1. Read. Read about your studies abroad. Try to read the local newspaper and get acquainted with the general situation in the country and city where you will visit. Take a travel book, such as Lonely Planet, to get acquainted with the main monuments, transport, local attractions, as well as with good and bad areas of the city. Read reviews about the program and other programs in this region, as well as other blogs dedicated to student experience abroad. Check out Glimpse.org, internationalview.org and transitionsabroad.com for first-hand student emigrant participants and their experience abroad. Not only will you be able to communicate better with the locals, expand your own experience with an understanding of the cultural characteristics of your country, but you will be more knowledgeable than other students abroad.
2. Journey. It's easier to travel in your life than when you're young, have time, are willing to go the extra mile to save a few bucks and adventures to check out the city and festivals. If you are in Europe, go to Munich for Oberberfest in the fall, see the Alps in October, before the ski crowds, high prices and the cold run, go to the Greek islands in May, before the crowds turn over and when winter months. Explore opportunities for cheap trips in your area. Go to the “Useful Links” section for links to websites and resources for low-cost airlines, overnight stays, travel packages, and travel blogs. Do not forget that most of the world travels by train and bus, which can be both cost-effective and one of the most interesting cultural events that you will have. There is nothing better than to sit on a 10-hour bus ride with your family and homemade pig or catch a night trip to your destination and link the cost of living and transportation in one place.
3. Discounts for students. Take advantage of student discounts if they are available in your country abroad. Depending on the country in which you study, student discounts can save you money in museums, tourist attractions, transport, retail outlets and even in a movie theater. In addition, many hostels and other businesses have negotiated discounts for holders of an international student card or ISIC, which you must use.
4. Communication abroad. Find out how you will communicate with your family and friends in the United States, your new friends and local people in your new home, as well as your local emergency number (this is probably not 911). Calling your friends and relatives in the United States, as well as other Internet-connected users, VOIP options, including Skype and Vonage, can be an excellent and economical option for you. You may have to invest in a microphone and speakers for your computer if you do not already have them, but these VOIP options are cheap, reliable, and you can call anywhere while you are on your computer. If you keep in touch with local friends, check out the cell phone plans that are available. Some countries do not allow you to subscribe to a monthly cell phone plan if you do not have a local bank account, but most countries offer pay-as-you-go plans that can do this work only slightly more than the monthly plan cost. Do not forget to also check the parameters of the fixed line when you are abroad for calls made locally (from fixed to fixed, as well as from fixed to mobile) and internationally (from fixed to fixed, as well as from fixed to mobile). Sometimes stationary rates can be quite reasonable.
5. American food. If your idea of a comfortable diet is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you will most likely need to stock up on peanut butter before leaving the US. Most countries either have their own version of some American products, or nothing at all. You may not realize it while you are already abroad, but you will come up with products that you CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT and that you cannot find anywhere else abroad. In my experience, living without a cup of peanut butter Reeses, brown sugar, real barbecue sauce, or even American ketchup, I made one trip that my mother made to visit her much more exciting because she bought these basic American items, which I lacked a lot.
6. Money. One thing that you will notice after your first month of living abroad is the foreign transaction fees that your credit card company charges on all purchases made in another currency, as well as transaction fees for most ATM withdrawals. Although the bank does not offer services for these fees, which vary from 2 to 3 percent of the cost, they can quickly take shape. Therefore, if you do not plan to open an account with a local bank, check whether your US bank does not have any agreements with international banks and affiliates to reduce this expense. Capital One does not charge commissions on foreign transactions when purchasing credit cards, but makes transactions with ATMs. If your bank does not have any special arrangements with a foreign bank, another idea is to withdraw a large amount of cash each month and go through it as needed. Do not forget that if your debit or credit card is lost or stolen, it can be difficult to quickly replace. Check out this article from the NYTimes here to learn more about credit cards abroad.
7. Do something else. Many who go abroad spend time with other Americans with pleasure, having parties until all the hours of the night in different bars and dance clubs speak English during the whole trip. However, I urge you to do something from your comfort zone, whether it is learning in a local language, living in a family with a local family, joining a local club or sports team, volunteering or internship at the local level or just getting when you travel. . You will not only get the best tint of cultural nuances and how everything works in the country in which you live, but you will be more stable and get a different view of the country where you are. Remember that when you return to the United States, you and others will be most impressed and have the best memories of how you have integrated into the new environment.
8. If you play sports, take part. Although most Americans associate college sports with intense practice and competition schedules, the rest of the world does not think about such sports in college. Most colleges have sports clubs and teams with more casual practice and competition schedules. You can not only play sports that you love, but also meet other students, and this is always a great break in school. Depending on your skill level, you can also think about giving lessons in your sport, or volunteering in your coaching time in a youth team or league. If you plan to go in for sports abroad, do not forget to bring your equipment with you, as sports equipment can be difficult to find or very expensive. Click here to read an article about a student’s experience while swimming in Paris, France.
9. Act as local. You will always be American, but it is worth reading and respecting the history of the country and the people with whom you live. Take behavioral signals from local people, especially with regards to more conservative care in churches and local tolerance for community drinking. Know what is appropriate advice when in a restaurant and a taxi ride.
10. Take a picture. Studying abroad will provide a memory that will last a lifetime, make sure that you capture these moments, to share with friends and family, and also to remember in subsequent years. Using photo sharing websites such as (ophoto.com, flickr.com, webshots.com, shutterfly.com, kodakgallery.com, etc.), Can help you organize your photos without taking up much space on your drive. Many of these sites also allow you to create photo albums and photo books (see also Blurb.com for photo books) that will allow you to create a printed version of your experience abroad.
