Abroad Survival Tips - Your First Two Weeks

In my last blog, I explored some things I wished I knew before I went abroad. And believe me, I wish I knew some of them.

But let’s take a breather. You took your five hour, ten hour, fifteen hour (in my case) flight and you’re there. The air smells… different. You won’t expect that, but it is fresh, new, exciting, and honestly a bit scary.

The people (probably) speak a language that you don’t (or maybe you do if you followed the tips from my last post!)

So what now? The fun part!

Part of the study abroad experience is simply throwing yourself in the deep end - getting comfortable being uncomfortable. And you’ll be adjusting and uncomfortable for a good few weeks, so let’s go over some ways you can adjust, mitigate homesickness, and set yourself up for an amazing trip abroad!

Money, money, money! If you’re in dire need of cash in the opening days of your trip abroad, please don’t use the currency exchange at the airport or near more touristy areas. The exchange rates will be astronomical. This kind of ties into my last blog as well. Prepare ahead of time by bringing cash in the currency of the country you’re going to ahead of time. You can do this at any larger bank that you may use. If not, make sure to dig into nearby locations where you can get foreign currency.

Familiarize yourself with the local customs and “flow.” My first day in Japan, I used the train, and let me tell you; my experience just getting through the station was a nightmare. Luckily I had a very nice Japanese businessman help me out with getting through the turnstiles and even finding the correct train. I really just want to emphasize getting out there and making mistakes. Get the lay of the land around you as soon as possible because it’ll pay off in the long run.

The road leading up to my host university: KGU

Get some good food! Not only will you have to acclimate to the local cuisine, but make sure you eat well! Those first days and weeks will be very busy and hectic. Traveling, jet lag, getting used to a new country, orientations, moving in to your new housing. It’s a lot. You’ll be very busy and food will probably be one of the last things you worry about, but go out of your way to take the time to enjoy a good meal. You’ll not only get to experience new, great cuisine, but you’ll be fueling yourself for the things you need to get done!

Japanese-Indian fusion dinner set! Make sure you're eating good!

Get out there! Yes, you’ll be very busy those first few weeks, but go out on the weekends! Try to meet new people, make international and local friends to hang out with. Even if you are going on a program that has a lot of USC students going with you, part of the fun of going abroad is getting out of your comfort zone, and for me, that meant making tons of new friends from different places! Just know that it is worth it every day of the week. From the international friends I made through my classes to the Japanese friends I made by playing on my school’s rugby team, there were a lot of great opportunities to meet new people. Take advantage of them!

Start a journal! It could be as simple as the notes app on your phone or even a dedicated pen and paper journal you bring with you. Start from day one and write a little something every day! What you did, what you enjoyed, where you want to go, who you met, etc. There are so many cool things that you’re going to do that might feel huge at the time, but you’ll forget them months later. Writing down all the cool things you did, taking pictures, and journaling your time abroad is an excellent idea. I often read through my journal of my time in Japan and am transported back to such fond memories. It puts a smile on my face every time.

There are countless things I can tell you to do in the first weeks of your time abroad, but it really boils down to your situation and what you want to get done in your first weeks. There is so much to do and many things that need to be done. Make sure you pace yourself and set that foundation for your time abroad!

The more things you do in your first weeks (like the items I listed above), the easier it will be for you to acclimate to the country you’re in! In the next blog, well talked more about weeks three through seven (roughly). Still the beginning of your time abroad, but certainly a time where there are plenty of things to do. There is plenty of advice to be given! Keep an eye out!