Taking advantage of studying overseas is a fantastic opportunity to experience and take in a foreign culture, see incredible landmarks, get to know other people from across the world and their habits, taste new foods, and live somewhere with a completely different way of life. You often regret the things you don’t do in life, and you won’t stay young for long, so it’s incredibly enriching to try and see the world as much as possible when you’re younger and have fewer commitments.
Inevitably, relocating to study abroad requires you to carry out a lot of preparation to sort everything out and ensure certain things are in place. To help provide students going on the adventure to study abroad with some support and guidance, we’ve come up with this piece on a checklist of things you should do before leaving to study abroad. Continue reading to learn more.
Your Immigration Paperwork Must Be In Order Before Setting Off
You must ensure you’re all up to date with the information regarding the essential paperwork you will need to make yourself eligible to live abroad as an international student from the United States. You may well need to apply for a student visa supported by a sponsorship from your U.S based university. Making all the effort to catch a plane overseas and then having issues with your immigration status is a nightmare and a highly stressful experience for students studying abroad.
You want to make sure your trip of a lifetime to study overseas is as positive and memorable as possible. You may not ever go and live overseas again for the rest of your lifetime. So, stay on top of your paperwork to make sure your transition to adjusting to studying abroad goes as smoothly as possible, and then you will be free to go out seeing sights and have some much-needed fun enjoying yourself.
Find A Suitable Place To Rent Online Beforehand
You ought to get your living arrangements in order and find somewhere to rent that’s appropriate for your needs before leaving. It’s no good getting over there and spending massive chunks of your money on overpriced hotels because you didn’t sort out accommodation for your study trip abroad before you left America. Go on the internet to look through online portals and compare different flats, apartments, and condos.
Are you thinking about studying abroad in Asia to embrace an exciting, very different part of the globe? Singapore is a stunning, welcoming city-island state that’s bursting with culture and things for you to see and do, with wonderful educational options. Have a look through PropertyGuru’s website to help you make inquiries and find a room for rent in Singapore. This site will help you find a room that suits your needs as a student or a professional looking to teach over there.
Read Up About The Local Laws And Cultural Customs
To successfully adapt to the new foreign culture you’re about to immerse yourself in and lessen the impact of any ‘culture shock’ you may initially experience, you need to first read up about the dos and don’ts in the place you’re moving to abroad. What are laws that locals abroad uphold and strictly adhere to that you should also make an effort to follow? In some nations, there are stricter laws, and you certainly don’t want to inadvertently get in trouble by not having informed yourself sufficiently on the local laws before you moved. For instance, in the United Arab Emirates, tourists, students, and visitors are often arrested for drinking alcohol or being drunk or intoxicated in public places. However, drinking alcohol in licensed private venues such as hotels, bars, arenas, etc., is legal and allowed there. Remember, in some countries, the motoring rules are completely different, and they drive on the other side of the road. The UK, Malta, Cyprus, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa are examples of some nations where you must drive on the left-hand side of the road.
There may also be subtle cultural customs and behaviors that locals abide by that you should read up a bit about before traveling across the world to work abroad. For instance, it’s considered the norm and polite for people meeting for the first time to embrace one another with a hug in certain cultures. Yet, this is seen as invasive and failing to respect somebody else’s personal space in other places. You want to make sure that you do your utmost to try and avoid locals misinterpreting the intention of your actions, and can lead you causing them offense.
Stay In Good Contact With Your Host College Back Home
Before departure and during your time away overseas, you must remain in good communication with your host college in the U.S all the time. Your college has a duty of care towards you and your welfare abroad as one of their students, let them know your whereabouts and how you’re doing. Remember, you have family and friends who love you dearly back home.
You have many things to consider before you leave to go and study abroad, and these are a few useful pointers to help you out.
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