After revisiting this blog after a little while, I thought it made sense to write some kind of conclusion, so here it is.
Having been lucky enough to spend the 2015-2016 academic year in the University of New Mexico, I'd like to think I'm in a position to give at least some relevant advice to somebody thinking about studying abroad. Obviously, somebody else's experience is going to differ wildly from my own, but there's still a sense of reliability between myself and others who have been on this journey. It's always nice to exchange stories, but I think it could be just as nice to exchange tips too. So here are my top five tips to getting the most out of your Study Abroad experience, based on my own.
Having been lucky enough to spend the 2015-2016 academic year in the University of New Mexico, I'd like to think I'm in a position to give at least some relevant advice to somebody thinking about studying abroad. Obviously, somebody else's experience is going to differ wildly from my own, but there's still a sense of reliability between myself and others who have been on this journey. It's always nice to exchange stories, but I think it could be just as nice to exchange tips too. So here are my top five tips to getting the most out of your Study Abroad experience, based on my own.
1. Money. The obvious advice would be to be sensible with your money. Don't blow it all in the first week of having received your loans because "it's cheaper than it would be in the UK" (I used that excuse for many a splurge - it's not wise). Similarly, don't spend it all on food. If your meal plan turns out to be utterly extortionate like mine was, temptation to eat out at restaurants all the time is very very high. It's also quite a bad idea - your money will go down a lot faster than you expect it to. But at the same time, if you've saved up to enjoy this year as you should, don't be afraid to spend it. Which leads me nicely onto...
2. Travel. The best possible use for any spare money is, in my opinion, travelling. There really is nothing quite like a road trip with your friends, and the area I was placed in was the perfect place to grasp these opportunities. I do regret spending money on crap I didn't need, but I don't regret a penny I spent on my various trips throughout the year. Not even the silly amount I spent in 24 hours in Vegas. Not even the drunkenly-bought ticket to Cancún. None of it. Make a bucket list of all the places you want to visit or sights you want to see, and do your damnedest to get it all done.
3. Talk to people. This probably sounds obvious, but more specifically, talk to a variety of people. I could not recommend befriending the other people from your country any more. I found my little group of Brits, and they have become some of my best friends. But don't limit yourself to your immediate group. Talk to the people from the country you're in. Talk to other people studying abroad! I've met a bunch of wonderful people from mainland Europe who will serve as wonderful reasons for future trips. Maybe most importantly, talk to your room mate. I only had a room mate for the first semester, and we never spoke. We just strangely co-existed, and it could get uncomfortable at times. I know I'm not the only one to blame - I put about as much effort into the could-have-been friendship as I got in return, which really wasn't very much at all. But hopefully you will have better luck than I did and if you do, definitely take advantage of it!
4. Say yes. This was something I struggled with sometimes. If my friends went to a party, or somewhere for the day, I didn't always say yes to joining them. I hate blaming things like this on anxiety, but when it comes down to it, I know that was the reason. I wish I'd been able to say yes to some of the things I missed out on. You never know - you could meet a friend for life at a party you decide not to go to. On the other hand, I'm very glad I said yes to all the ridiculous things I actually agreed to. If you're in a position to say yes and put yourself out there, I 100% recommend you do!
5. Promo. If you're on an exchange program, it's likely you'll be asked to talk about your home university at a study abroad fare/talk/event wherever you are. Alternatively, you could do some ground work like I did. After all, you never know who may be interested in studying abroad unless you start the conversation. As it turns out, one of the best friends I made in the U.S. wanted to do a year abroad, and I managed to convince him Swansea was the right place for him. So you never know - maybe you'll end up talking a friend into making one of the best decisions of their life, whilst feeling the benefits of one more year with them yourself. It's a win-win, really!
And that concludes my 5 Study Abroad Commandments. You don't have to listen - I'm not here to tell you how to live your life! Ultimately, you're embarking on this adventure to enrich your academic experience and to have fun. And as long as you do just that, I'll be happy for you!
And that concludes my 5 Study Abroad Commandments. You don't have to listen - I'm not here to tell you how to live your life! Ultimately, you're embarking on this adventure to enrich your academic experience and to have fun. And as long as you do just that, I'll be happy for you!
