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Dec 2, 2008

Dos and Donts of a Study Abroad

Now that I have been here for 3 months, I can officially pass on my wisdom to those who plan on doing what I just did.

I do not say my experiences account as a testimony for a normal exchange student (If you have been following this blog, you know I am not normal :) ), but the list that follows has been made after being with both who love the experience and those not so much.

DO'S
  • Be open to partying, meeting new people, eating all kinds of food and experimenting
  • Travel. Especially if you are an exchange student in Europe. You will never ever get this much time to explore.
  • Learn a new language, and practice it as much
  • Let go of whatever it is that is holding you. Do what you have not done before, remember new country new people, time to make mistakes and learn from them
  • Visit the small cities and towns in the country. Thats where the real beauty is.
  • Saving money is easy. Just try and cook as much. Eating out is expensive.


I am afraid the don'ts are gonna be way more thanks to my personal experience.


DONT'S
  • Do not be broke and come here. You wont be able to travel, and trust me, thats no fun!
  • Do not spend time on the computer. That would just prove how bored you are.
  • Do not just waste time in talking to people back home. They are there for you even if you don't talk to them for a couple of months
  • Do not buy a eurail pass. A semester is 4 months, and the pass is way too expensive. You can cover a lot of countries with a much less price.
  • Do not take a bazillion classes. The point is to learn in a different country and experience the culture, not to kill yourself in the room in a different country

That's all I can think of now actually. I am sure I'll come up with some more in some time.

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