1. What’s What you need to know before going abroad.

What’s What you need to know before going abroad.

If you were thinking of pursuing a study year in a foreign country, I would highly recommend it as I speak from personal experiences. I have spent 9 months in the United States and I am now currently living in Taiwan for period of 11 months. Both of my experiences abroad have been an amazing and unforgettable time. I became better in to understand the world, cultures and people after having lived abroad. Being given the opportunity to study abroad is an once in a lifetime chance. Yes, it will take you a lot of preparation beforehand, but that should not stop you from going. I would therefore like to provide you with some useful tips when making the preparations for going abroad.

_{First, you should thoroughly consider if studying abroad is an experience that suits you personally. Are you are a person who likes to travel, experience new cultures and meet a lot of new people? Or are you someone who is easily homesick? Also, if you want to study abroad you should have enough financial aid to travel and participate in student activities and traveling through your city. Being abroad is fun, but it is a lot less worth going if you cannot afford to go sightsee, travel or participate in activities with your fellow students.}

_{So, If you have considered the multiple factors that I mentioned above and had no problems with any of them, we can go to the next step: choosing where you want to go!}

_{Have you always wanted to experience the ‘American dream’ or the beautiful country ‘down under’ has put a spell on you? Or do you maybe prefer a country, which is closer located near your home country? Other factors you should take in consideration when you are deciding where to go are: culture, life expenses, language and sometimes safety.}

_{After you have decided where you would like to go, you need to collect information about the country and its requirements of living there as a foreigner. Here are some requirements you should think about:}

• _{Do you need a visa? What kind of visa do you need? How long does the process take?}
• _{Do you need to get vaccines for traveling? Which one(s)?}
• _{Do you need a personal life insurance or does your university takes care of it?}

_{Another action that is smart to take, but not necessary, is to cancel or change your mobile phone subscription to have fewer costs when you are abroad. Maybe you will even get a new phone number in the country. That is all up to you personally.}

_{Next: a place to stay. You need to provide yourself with a resident. Will you be staying in a dormitory? Or in an apartment? Normally, if you stay in a dormitory everything will be taken care of when you will arrive at the campus. But for an apartment there is more preparation needed.}

_{When you have done with the preparation that I mentioned above, you have done almost everything that could be done. Still, you could take some small action, which would make your arrival even more comfortable. What you could do is to join an international media site, such like Facebook pages of the university, where you can make contact with students who are in the same position as you are. Going abroad all by yourself can be scary sometimes, so by making new connections will help you to feel less nervous when you will arrive there alone.} 

_{Now the only thing you need to do is to buy that plane ticket and be on your way}. _{A study year abroad is the best time a student can have and it will benefit you in the future as well as having lived abroad is a good asset for you resume!}

LETS FLY, FLY AWAY!