Studying Abroad: Challenges and Overcoming Them

By: Isabella del Rosario

Studying abroad is one of the most rewarding and unique experiences a person can have during their college career. Of course it comes with wonderful pictures, new friends, and loads of stories but it also comes with challenges. Personally, I think sometimes it is easy for people to leave out their challenging experiences and hard times when telling their friends and family about their time abroad but I know it is essential to acknowledge these times and let others know it is normal. So my goal with this blog is to share some of my difficult times I had while abroad in order to show people that it is okay if your experience is not perfect and also show how to overcome them. 

First, I’d like to talk about the obvious, homesickness. Moving to a new place is scary especially when it is in a new country, with a new language, and new customs. It is important to know that if you feel homesick and miss your family or friends or even your usual routine, it does not mean that you aren’t “cool” and can’t succeed abroad. I found that a lot of the time it seemed that others in the program didn’t miss home at all, like they were just on top of the world and did not have a single worry. Although I came to learn this is totally not the case. Once you make friends and open up to them about what you are feeling you will find they might be experiencing the exact same thing. Unfortunately with study abroad there is a pressure to constantly be having fun and prove you are an adult and can be away from home, but as young adults this is most likely one of our first experiences with total independence and it is natural to miss what feels comfortable. 

Next, something that is important to consider while abroad is your mental health. Like I mentioned before, you are in a new place and you may not have access to the same outlets you usually do at home. When you go abroad you are thrown out of your routine and things that you may do for your mental health might not be available. For example, I deal with a lot of anxiety and one thing I do to help is workout regularly and dance. When I was in Rome for Block 1 I did not have easy access to a gym or a dance studio and it was very difficult for me to not have this outlet. So what did I do? Instead I took myself on walks around the block and got myself out of the apartment. I also decided to do some more research before Block 2. Eventually, I found somewhere in Paris I could take classes and it has helped me so much. Basically, when abroad you have to take the steps to adapt to your new environment and make sure you have something available to you that is going to help you through this experience. Another thing I have found very helpful is journaling. Journal writing can help you process what happens to you everyday and lets you take a moment to be mindful. 

Lastly, making friends while abroad wasn’t too hard, but living with people you just met can be a real challenge. In Rome, I lived with 6 other people so there were 7 of us in total, which was great because I had 6 built-in friends but it was also difficult because each of us had our own living styles, routines, etc. The best thing to remember when living with people you just met is to set boundaries, be patient, and find some time to be alone. Unfortunately not everyone is going to think the same way as you and you might disagree on when to do the dishes or how to split up groceries. I found that if you are honest and upfront with people then miscommunication will be avoided and your expectations will be set early. It is not worth your time or energy to be petty or passive aggressive about housework or anything else because that just puts extra stress on yourself. You might as well just talk to whoever head on about what you are feeling and most of the time it will work out for the better. 

I hope that this blog helps anyone who wants to go abroad feel a little less scared and also validate what you may be feeling before going on this adventure. Remember, going abroad is a huge learning experience and is not supposed to be easy. It is okay to feel like it is hard and miss home. It is essential to prioritize your mental health and do what's best for you. Finally, it is alright to set boundaries and be honest with the people you are living with.