I thought that I was relatively prepared for my study abroad experience in England, but there were still plenty of mistakes that I made, including not packing well and not getting a flu shot before traveling across the pond. To try and prevent you from making the same mistakes, I've included here ten tips that I believe can help those who are preparing to or who are studying abroad; some of them I had to learn the hard way. Studying abroad is an exciting and educational experience, but not preparing yourself fully can take away from that experience. So make sure you are ready by researching and reading about other peoples’ experiences, including mine!
Get Involved
While you’re studying at a new school, join groups or clubs to meet other students and local people, and explore the town or city in which you are studying. It’s important to get to know the area in which you are studying, and to not just travel constantly. In Exeter, I joined the University of Exeter swim club and went to a local CrossFit gym, and I met so many new people through both groups that made me feel more connected to where I was studying.
Take Advantage of Your Location
While you should get to know the place where you are studying, you should also take advantage of proximity to other places. Travel when you have the chance, especially if you are much closer to countries that you would otherwise be thousands of miles away from. Since I was in England for nearly four months, it was worth it to travel when I could. I got to go to Paris, France, San Sebastian, Spain, Dublin, Ireland, Copenhagen, Denmark, and I got to travel through a lot of England.
Do Your Research
Before studying abroad, make sure to research where you are going to get an idea of what will be different from your home, what sort of clothing you will need to bring depending on the time of year and climate of the country, what sort of traveling you may do, what sort of activities or groups you can join at the university, what things you should bring with you that may not be available wherever you are going, and what you can leave at home. You can never do too much research!
Explore Your Housing Options
Some universities, University of Exeter included, do not guarantee university-owned housing for students who are studying for only one semester. So, I had to find housing elsewhere. I ended up finding a place to stay through Airbnb, but the university also provided a webpage where landlords can list their property for rent, though the number of rentals was limited and most landlords preferred students who were studying for an entire year and would therefore rent for an entire year. It’s a good idea to get housing on the university’s campus, especially if you’re studying abroad alone because you’ll be in close proximity to other students.
Take Advantage of Public Transport
Walking is the best way to fully explore a city, but after walking for awhile, you’ll probably want to find a different way to get around. Most European cities offer some sort of public transportation, whether it’s just a bus system or buses as well as an underground system. I found that many cities also had some sort of scooter company (Lime seems to be the most common), which is a fun and different way to get around a city; you can get around faster than walking while still being able to see everything, rather than be stuck underground.
Travel Solo
Don’t be afraid to explore on your own, but always stay safe. Make sure that you let people know where you are traveling and keep in touch while you are traveling. Also, make sure that you are prepared and always conscious both of yourself and the people around you. During my reading week, I traveled to Paris by myself; it was scary in many ways, having to figure everything out by myself and walking the streets of such a big city alone, but I’m very happy that I did it.
Leave Space in Your Suitcase
Expect to bring home more than you bring with you! I had only a small amount of free space in the luggage that I brought with me, so I struggled packing everything to bring home. I was also unable to bring as many gifts home, as I would have liked because every piece of luggage was bursting at the seams.
Be Prepared for Unpredictable Weather
Weather can change quickly, from warm to chilly, from clear to rainy, so it’s smart to carry layers with you and to be prepared for changes in weather with items like umbrellas or rain jackets. It is better to be over-prepared than to be stuck in the rain!
Carry a Day-Pack
A day-pack or purse can be useful, especially because many stores charge for bags. They’re great for carrying a water bottle, carrying your layers, and carrying an umbrella (as noted, weather can be unpredictable), and carrying any small souvenirs you purchase. While traveling, I carried a medium-sized cross-body purse because when traveling through crowds, it’s a good idea to hold your valuables close to you as a precaution.
Think Before You Exchange Money
If you can, wait to exchange money outside of the airport. Airports typically charge a high amount for money exchanges (as I experienced in both Heathrow and Charles De Gaulle). It’s best to go to post offices or banks to exchange currencies.
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