Studying abroad can be a little overwhelming, just like moving to uni for the first time, so here’s a few ideas that you should bear in mind to get the most out of your time abroad.
Learn the language
This is a golden opportunity to immerse yourself in a new language. Even if you travel to a country where English is the dominant language, there will be lots of unique phrases. Try to pick up a few of these, if only to confuse your friends.
Travel further afield
If you’ve decided to study abroad, it’s rare that you’ll be on another somewhat isolated island; use this opportunity to travel to other surrounding countries.
Buy Monopoly
Not only are board games great for getting to know people, regional variants of monopoly make a great souvenir or memento of your time spend abroad.
Actually study
Remember that whilst a large part of studying abroad is taking in the culture and the atmosphere, you still have exams and other assessments to pass, so make sure that you study and use the extra opportunities available to you.
Stay in touch
Phoning home is expensive, but don’t let that put you off communicating with family and friends back home; use Facebook and Twitter to stay in contact with your mates and introduce your family to Skype before you leave. This will help you keep in touch and keep you from feeling too homesick whilst also saving money.
Local cuisine
Make a point to try as many new dishes as possible and maybe bring some recipes back home with you to impress your family with a local dish.
Budget effectively
Whilst studying abroad you’ll need to be really careful with how you spend your money, especially if you want to experience as much of the country as possible. Try to draw up a budget plan and stick to it.
Use a prepaid card
The charges for using your bank card abroad can be expensive, so avoid the fees and invest in either a prepaid card or set up a foreign bank account; it’s worth it in the long run.
Endsleigh, the specialist student insurance provider, offers a range of products suitable for students studying abroad – including low cost insurance and prepaid travel cards. For more information or to get a quote, visit their website.