2006-06-22 05:36:57 · 20 answers · asked by Ola C 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Studying Abroad
Take it easy pal. If you have a sport that you play, then it will prove easy for you to get into a game to play and that way connect with playmates. Secondly, if you do not think about these cultural differences, then they will scare you less. Where you find yourself doing anything different from others, do not get awed, but find reason to chuckle about it, coz we are all different people. Go get your qualification and broaden your experience dear.
2006-06-22 05:48:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I spent a semester in college in Spain. The program through my school paired me with a roommate from my school and I was actually attending class with 30 Penn State Students.
However, I found that when I hung out with my classmates all we did was speak English and that's not what I was there for. So I made friends with a group of people my age who lived in the town I was studying in. I went out with them in the evenings, went on picnics on the weekend and really got to experience the local culture through them. I found it to be a much more rewarding experience.
when you go to study abroad, it's not forever - it's for a defined period of time. So when you get homesick you know you have a date to look forward to go home. It's an exciting opportunity to make friends and learn new things. Those cultural differences are exciting and are the reason you should be going over.
Before you go, read a travel book or two and take a class about the place you are going. This will help you learn some of the things you can expect. Most study abroad programs have a network of people who will support you while you are overseas and will give you advice on how to prepare and what to expect.
I spent 10 weeks in Venezuela when I was 16 and 4 months in Spain when I was 21 and I have absolutely no regrets about doing it. Those expriences helped change my life and have influenced me in ways I never expected.
With today's technology - a calling card is not as expensive as it used to be. Include a weekly call home into your travel budget. Also plan a little reserve in your budget so if you suddenly have an opportunity to take a bus trip for a weekend to somewhere interesting you can do it without stressing about the cash.
It's the experience of a lifetime. Go for it!
2006-06-22 05:45:30 · answer #2 · answered by Tamborine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your fear is natural and not unfounded. Fear keeps your ego in check. The fearless are often the foolish.
However, consider your purpose for "studying", be it here or there:
To learn.
Consider: before you learn about anything, it is virtually unknown to you, yes?
The same principle can be applied to your fear of different culture and loneliness- you're going to learn about the culture, and you're going to learn to make new friends.
A true student invites all opportunities to learn about everything.
Always remember patience- some things take a little longer to learn than others. You won't assimilate overnight, just as you won't become a brain surgeon overnight.
If you are patient and focused, you will learn everything you need to overcome your fear!
How amazing would it be to return from your experience and have learned a new language? A new culture? Your actual "studies" may take a backseat to everything else you learned while away!
2006-06-22 05:38:48 · answer #3 · answered by the_dude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi,
Am glade i saw your question. I left my home country when i was 16 years old and lived in kenya, Burma, Italy and currently am in the US. the first time i left it was scarry because people spoke a diffrent language, ate strange food, and overall i was an outsider. However, after 6 months i used my diffrences to my advantage. I got to learn so much and also teach bout my culture. The greatest feeling in the world is when you leave your country for the first time. Don't be scared, there's nothing scary unless your going to iraq or something. You'll get used to it. homesickness doesnt last for more than 2-3 months tops. Take the chance and travel.
Have fun and be positive
2006-06-22 05:42:29 · answer #4 · answered by yl_dooper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did it 10 years ago and still haven't come back!
Well worth it!
You will meet new people, have new experiences, your life will become richer.
It was hard the first year (I was missing the little things that made my home country so special), but I met other people in my situation, international students and that is the best, having so many friends from all around the world.
Now I work in an international department and would never trade what I have for anything - (unless it is for an experience in another international place of course, even a different country.)
Good luck and have fun!!
2006-06-22 05:45:02 · answer #5 · answered by thegreaterescape 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
U should be flexible on accepting other culture if u have plan to study abroad.. Loneliness is part of life.. Just deal with it by keeping yourself busy and meeting new friends... hey, life should be fun!
2006-06-22 05:43:12 · answer #6 · answered by kellie_nice 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are afraid of cultural differences than traveling abroad is probably not for you. Traveling should be an adventure that will sometimes be very challenging. There are lots of groups who travel together you might want to look into going with.
2006-06-22 05:44:12 · answer #7 · answered by weswe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you go to a country that has culture similar to yours? I am an American, and I went to London for a semester. You have to learn and understand the culture, but it's actually fun. It gets lonely sometimes, but you also get to meet fascinating people and experince different things.
2006-06-22 05:41:59 · answer #8 · answered by shoelace 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't be.. the best thing you can do is to study their language first.. if you don't have a problem about dat, den great.. the only major problem you'll be facing is missing your family and gaining new friends.. but the latter wouldn't be that hard if you can communicate with the people..
when i studied in another country, the language barrier was my major dilemma because i cannot communicate that well with them.. but when i started to learn, everything just came into place..
remember, not everyone in this world speaks and understands english..
gud luck!...
2006-06-22 05:45:45 · answer #9 · answered by wattawes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by overcoming ya loneliness, u might expand make more frends! dat way, u won't be lonely......
n 4 cultural differences, try to learn bout other cultural b4 u go overseas study...... dat might come in handy!
2006-06-22 05:44:17 · answer #10 · answered by mafiaso 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋