Seven months, 15 countries and two study abroad programs later, I’m looking forward to coming back for a long-term stay in the USA. After a blissful summer in Chiang Mai, Thailand and the following Fall semester in Prague, Czech Republic (I know, I’m the luckiest girl in the world), I think it’s safe to consider myself somewhat of a study abroad expert. As my time in Prague comes to a close, I’d like to share the wisdom I’ve accumulated to make your study abroad as successful as possible.
School
It’s called study abroad for a reason; you (unfortunately) really do need to study. As a Procrastinator Queen myself, trust me on this: Don’t put your homework off. If you postpone doing work until right before exams, you’ll be glued to your desk all week and miss out on adventures your friends are taking while you frantically cram. Spending every second with new friends and exploring the city can be tempting, but instead of doing last-minute studying, combine school and your social life. Find your favorite artsy cafe or study nook in town and get some studying done over a cup of coffee with friends.
Social
Make as many friends as possible right off the bat. Give it a few weeks to find the crowd you connect and have the most fun with, and don’t worry if you don’t automatically fall in with a group right away. If you are having a tough time making friends, join a group in going out one night, plan study dates with classmates or see what weekend trips people in your program are planning, and try to go with them. However, remember to spend some time alone. Explore the city on your own one day or take the evening off and journal. Studying abroad makes life-long friendships, but it’s also a very personal experience.
Travel
Cram as much traveling in as you can. If money’s an issue, travel locally by bus or train to a nearby city or just roam around your own town. Avoid going out of town every weekend though. Spend a good chunk of your time abroad in your host city. You should get to know your own city pretty well—it’s your home away from home for a few months after all.
Money
It’s hard to save cash while simultaneously exploring your host city, country or even continent as much as possible. Try to be as thrifty as you can and use cheaper airlines, trains or bus companies for transportation and stay in hostels or airbnbs while traveling. In your host city, the main way to limit spending is to not go out for food or drinks. Restaurant and bar bills add up, so smart shopping at the grocery will rescue you from racking up excess debt. To read more money-saving tips while abroad, check out this article.
Packing
Pack light. Yeah, packing for a four-month or more trip can be a small challenge—okay, fine, it’s a really (really) big challenge— but you’ve got to resist the urge to bring your entire closet. Limit your clothes quota to only two or three week’s worth. You’ll regret stuffing your suitcase(s) to the brim, not only when you have to haul your luggage step-by-step up four flights of stairs to your apartment, but also when repacking and finding you have no room for all the stuff you bought.
My advice would be to bring only one suitcase with a bit of space left at the top, a duffle bag or carry-on, a large backpack and one or two purses. This way, you’ll definitely have space for souvenirs and won’t need to worry about shipping things home or buying a new bag to fit everything.
Culture Shock
Things will not go exactly as you imagined. Don’t expect to arrive abroad and have everything work out perfectly. You will get lost, people will be rude to you and your phone might break (mine fell in the toilet my second week in Prague). You won’t be in America anymore. You (probably) won’t be able to call your parents and have them help you.
You will most likely experience culture shock, and it might be a hard process to get through. Everyone experiences it differently. To adjust as painlessly as possible, I recommend not only exploring your new city to get the hang of the customs, but also disconnecting from home a little bit. Staying constantly connected with friends and family from back home won’t help you acclimate to your new home for the next few months; it will just make you more homesick. So get off Facebook and be present where you are!