Studying in another country far away from home is no mean feat. Though some students might have the desire and the courage to venture into it, most of them would feel apprehensive to walk such a path. Parents, parental figures, and tuition teachers may have varying opinions about the pros and cons of studying overseas. Moreover, such opinions are subjective and they are highly dependent on the country of choice as well.
The entry requirement for colleges may vary from one another; most of them would have entrance exams or at least interviews that need to be attended as part of the selection process. The real challenge is not about entering the college itself, but what follows afterwards.
There are numerous challenges in studying overseas, all of which might make the experience a tedious one, but it will all be worth it. The real growth lies in overcoming these challenges and emerging stronger than ever.
Here are some ways in which students can overcome the challenges of studying overseas!
THE FOOD
You might have been used to a certain type of food and a particular cuisine since birth. That is what your body would have been used to, and should you alter that diet to a great extent, you will experience odd symptoms in your body which might be a little scary. Due to the change in the climate, environment and quality of ingredients in the food being consumed, sometimes you might experience stomach aches or might fall sick every now and then.
Keep in mind that you need to give your body sufficient time to adapt to the changes. Until your body syncs with the food and the local cuisine, you can try including lots of fruits into your diet as they usually do not show any adverse reactions!
LANGUAGE BARRIER
Language may not necessarily be the biggest problem (since English language is the universal language of communication) but at times, the ways of communicating and maybe the slang might be different which causes some difficulty in getting opinions across.
The only way to overcome this is through observation and practice. The more you observe those around you and listen attentively to the way people communicate, the more easily you would be able to adapt to the new environment.
INDEPENDENCE
When you have entered a new country to study, you get ripped off of all the dependence and molly-coddling that you would have been used to back home. This means you need to handle your own expenses, find your way about in the country, take care of your own health, safety and security, and so much more.
Independence may seem like a huge deal in the initial stages, however, as you familiarise yourself with everything around you, and as you establish positive relationships with your classmates and professors, everything become much easier.
EXPENSES
In a new country, you might need some time to get used to the new currency and understand what the standards for “expensive” and “cheap” are. You might also find it challenging to handle the currency initially, but with sufficient practice, you will realise that it’s no big of a matter after all!
One helpful tip would be for you to keep a journal and track your expenses which will allow you to visualise how much you are actually spending. You can then decide to cut down on unnecessary expenses and invest in things which will contribute to your growth and productivity, both as a student and as a human being!