7 Tips for Moving to a New Country While Studying Abroad was originally published on Vault.
Are you moving to a new country to study? You will have to take care of the place you live in, plus your new school, language, books, and everything. Studying abroad can be a bit different than studying in your own country. You will come across new cultures, a different syllabus and course curriculum, new people, new everything. In this article, we will be discussing a few tips to help you with moving to a new country while studying abroad.
Find Yourself a New Home
The very first thing that you should do is find yourself a new home. You should look out for the apartment that you will be renting, or a place to rent with friends. Do your research about finding a place to live when moving to a new country. When you select a house, make sure you check water connection, electricity, internet, and any other utilities. Know how much maintenance will be required for the house. Also, make sure that the house or the apartment that you select is close to your institution and there are accommodations such as taxi stands, restaurants, and hospitals nearby. This is the first thing that you must do when you live abroad.
Learn the Language
The next thing that you must ensure that you do is learn the language of the country. You might already know English or another language, but yes you must also learn the language (or languages) most commonly used in your host country. Learning the language will make it easier for you to communicate and will help you understand their culture better. Try seeing if you can take an introductory language course the semester before you study abroad, try a language-learning app, and be sure to sign up for a language class while you’re in the country to maximize your knowledge of the language.
Have All Your Certificates with You
When moving to a new country, you must ensure that you have all of your certificates handy. You may need your certificates and documents at any time, even unexpectedly, when you are abroad. You might need your school mark sheet, your college results or transfer certificate, your character certificate, as well as your passport, any medical documentation you need, and other relevant documents when you go to another country. So when you pack your stuff for moving abroad, make sure you carry all your documents with you.
Adapt to the Lifestyle
When in Rome, do as the Romans do—or whichever nationality applies to your program. To be familiar with the people and the place you are shifting to, you will have to adapt to their lifestyle. You may notice that people are more active during different times of the day, or that their speech patterns change depending on who they’re speaking to. Interacting with more and more people will help you understand your host country’s culture. You might go out on the town, strike up a conversation at a café, or even celebrate local festivals and holidays. Following the lifestyle of your new, temporary home is part of the fun of studying abroad.
Make Friends—but Don’t Give in to Peer Pressure
You shouldn’t skip a chance of making new friends in your host country. New friends are a key part of studying abroad, and these friendships can last a lifetime. But giving into peer pressure is one of the most common mistake that people make when they move to a new country. Follow your instincts, and pay more attention to your moral compass than to what other people are doing. The last thing you need is to get in trouble far away from your support system.
Avoid Overspending
Studying abroad can be expensive, between tuition, boarding, food, and other expenses. So when you are studying abroad, keep an eye on your funds A monthly budget can help you determine your income versus your expenses, and how much you should spend in a month.
