10 tips for students who are considering studying aboard, from my personal experience.

1. Be ready to adult. You should be able to do your laundry and dishes in a timely manner. Do not leave it to tomorrow. This is generally a good habit, but it is especially good to be responsible when abroad, whether you are in an apartment or with host family. It is polite and makes a good impression of your country.
2. Have money. Beyond the costs of plane tickets, your classes, home stay or rent and other program costs, there are other costs to consider, but are much harder to budget for because these are irregular costs. Your program costs a set amount and things like groceries are predicable. What’s unpredictable are how much you eat at a restaurant, buy drinks, and buy souvenirs. You are unlikely to follow your home habits on these items. To deal with these irregular costs, and to protect you against situations where you cannot use your debit or credit card, I suggest you have enough cash for a few days’ spending with you. If you find yourself without money, ask your study abroad program to help you.
3. Know the laws of your country. For example, there are some medications are legal in some countries, but not others. 18-yearolds can drink in a lot of countries but not all.
4. Know your limits. Yes, you are in a new country and should explore it and try new things, lean into the uncomfortable, but keep some boundaries. You can never guarantee your safety, but before doing something ask is it reasonably safe? If you don’t want to go out every night, then don’t. I would not suggest getting so drunk you don’t remember things or you black out. Some people do, but that’s not reasonably safe. Don’t do something because someone says it’s fun—do it because you want to or because you’re willing to try it.
5. If you’re going to a country where you don’t speak the language, before you leave learn a few words. I personally suggest knowing the name of your country where you live, the country where you’re going, and the language you speak. You can find list of “emergency” words like help, sorry, I don’t speak the language, please, thank you. Those are good to know. I would also look up the names of foods you’re allergic to or won’t eat.
6. Be prepared to study in different culture and in a different place. Learning the language is good, but it is also good to learn about other differences. What season is it? What temperature and what weather are. I studied in a place much closer to the equator than where I live. Even though it is winter there, to me it felt like a humid late spring, so I didn’t bring my winter clothes. Also, know what’s rude and what’s polite.
7. Be prepared for an emergency. Go through some emergency situations and what you would do. Here’s one: you are walking nearby the beach when you slip. You break your leg and as you fall your phone, money, and id cards fall into the ocean and get lost. Now you need to get a hospital, but no one will help you. What do you do? This may seem a little extreme but preparing for the worst will help you get through bad or scary situations that are more likely to happen.
8. Whatever your habits are normally, be extra precautions abroad. Always tell someone where you’re going. Not so someone can stalk you, but it is a necessary safety precaution. See above.
9. Try to fit in, appear as a local. This way you learn more and get better treatment. If people think you are a local, you will have an easier time having conversations with people, learning the culture. Also, I think you get better service at places. A local is more likely to come back, and be polite, so it is better to do your best to blend in.
10. Keep in contact, but not up to date. When traveling it is advisable to tell others about your plans, but also to take a break from social media. It is good for your mental health to take a break from social media and may help with homesickness or fomo because you will not be able to see your friends and family. Don’t worry yourself with what you could have been doing, have fun where you are. It’s good to keep in touch but leave tales to tell mostly for when get back, it is so much more exiting to tell it in person. A final reason not to be constantly posting on social media is to avoid jealousy from other people who were not on your awesome adventure. Leave everyone waiting, come home with new stories share.

Those are my top tips. Some may seem obvious, but they are all good to remember. Studying and traveling abroad are awesome experiences, and it’s good to be prepared.