake was believing I had saved enough; never get satisfied with the thought that enough will get you by. If you have parents that will financially support you while you’re away, good for you, but if you aren’t that fortunate kid you will need to quickly learn how to be smart about spending money.

You will need to learn how different currencies will influence your spending habits. On the plus side, this experience will prepare you for real life expenses once you’re through with school. Take this opportunity to put your foot down when you know you shouldn’t be spending money on something that isn’t a necessity. You want to make sure you can evenly split your expenses between outside traveling, nightlife, tourist attractions, food, and most importantly on essential necessities, while also keeping money aside in case of an emergency.

You might be eligible for extra money flow through credit cards or scholarships or loan reimbursements, but be aware of crazy international fees on your credit or debit cards, it might leave you with less money than you expected. Just remember that enough is not enough for a study abroad trip so try to be smart about spending and bring more than what enough should be.

3) Culture shock is real.

If you’re going to a country where you speak the language, you might think that you’ll be desensitized to culture shock, but the truth is that it doesn’t matter where you go or the language you speak, unfamiliar territories can get anyone pessimistic about their experience abroad.

Being a New Yorker and knowing how to get around my favorite places or knowing which places to avoid makes my way of living in the city a lot easier. Once I stepped into a new place and had to assimilate to the way of living there, I began growing anxious and began questioning why I had decided to leave my comfort zone in the first place. After learning to adapt to my surroundings I began growing comfortable to the idea of being somewhere new to me.

If you get culture shock, it’s important to remember that this experience is a once-in-a-life-time thing. You have to consider yourself fortunate to be traveling somewhere else for the semester, and keep in mind that some of the places you visit or some of the people you spend your time with won’t be the same if you ever go back, so it’s important to take everything in and appreciate every moment.

4) Documenting every moment.

Like I mentioned before, studying abroad is a once in a lifetime experience, and you want to make sure that every special moment doesn’t go forgotten. Phone storages doesn’t seem to carry too much space if you want to keep everything you’ve captured during your time abroad. Your best bet is to bring along a digital camera with you, and an SD memory card that will be enough to carry all your captured moments without ever having to worry about storage.

I also brought along with me a journal that helped me keep all the details I couldn’t capture on camera. Bringing along a journal will also give you an opportunity to walk around and find special spots in town where you can sit, write, and appreciate the new views. It’s also helpful, just like your photos or videos, that you can look back to your writing and feel what it was like to live during that this time of your life.

Studying abroad gives you something to always look forward to. Being somewhere new gives you an opportunity to go and explore things that are foreign to you, and that gives you something to always feel excited about. It helps you evolve in a way that you wouldn't do if you didn't go through this experience. There's the whole cultural aspect of it, and learning how to react to new things. You learn so much more of yourself than it would be possible if you had stayed at one location during your entire college experience.

Before going away you might think that you have a long journey ahead of you, but in reality the time doesn’t ever feel long enough. I look back on my experience and feel grateful to have had the opportunity, and would do it all over again if I had the chance to. That being said, if you’re about to embark on this journey keep this guide in mind for a trip to treasure a lifetime.