Spending a semester abroad is, by far, one of the best life decisions I have ever made. It was something I hadn’t seriously considered until the semester before I left. It gave me a chance to live on my own in a different country, make new friends, travel, and learn some valuable life skills. If I had the chance to do it again I would in a heartbeat.
However, as with any experience in life, there are always things to learn and reflect upon. Some of the things I wish I had taken into more consideration before and while being abroad are:
1. Have a TON of money saved up
I studied abroad in England, where the currency exchange rate was high, but I don’t think this is highly relevant when determining how much to save up. No matter where you go there will be travel and food costs, going out, transportation, shopping, academic related costs, and probably much more. It is super important to have a huge chunk of change saved up so you don’t have to keep calling your parents for an allowance, like I did. A reasonable amount would be upwards of $2,000.
2. Learning takes place outside of the classroom
Most, if not all of the classes I took at the University of Westminster were easy, freshman level classes. Three of the courses were designed for exchange students, and the fourth was a 100-level class, mixed in with local students. Basically, this is done on purpose because it was expected of me to be doing more learning outside of the classroom. Getting used to a new place, figuring out how to budget my time and money, and of course taking advantage of all the country has to offer. This isn’t to say that classes shouldn't be taken seriously, as study abroad programs can be a great way to take some fascinating courses, but they also shouldn't be the biggest concern.
3. Plan for traveling ahead of time
Along with budgeting time and money effectively, planning is another important component of studying abroad. In order to make the most of your time, make it a point to conduct research on events to attend and sights to see, as well as their cost. It will save you time and money in the long run!
4. Take tons and tons and tons of pictures….of everything
Don’t worry about being that one person who is constantly taking photos and videos on every outing. Your future self will be endlessly grateful.
5. Don't hold out on anything
For most people, studying abroad is a once in a lifetime chance. Don’t hold back. Make friends with locals, try new foods, immerse yourself in the culture, take every chance to go out and do something. Make memories. Live in the moment.
6. Don’t wait until the last month to get comfortable
I would say that the last month of my journey was when I really got comfortable with my flatmates - something that would have changed my entire experience if done differently. If I could go back in time, I would force myself to be more outgoing from the beginning. The time I spent Skyping friends and family could have waited. Regrettably, I realized too late that studying abroad is like a crash course in making tons of friends very quickly. For me, it would have lead to more travel experiences and feeling more like a part of something.
7. One semester flies by
"Time flies" really takes a different meaning while abroad. One semester can feel like just a few weeks, which is why it is really important to make the most of your time - get involved, step outside of your comfort zone, and take the unexpected challenges head-on.
It is safe to say that no matter where you choose to go, the experience will be thrilling, unique, and unlike any other. The importance of doing a lot of research beforehand cannot be stressed enough, as it will lead you to have the best possible time during this journey you will remember for the rest of your life.
