After looking back at my study abroad experience, there are a few things I wish I has done differently or changed. Firstly, I would have done more research on Ireland before I got there. I think it is important to understand the culture and history of wherever you study. Since, it will help you adapt to the new environment faster and lessen your culture shock. For example, in Ireland there is a strong religious presence, which I did not fully understand before going there.
Secondly, I wish I budgeted better. Budgeting for things like weekend travel, food, and activities, can be very hard. It is hard to know what things will cost there, and how many unexpected costs there will be. I recommend saving money before you leave, and budgeting for the exchange rate. Also, since your there to study and travel, you don’t want to be stressed out about finances.
Lastly, I definitely underestimated what it is like to live in a different time zone. It was very hard at first to adjust my sleep schedule, so for the first few weeks I was not getting much sleep. Also, it makes it harder to speak to your friends and family back home. This increase my homesickness a lot but got better as I went along. Time difference is a very big thing to adapt to, and I would consider it before you go abroad.
Overall, I learned most things about study abroad from actually being there. It is hard to completely be prepared for everything and just expect that certain things will go wrong. It is very important to be adaptable and flexible!
In addition, I found useful study abroad tips on TikTok and from chatting with friends who have gone through it!