Top Mistakes People Make Studying Abroad

Studying abroad is an incredible experience, but it doesn’t last forever – that’s why it’s important to make the most of it! In the past, I’ve studied abroad in three different countries and I’ve met hundreds of exchange students - here are some of their top regrets, issues, and mistakes, so you can avoid them!  

1. Spending too much time at home and not making use of time

Whether you’re studying abroad for the summer, a semester, or a full year, time goes quickly.   Get out of the house and explore - in your last week, you don’t want to feel like you’ve wasted any time!  When you arrive in your new city, make sure to take time from day one to explore, meet people, and try new things.  It can be helpful to make a list of things that you want to do in your city, so that you know what to do on your free days.  It’s important to spend time to rest and take care of your health too, so make sure you’re keeping a balance.

2. Talking too much to people at home

As our world becomes more interconnected, it is easy to spend time scrolling on social media and feel like you’re missing out on the lives of your friends and family back home.  This can really hold some people back from enjoying their year fully - in your first few months especially, it is important to limit conversations with people in your home country.  Spending too much time talking with your friends and family back home can make it harder to adjust, and takes away from the time you could be spending making new memories abroad!

3. Not learning the language

Not knowing the language of your new country makes everything in your study abroad more difficult, whether it’s getting a taxi, ordering food, or making new friends.  While it can be hard to prioritize language learning, any effort you make learning the language will be time well-spent.  A new language is something valuable to take back with you home (that doesn’t add to your suitcase weight!)  We recently published a list of tips to learn a new language, so check it out if you’re learning a new language!

4. Spending too much time with people from your own country

It’s very easy to want to spend time with the other study abroad students from your home country when you’re abroad - they remind you of home, you have a lot in common, and you get to use your home language.  You should absolutely have these friendships, as they can be amazing life-long friends. However, you’re missing out on a valuable part of your study abroad if you don’t attempt to make any friends from the country you’re studying abroad in - locals can show you new bars/spots, you can practice your foreign language, and you learn more about the culture.  Once your study abroad ends, you always want to have local friends so that you have a reason to visit your host-city in the future!

5. Packing too much

Frequently, I hear of students packing too many things (specifically clothes) that they don’t use and ultimately have to leave in their foreign country when it is time to go home.  If you’re like me and have a shopping addiction, make sure to pack light for your study abroad.  I always pack basics (t-shirts, jeans, pants) that I can mix and match with the items I buy abroad.  I usually need to purchase a new suitcase to bring home my purchases abroad, so I am always thankful I packed light when arriving!

6. Not respecting and getting to know your host family or roommates

This issue doesn’t apply to people living alone during their study abroad, but it is very important if you aren’t.  If you’re studying abroad and choose to live with a host family, make sure that you are respecting their rules and taking the effort to spend time with them - you don’t want them to feel like you’re treating them like an AirBnB!  The same goes for people who choose to live with roommates - respect their space, learn the house rules, get to know them, and take the time to share your culture with them!  Cooking food (or sharing alcohol) from your home country for your host family or roommates can be a great way to build a relationship.  Since I’m from the United States, I always share a bottle of Fireball with any new roommates! Not getting to know your host family or roommates is a missed opportunity, and not respecting them can create lots of arguments and issues. 

7. Being too hard on yourself

Moving to a foreign country is a huge step, and presents itself with lots of challenges: making friends, learning the language, adjusting to a new culture, and more.  You should give yourself credit - you’re doing great, even if you don’t think you are!  It’s important to keep a positive mindset and not be too hard on yourself if things don’t go your way.  Remember that struggling is a part of the journey.  It can be helpful to attend Well-being & Mentoring workshops, meditate, and talk with other study abroad students or expats that may be facing the same problems.

8. Being quick to judge cultural differences

It is easy to judge the cultural differences and compare them to your home country, but it’s important to remember that your host-country is not wrong, just different.  Instead of judging, try to understand the reason behind why the people are doing things differently.  Adapting this mindset will help you keep a positive attitude, better understand the culture, and avoid making cultural mistakes!  Doing research on cultural differences between your home country and host country can help you know what to expect.

9. Staying in your comfort zone

Now that you’ve moved abroad, it’s not the time to stay in your comfort zone! A phrase that a lot of study abroad students live by is “say yes to everything” and I think this is a great way to live.  Whether it’s trying a new food, visiting a new city, or meeting a new group of friends, it’s worth saying yes to new opportunities and seeing what happens!  A friend asked me recently to hike up a mountain (which I’m not a fan of normally) but I met two of my best friends in the hiking group - you never know what will happen when you say yes!

10. Not managing expenses

A study abroad student’s nightmare is running out of money, so make sure to be aware of how much money you’re spending!  An important part of this is making sure that you choose the right housing accommodation that fits your needs and your budget.  If possible, try to set a budget so that you can stay on track for the duration of your stay, especially if you aren’t making money abroad.  I personally set a daily budget based on what I expected to spend overall during my stay - I loosely followed it to make sure I wasn’t consistently going over-budget.

11. Does the move abroad seem stressful? The NedLon can help! 

The Ned Lon is a relocation and concierge service that can help you with the complicated logistics of moving abroad, such as helping you find the right housing accommodation, arranging transport for weekend trips, and helping you move in.  We also offer well-being and mentoring services, to provide you with support throughout your journey.  Learn more about our services to see if we can help!