Hi everyone and here we go again. While it’s getting colder and darker outside, we are smoothly entering our final week of study here at Drexel and slowly getting ready for crazy finals and the holiday seasons. Besides, this is my last blog about the exchange and, as it should be, I want to sum it up and say some final words.
I could go over numerous aspects of my exchange life that I have been experiencing here while telling you my thoughts and memories. But I did pretty much the same thing in my first 9 blogs, and I believe that you are more interested in the answer to one particular question: “Is it worth it?”. And I’m going to try to describe you the process and criteria that will help you answer this question either about the US or other countries.
First and foremost, you should identify the goal of your exchange. Justifying your exchange to the US because “c’mon it’s America” or to Italy because “c’mon it’s Italians and Aperol Spritz” may seem fun, but believe me in the long run it might cost you that cool experience that you want to get. You should go deeply in reasoning why you want to explore that particular country and this will give you the first important step to reach your desired experience. For example, my main reason to come to the US is the fact that I have experienced the EU a lot and I have been living, studying and working there for 2 years. I made my pros and cons table for that region and the US, as another big spot which attracts investment, opportunity and people, was still unclear for me and I was interested in exploring local systems and lifestyles.
Secondly, it’s a broad planning. When you understand your goals and identify your country, you should try your best to look up everything about your destination in the connection with your goals. So, if you want to spend a lot of time studying while working a part-time job, look up the legal basis for it, look up places where you want to study and carefully go through syllabuses. If you want to spend chill time partying, look up the places and the legal basis of drinking age for example. Whatever goal you have, look up if it is possible to make it come true in the way you want it in your exchange country. And of course, don’t forget about general analysis of finances. Starting from essential stuff like accommodation and insurance, and finishing with small details like places and prices for coffee that you like to drink. Again, it will help you to estimate your budget and as a result your lifestyle limitations or changes for the exchange semester.
And thirdly, be ready and open for dramatic challenges, difficulties and unreached expectations. In despite of the level of your preparations and your personality, moving to another country will always have the mix of these three and whether they will be positive or negative for you depends only on you. You should tell yourself that cool exchange experiences won’t run into you just because you physically appeared in another country. To find them you should be super proactive, search for opportunities, go and talk to people, be open to take something that doesn’t work the way it used to be for you. And you should be ready to face the reality that can be different from which you imagined. It won’t be enjoyable and easy all the time for sure, but if you have enough courage and desire to keep pushing, you will not only gain a cool experience, you will became a better version of yourself! In my case, it was my second big move to another country and it was muuuuch more smoother then the first one in any possible terms. At this point I can only wish you luck to have nice people around you and strength to keep on going no matter what.
That is all from me, guys. I wish you to stay safe in our complex and sometimes cruel world, never give up and choose happiness. Thank you for reading my “masterpieces” and happy holidays! Ciao!