Things No Study Abroad Program Warned You
Dear Reader,
After concluding my previous posting about optimizing my phone usage as an international student, I had the idea to write another concerning the unexpected things for which you are unprepared as a student.
You can be a great student in college or high school, but it won't prepare you for studying abroad (at least not for me). The methods of evaluation are vastly different, and replicating the procedures you used previously will not work. Each course at my university, in my experience, requires a distinct type of study strategy. I depended on comprehension, but it required a high level of comprehension, recollection, retention, and application, as well as having never been put to such a demanding test. I put in a lot of effort. I am much better and more confident as a result of a close buddy of mine who completed his entire education in Italy; studying with him taught me my shortcomings. Now I can boldly proclaim, Study like an Italian! 😁
In the first six months of my university life in Italy, I was a mess. This is mostly due to limited housing at my university campus, so the majority of local and international students struggle to find decent and inexpensive accommodation. I relocated seven times in six months, for reasons that deserve their own post. Simply put, go with an agency and expect to pay extra especially if your command of the local language is limited.Eventually, I realized that, despite speaking the language, Italian students have the same problem. It's a difficult market.
Keep your new Indian/same nationality buddies close, but keep your local friends even closer. Comfort and familiarity is invaluable, but they also keep you from getting your shoes wet with people who are not like you. It's a lot of work at times because your or their accents are so strong, but the experience is incredible. My Italian friend taught me a lot of my pasta-cooking skills and gave me a lot of confidence in basic Italian. Despite our differences, we developed an unbreakable bond of friendship and support.
I moved here during the height of pandemic season in Italy, when lockdown sessions were highly active and I was nearly entirely alone save for one housemate. After relocating from India, where I had been living with my family, I began to feel really lonely. It was impossible to establish friends in university because it was all done online, but I attempted and got seen-zoned by a handful of people. 😂 "Alone does not equal lonely," I've learned through time. I began by experimenting with various things, and it was then that I discovered my passion for cooking and photography. I read a lot and watched a lot of TV shows. Although humans are social creatures, I discovered a way to fill my cup. People are like the cherry on top of your cake, but you are what completes you. Since I spent more time there than anywhere else on Earth, I trained my mind to think better thoughts; your support system begins with you. That is all for today's philosophical class my friends 😁
The paperwork that comes with studying abroad can be mentally and emotionally stressful. Ex: When applying for a visa every 8-10 months (Schengen is like that), everyone has a grudge towards the local post office, which, despite catering to international visitors, does not speak or attempt to speak English. When the official lady noticed me on the edge of crying, she scribbled down in English what she had previously repeated in Italian ten times. I feel sad for them sometimes, because I've learned through my local friends that many Italians are self-conscious about their English skills and try to avoid using it.This little nugget was really significant to me since we sometimes associate a person's actions with our race or nationality although, in most circumstances, it has very little to do with either, so please don't take it personally. You're dealing with a lot of new things right now, and the burden of misunderstanding is a waste of mental energy.
During the first week of your arrival in a new country or from the first day of your semester, create a schedule quickly and keep to it faithfully. This is crucial; otherwise, your productivity will decrease as a result of your lack of accountability, and it will be difficult to start over. Discipline is your most brutal yet reliable buddy; don't rely on motivation.
Maintain contact with loved ones back home; your family and friends will provide a warm embrace during the frigid winter nights you may encounter in a new country. It's fine to be vulnerable, and it's also fair to accept that your parents might not know how to comfort you. Despite the fact that my mother was having health problems, she was tremendously supportive, always encouraging me and talking to me cheerfully, even on days when I called her 4-5 times to complain about the same thing. To your injured heart, the sensation of being heard is like a comforting lullaby.❤
Finally, my dear reader, take a big breath and relax. You'll be alright. It's taken a long time, but I'm finally living my best life. Even though I still face and do all eight of the things listed above, they no longer deter me. When it's the first time, it's always more intense, but don't let that break your heart. Consider it a warm-up for the challenges that life will bring your way in the future.
Sending you lots of positive vibes.💕
Sincerely, Lykha