This experience studying abroad has been absolutely amazing. I have made new connections, learned about myself, and overcome challenges. In this blog I will talk about some of the challenges I have faced while studying abroad and give some tips on how to combat them.
Challenge 1: Time Change
Being on the complete other side of the world in New Zealand I am 16 hours ahead of my family and friends back home. This means that past 3:00 PM I am pretty much unable to communicate with my family. This has left me feeling a little bit disconnected from the people I love but I have overcome this by waking up a little earlier than needed each day and going on walks while calling my family.
Challenge 2: Constant Moving
In this faculty lead excursion we have stayed in 8 different accommodations. This means constant packing and unpacking. It has been difficult to get comfortable but the best tip I have for this is to invest in a good suitcase. Mine has really nice removable storage that you can take out and hang which has been SO helpful in tight shared spaces.
Challenge 3: Food
Although the cost of our program does cover some meals, we often have to find our food. I recommend going to grocery stores and getting easy things like yogurt or instant oatmeal so you don’t end up spending a ton of money eating out.
Overall my experience studying abroad has been absolutely amazing and these challenges are really just minor inconveniences to keep in mind when planning to go abroad.
