Countdown to Study Abroad: To-Do List

By Danni White on October 18, 2016

Acclaimed novelist Pat Conroy once said, “Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.”

Your semester-long or yearlong adventure in another country will be nothing short of exciting. Indeed, you will learn about history and culture, try new foods, learn a new language, meet new people, make new friends, and above all realize that the world is a much bigger, more interesting place than we often imagine it to be.

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But still jumping out of your comfort zone to parts unknown can be a little daunting, even nerve-wracking. And it’s an unfortunate reality that you could do something a little strange like heading to the airport without your passport or packing warm clothes for a mid-year trip to South Africa.

While you want to avoid these simple missteps, other details can become a major problem once you land in your new country. For example, the banking situation might be different and your credit card might not work the same way at an ATM. Or paying for lunch may become a little more overwhelming because you can’t understand the language too well.

Good thing we’re here to give you a little advice and some tips on how to ensure your time abroad is a piece of cake.

Educate yourself.

Spend some time reading up on the place you want to go. You can find out a good deal of information on the State Department’s travel website. They offer up to date alerts and need to know facts about nearly every country in the world. Also, you can read local newspapers, advice columns from seasoned travelers, and maybe even talk to one or two people who have already graced the country.

Use apps.

This is especially important if you’re traveling with friends and have to split the funds for tours, hotel stays, and food. Using apps such as PayPal, Dwolla, Splitwise, and Skype, Converter Plus can be very helpful when you have to repay friends for meals or other travel expenses. Be sure to set these up well before you go because many of them require banking information.

Pay attention to the end of class assignments.

So let’s say that you’re ending the spring semester and you’re anticipating traveling during the summer term. The butterflies might be churning on the inside not because you’re nervous but because you’re super excited to try something new. Don’t leave your school work hanging. Be sure to not let your excitement cause you to miss end of term assignments and make a bad grade.

Say goodbye to your family and friends.

Well, first let your family and friends know of your intentions to go away for a few weeks or months. And then let them know you’re not going away forever. Of course, if your parents or other relatives are overprotective, they will probably pretend that it’s the end of the world. But life will roll on and they will eventually get used to you being away for at least a short while.

Remember you can keep up with them on Skype or FaceTime (providing the Wi-Fi is strong enough at your destination). And you’ll also have memories to share when you return.

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Get your passport and copy it twice.

When you leave home don’t forget your passport. It is your pass to any port in the world. Copy, scan, and print your passport. Send a copy to your email or upload it to Google drive or put it on a thumb drive. That way if you lose your passport (horror stories here) you will be able to go to a library or internet cafe to print it out.

Understand your phone.

We’d like to think we know our way around our cellphones. But be aware of any extra usage charges that may occur from being in another country. Check with your cellphone provider before heading out to understand all charges. If you can afford to, purchase a second cellphone in your destination country.

Dress smart. 

It might be safe to dress cutely while on campus or for a night on the town, but when in another country, it’s important to blend in to the culture and dress in a manner so as not to bring attention to yourself or any covetable assets you may have. Leave a lot of your bling and fancy stuff at home. You don’t want to make yourself a target for robbers and vandals.

Learn the language.

Okay, so you won’t learn an entire language in a short space of time (unless you’re likely to be a German college major) but you can at least spend a little time learning the common lingo so you can communicate upon arrival. But one of the best ways to actually learn a language is to head to the country and learn as you go.

Pack.

Take what you need but don’t take everything. That’s a basic rule to follow. Of course if you’re taking a plane, you can only have so much luggage with you. Family and friends may be able to send you things as you need them or you can just pick them up at your destination. If you think it’ll be hard to find, take it with you. It’ll save you the headache of having to find basic necessities in foreign countries.

It has been said, “Only those who risk going too far know how far they can go.” That’s kind of true. Stepping out of your country into another country is a lot like stepping out of your comfort zone into the unknown. But the more you know before you go, the better you’ll feel about getting there.

Happy travels!

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