Top 5 Challenges of Studying Abroad
Feeling like an outsider
No matter where you are from or where you are going, it is nearly a given that you will experience feelings of being an outsider occasionally. You might wonder why your espresso always seems to be more expensive than that of the locals or why everyone is laughing while you weren’t aware that anyone had cracked a joke. Even though it’s uncommon to be made to feel unwelcome or uncomfortable on purpose in most nations, trying to adjust to new cultural standards might be challenging at first. Don’t let this get to you.
Overcoming the language barrier
This is most likely the obvious difficulty with studying abroad. Overcoming a language barrier could involve starting from scratch to learn a new language or it might simply involve believing you were fluent but finding it difficult to grasp the strong local accent. There are always obstacles to overcome even if you are studying in a place where your languages are similar. For instance, trendy or popular slang will sound weird. Therefore, it will be challenging to acquire the vocabulary that kids use, but as you become involved, the language barrier issue also disappears quite quickly.
Getting used to currency differences
It can be difficult to adjust to currency variations. Work out a rapid conversion technique for yourself so you can mentally calculate prices when buying stuff. Currency disparities are one of those factors that don’t really hurt if you are only visiting for a short time, but do have a huge impact if you are staying for a semester or more, like most of the difficulties of studying abroad.
Being far from your support network
This difficulty is probably going to be felt most acutely during the first few months of studying abroad. However, in a year or so, you will develop a new support system, and everything will be OK.
Coping with cultural misunderstanding
As a visitor, you are unfamiliar with the customs and traditions of your host country as well as all of its unwritten laws (though hopefully you have some idea of what they are). Let’s be clear about one thing: you will make mistakes, some of which may be unpleasant. Be confident; avoid repeating cultural misunderstandings by learning from them. Again, after a year or so, you will become familiar with all of these tiny unwritten agreements.
One illustration is the pressure you should use during a handshake; this varies greatly from nation to nation. In the US, it’s traditional to shake hands firmly but not painfully. A person can come out as weak if their handshake isn’t bone-crushing. The same is not true in many regions of Europe or Asia, where a vice-like handshake might come across as impolite or obnoxious.
Paying attention to what and how other people do their things might help you steer clear of many cultural misunderstandings. If you’re unsure, just ask! The majority of individuals will be delighted to discuss their traditions with you and to impart their intimate knowledge.
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