While studying abroad will undoubtedly be fun and exciting, it can also be stressful and overwhelming at times. The work load, coupled with adjusting to living by yourself in a foreign country can be tough. Therefore, it’s important to make an effort to ensure that you still make time for having fun and enjoying the whole experience while you’re there.
Here are a few tips on how to have fun while studying abroad.
Step out of your comfort zone
One of the best parts about studying in a foreign country is the number of different people you’ll get the chance to meet. If you choose to pursue a degree in a cosmopolitan city such as London or Paris, you’ll get the chance to meet people from all over the world. Cities which are multicultural hubs offer students the chance to befriend individuals from every walk of life.
To make your study abroad experience memorable and enjoyable, step out of your comfort zone and meet new people! The friends you make during your study abroad experience will stay with you for the rest of your life. It’s also great to have a good group of friends with whom you can hang out and explore the city you’re living in.
Act Like a Local
If you’re going to be living in a particular country for an extended period of time, the best way to experience all that it has to offer is by starting to live and act like a local. After all, you’re not exactly a tourist are you?
During your time in your study abroad destination, you’ll get the chance to truly experience what life is like living in a foreign country. Depending on where you choose to go, this could be starkly different than what you’re used to. And that’s fantastic because it’s another opportunity for you to step out of your comfort zone and really grow as an individual.
Living and acting like a local entails knowing the quickest ways to get around town, shopping for groceries at local markets, and really understanding how the city and its locals think and behave.
Keep a Journal
During your time abroad, you’re going to be learning and experiencing so much within a relatively short period of time. By getting into the habit of keeping a journal, you can ensure that you remember every moment of your time abroad.
Keeping a journal is a fun way for you to reflect upon all of the ups and downs of the journey, the challenges you faced and how you overcame them, the people you met, funny anecdotes, mementos and keepsakes and so much more.
Think of your journal as your study abroad scrapbook. You’ll be documenting all the little details of the journey so that you can remember all that happened. This exercise is not only enjoyable; it also ensures that you can keep reliving all of the joys of your journey whenever you look back at it.
Explore a Whole New World
Living in a foreign country is great for people who love to explore. While studying abroad, you’ll get ample opportunities to visit many exciting places. Depending on where you choose to study, this could include everything from natural wonders, museums, monuments, historical sites, and so much more!
Do your research well before you leave and plan out where you want to go and the things you want to see. On your days off, you can take some time to explore the many unique sites that your host country has to offer. If you happen to make friends who are also interested in visiting the same places as you, even better! You’ll get to explore a new country with new friends and make fantastic memories along the way.
Go on a Culinary Adventure
One of the highlights of travelling anywhere is tasting all the delicious foods and cuisine that that country or city is known for. In fact, food is an integral part of the whole experience.
While studying abroad, you can literally go on a culinary adventure! Sample all the delicious foods that are loved by the locals, shop at local farmers markets, try things you’ve never eaten before, and maybe even learn to do some cooking!
The great thing about indulging in all of the foods of a foreign country is that you don’t necessarily need to take time out to do it. You can grab a bite to eat in between classes, go for drinks or coffee after class, or go for food at well-known restaurants.
Another fun thing to do while studying abroad is learning to make a few of the foods that that country/city is known for. You can enroll in a short cooking course or take lessons from local friends.
Document Your Journey
This is one of those experiences you never want to forget. Therefore, be ready to document every step of the way. In addition to keeping a journal, invest in a good quality camera and/or camcorder. Every time you go out, make sure you snap pictures of all of the sights, your friends, the food, etc. Whatever you feel like documenting, just take a picture and freeze that moment!
Pictures and videos are a great way to relive all the good times that you’ve had.
Learn a new language
Knowing more than one language is a huge asset. In fact, many employers often favor those applicants who are bilingual. In certain study abroad locations, your first language may not be the dominant language of the land.
This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn how to speak in a foreign language. Depending on how dedicated you are, you can enroll in language course at your university or college. The advantage of this is that you’ll be able to have a structured curriculum and then practice what you learn with native speakers.
On the other hand, you can also pick up the language by buying self-taught books/programs, or enlisting the help of a local friend.
Learning a new language is itself a very enjoyable process but it’s even more enjoyable when you can hear the language all around you and witness it being spoken by native speakers. This will help you pick up subtle nuances, strike conversations with locals, and gain more confidence in your speaking abilities in another language.
Studying abroad is an experience which everyone should try and have. In addition to earning your degree, you’ll get the chance to live in and explore all that a foreign country or city has to offer. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience and there are so many things which you can do while studying abroad which will make your time enjoyable. In fact, having fun is one of the many reasons that so many students opt to study abroad! And when you’re abroad, you’ll never be short of opportunities to have a good time.