If you are about to embark for a semester on an overseas adventure, it is important to keep in mind a number of crucial factors. If you don’t keep some of these things in mind, not only will you be in a position of not being entirely safe – you may also not get the fulfillment and enjoyment you deserve from your study abroad program.
Indeed, this may be the first time that you actually venture to a new land. If you are going to Europe, you want to keep in mind that cultures will be different, the language will be different and a number of other things will not be like home. Here is some important information for students traveling abroad.
Stay Safe
Of course, one of the most important things you should know is that you want to be safe. This means that you want to travel with a group after dark and you want to keep a close watch over your shoulder. Moreover, you want to be sure that you lock up your room at night. In a foreign country, there are predators out there looking to take advantage of vulnerable students.
Know the Customs
When you are in a new country, you want to be sure that you understand and learn the customs. This means that you want to know how society operates and works. For instance, if people take a siesta in the afternoon, you may want to take a siesta too. Moreover, you want to be polite to the locals. It doesn’t matter if you are taking masters of public administration or another program; you want to do your best to really fit in. This will help you assimilate and enjoy your time abroad.
Find a good place to stay
On top of staying safe and knowing the customs, you also want to find the ideal accommodations. This may take doing some research because you want to be able to find a dorm or lodging arranging that is not too expensive and you don’t want to be in a shady neighborhood. With a quick Google search, you will be able to find something appropriate.
Don’t Walk Around with too Much Cash
When you are in a completely foreign country, you want to avoid walking around with too much cash. Not only is it dangerous to have too much cash, but you could also be tempted to spend it on frivolous items. Indeed, there are a lot of knick-knacks and other items that could be too tempting not to purchase. Ideally, you want to carry a travel credit card. The benefit of a travel credit card is that it can be replaced if lost – cash cannot be replaced.
Keep an Open Mind
On top of everything, you want to be sure that you keep an open mind when you are in a different country. Your entire view of the world will change and should change when you are abroad. In the end, this is the beauty of breaking out of your comfort zone to explore the world.
