Studying abroad is an exciting opportunity, but it can also be overwhelming. When you are away from home, you may face a lot of hurdles like language barrier, culture shock, homesickness, budget constraints, and feeling of loneliness. To overcome these hardships, it is important to familiarize yourself with the local language, culture, and lifestyle. You also need to stay in contact with family and friends back home to feel connected. To manage budget constraints, you should plan your finances in advance. Joining local organizations and socializing with other students can also help in making new friends and dealing with loneliness.
1) Feeling Like An Outsider
Studying abroad can make you feel like an outsider because you are not part of the local community. You are the only foreign student in a city or a country and you may feel like an “alien”, especially in host-country communities. Foreign students may also feel like an outsider in the countries where they study because they do not fit the local culture. You may also feel like an outsider when you are away from your home country, because you are no longer part of the familiar environment. Adjusting to one’s new surroundings and a new social environment can be challenging, especially if you come from a culture that is very different from the one you are in.
2) Overcoming The Language Barrier
Studying abroad is a great opportunity to practice a foreign language in a real-life environment but you should know that it is not enough. Studying a language will not make you fluent in it overnight. If you are an international student from a country with English as the official language, then it will be a lot easier for you to learn the local language. But if you come from a country where the local language is spoken, you will still face the challenge of learning the local language. You will also have to remember that you are learning the local language as well as interacting with the locals in it.
3) Getting Used To Currency Differences
Another challenge you will face abroad is getting used to the currency differences. In most countries, the local currency is the only acceptable form of payment, so you will have to get used to using different currency. In some cases, you may not be able to use the local currency even in the form of a loan. You can get used to the currency differences by using local currency ATMs and getting used to the local currency exchange rates. You can also get to know about the local currency exchange rates in advance so that you can budget your expenses in the foreign currency.
4) Being Far From Your Support Network
Another challenge you will face while studying abroad is the lack of support network. You will be far away from your support network, which may seem like the end of the world. You can overcome this challenge by staying in touch with your family and friends back home and by reaching out to your study abroad alumni network. You can also join social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to stay connected with your friends and family back home. You can also subscribe to newsletters from schools and study abroad organizations to stay updated about opportunities, funding, and programs.
5) Coping With Cultural Misunderstandings
Cultural misunderstandings can be a challenge for students who have studied abroad. For example, a student from an Asian country may be confused when people from other countries don’t greet them with a handshake or hand gesture. But you should know that cultural differences are important and must be respected, not avoided. You can overcome the challenge of cultural misunderstandings by becoming more culturally aware and understanding the people and their culture. You can also seek help from your study abroad organization, host family, and friends.
6) Being Confused By Cultural Differences
Another challenge you will face while studying abroad is confusion due to cultural differences. You may be confused by the local culture, language, and people while you are studying abroad because you may be from a western country and your culture is different from the local ones. You can overcome this challenge by getting to know the local culture and people with an open mind. You can also get help from your study abroad organization and host family.
7) Understanding Directions
Also Refer:- Top 9 Places to Consider for Abroad Studies
Another challenge you will face while studying abroad is understanding directions. While in a host country, you may have a hard time understanding directions. You may also often ask for directions, especially if you are from a country with a different language and culture. You can overcome this challenge by getting familiar with the local transportation system, reading maps, and asking for directions from locals. You can also get help from your study abroad organization, host family, and friends.