Studying abroad is something that many people want to do. Moving places and seeing a different culture is something many people dream of. If you are looking to study or intern abroad, you should be prepared for some of the challenges you will face. These challenges can considerably impact your study and your life as a whole. To help you out, here are some of the challenges you can expect and how to overcome them:
1 Cost of Living
The cost of living typically varies across the different locations. The cost of rent, groceries and bills can differ a lot from place to place, making the cost of living a considerable challenge to consider when moving abroad.
One of the best ways you can change your living cost is by being smart with your spending. You need not spend the earth to get by in a new country. One of the best ways to keep the cost of living down is by knowing where to shop. If you are a student, you will need to be very savvy with your money, making it essential to plan out where you will spend your money.
2 Language Challenges
People assume that being in Europe, for example, means you will have the language mastered. This, however, is not always true. While many people can speak the language, not everyone speaks it well, which can mean difficulty with making friends and settling in.
When they arrive in a new country, many people decide that they want to master the local language. This can be great, but if you do not take it slowly, you may be frustrated. If you attempt to master the language too quickly, you will struggle to understand the local language and could even fail at courses.
Many universities offer the native language as an option for students, making it much easier to master the language.
3 Finding Accommodation
Living away from home can be a considerable challenge, especially if you are moving to a new country. When people think about accommodation, they often imagine a family home, but this is not always true.
Finding accommodation can be challenging, especially if you do not know the country you are moving to. This is especially true if you are studying in a country that you do not know well.
The best way to avoid issues is to find accommodation before you arrive. It can save you a lot of hassle.
4 Finding work
It can be hard to find work in a new country, especially if you are a student. It can be challenging to find jobs, and it may take you quite a while to find work. One great way to find a job is by searching through job boards online or asking colleagues or friends if they have any leads.
5 Moving Back
Many studies and intern abroad programs require you to return to your home country after the program. If you do not have the time or the money to return straight after you have finished, this can be not easy.
The length of time that you are away may be a factor. If you only are away for a short time, you may not have to pay the total cost of moving everything. However, if you are away for an extended period, you may be expected to find the money to return.
6 Back Home
Many students also worry about when they return home. They may find it hard to readjust to life back home. It can be challenging to leave behind the excitement of a new life and the challenges and the people you have met abroad.
One of the most common challenges is feeling homesick. You may find that you miss everyone and everything you have experienced abroad.
The first thing you need to do is make sure that you prepare yourself and realize that returning home can be a tricky challenge.
7 Change
When you leave home, you are leaving your life as it is. You are heading to a new country, making new friends, experiencing new things and starting fresh. This can be a turnoff for some people.
It can be challenging to return to life as it is. It can be difficult dealing with the differences between what home and where you are heading are.
The best way to deal with change is by being positive and taking each day as it comes. If things do not go as you had hoped, do not dwell on it, take hold of each day as it comes and be open to anything new that may happen.
8 Living away from home
This means you will have to take responsibility for yourself. No parents around to watch over you; you have to do everything yourself. This may sound like an exciting adventure, but in time, you may need some extra support, and your parents may be able to assist.
Living away from home comes with a lot of responsibility. It is, however, a great way to mature and broaden your horizons.
9 Money
This is often a worry for students moving away. You will probably lose a lot of your money, and you may have to find a job fairly quickly. It is essential to research the cost of living in the place you wish to study.
If you are looking to study in the UK, you will need proof of your qualification and residency. You can use this visa calculator to determine which visa you need.
10 Less social media engagement
You probably use the internet for many different things. Most likely, you use social media. This may mean that you spend a lot of time on social media, and when you do, you are interacting with people.
When choosing where you would like to study, it is also imperative to consider the amount of time you spend on social media. Facebook, in particular, is very popular in Australia, but you may find other countries have different amounts of users.
If you are used to spending lots of social media time on one specific platform, you may find that the restrictions of needing to use other social media platforms may be a challenge for you.
The challenges above may seem significant, but many are easily mitigated. You will not always be able to speak to your parents or friends about your problems. You will have to do most things for yourself, which may involve a big learning curve. However, all of the difficulties are worth doing if you enjoy it and want to explore the world even more.
Moving overseas can be an exciting and fun experience. However, moving across the world is a huge challenge and is not for the faint-hearted. If you are looking to study or intern abroad, be prepared, it will be a challenge, and you will have a lot of challenges to overcome.
Are you considering studying abroad? Before you put pen to paper, remember that there are several things that you need to take into consideration before you take the plunge. The best way to think about what you want from your experience is to consider what challenges you may encounter. There are, of course, several challenges that can be avoided, but it is always better to be prepared, and that means taking a few risks. Here are a few that may surprise you.
In this blog post, I have outlined a few of the challenges that you may face when studying or interning abroad. Studying and interning abroad is a wonderful experience and can potentially change your life for the better. With obstacles like these, it's important to be prepared for them in order to prosper in what could be a rewarding experience.