Things I wish I had known before studying abroad

Krishang Nair, ‘25,  is a Behavioral Economics major studying at UNSW Sydney this Fall 2023. 

I think of studying abroad as a side quest, a break from the main story where the hero goes through some important character development. Development that will allow them to tackle their problems better than they previously could. During my time in Sydney, I have learned a lot about myself, this city, and what I would do differently had I the chance to do it all again. If you are just thinking about studying abroad or halfway through the process, here are a couple of things I wish I had known before studying abroad so you can learn from some of my little mistakes and make the most of your experience. 

1. If you are a solo traveler, put yourself out there

I’ve noticed a very common occurrence among study abroad students throughout my time in Sydney, and that is those who visit from abroad *mostly* hang out with the people they arrived alongside. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, and obviously, there are exceptions, however, for the most part, American students stick together, as do students from France, Denmark, Germany, and more. While there is an element of comfort in familiarity, you may end up missing out on meeting new people with different cultures and backgrounds. And for all my introverted solo travelers, I know approaching new people raises the heart rate, and you may even question yourself as you do it, but taking the first step is the hardest part. To have the best experience you can, talk to as many people as you can, and when you are invited out, GO. You might just end up meeting some cool people. 

2. Use your first couple of weeks to set up your basics

As soon as you arrive at your destination, it will inevitably take you a while to feel more comfortable in your new location. But to accelerate that process, run all the tedious errands in the first few weeks. By “tedious errands” I mean setting up your local phone number, setting up a temporary bank account, activating your insurance, and more. I understand that this is the last thing you want to do as soon as you arrive. The initial excitement is going to make you want to see the sites, meet people, and take a little break. It was a long journey after all right? The problem here only arises if your little break takes longer than you planned. Without a phone number and a data plan, your phone is pretty much useless in areas without wifi, so I recommend doing that first. Most of us can’t live with our phones, so don’t put yourself in that situation if you can avoid it. Activating your insurance is the next big thing you must do. For many of you, it may already be activated but regardless, it is a good idea to check. Contact your provider to learn exactly how you can activate your plan. Lastly, research banks that cater to study abroad students in the form of temporary bank accounts and set one up if you need it. Like I said, these errands are tedious, but very necessary, and after that you can begin settling in.

3. Don’t get upset if you haven’t acclimated as fast as others

Once you arrive at a new region of the world, there are significant culture shocks that will take place. Whether it is running into people when walking on the wrong side of the path, or a difficulty understanding the language or accent, increased exposure is the key. Everyone acclimates to new surroundings at a different pace and it is easy to be hard on yourself when wondering why it’s taking you so long. However, it is important to stop comparing yourself to those who came with you and the locals around you. Comparing like that will only lead to you feeling a bit distraught and if you can avoid that feeling, then you definitely should. I have been in Sydney for nearly three months now and I am just starting to feel like I belong here with an active social circle and a daily routine. Starting over takes time, so give yourself the benefit of the doubt!

4. Time flies, so try to explore something new every day

Now this is a tough one. Believe me, there will be days when you have no energy to do anything, and your social battery has hit low-power mode, desperately needing a recharge. Exploring something new that day is going to feel more tedious than fun, so perhaps take it easy that day. However, don’t just sit around for weeks, because before you know it, you’ll have like twenty things you want to do before you leave and not enough time to do all of it. So on days when you have time and ample energy, explore that cliff you’ve been wanting to see (maybe from a distance), go to that museum, visit that beach, and most importantly, take a moment and taste the air. That may sound a little wacky, but coastal air tastes different compared to city air, I can guarantee that the air won’t taste like that back home.

5. Make genuine connections with those around you

This one goes hand-in-hand with my first point to put yourself out there. When you meet people you like and want to be around, whether it’s around the university, in class, or even at get-togethers, take the time to get to know them. Have deep conversations. Making new friends is something people forget how to do as they grow up, and if you think of the people you are closest to now, you have a genuine connection with them that keeps drawing you back. Establishing those connections is not easy, but making an effort is. Most people continue to be open-minded when it comes to meeting new people so approaching someone will probably go a lot better than you pictured. 

At the end of your side quest, you’ll want to compare yourself to who you were prior to leaving home. Will you have grown as a person? Will you have made new friends? Are you ready to head on back into the main storyline? They say only time will tell, but I think you’ll go back stronger.