If you’ve read any of my previous articles, you’ll know that I spent a semester studying in Geneva. Between teachers from my home university, friends who’d done it before, and online resources, I’d received plenty of guidance before jetting off. But, as with many things in life, it still wasn’t exactly what I had anticipated. Admittedly, some of that could have been due to me forgetting or downplaying what I’d been told, but there were many times when I thought, “I wish I’d known this before”. That’s the goal of this post – to share the brutal truths about studying abroad that you’ve probably never considered.
1. There’s a lot of paperwork
Something many people overlook before going abroad, is the sheer amount of administrative work involved. From finding accommodation, to sorting out visas and bank accounts, the process can be quite stressful. Switzerland is notorious for this which may explain my personal vendetta against admin, but I have friends studying in other countries who have said the same. You need to be proactive when preparing for a year abroad, so make a to-do list and break tasks into manageable steps – this will help you avoid the stress I went through.
2. You’ll start to miss unexpected things
We’ve all heard of culture shock – being in a new country with different customs, people, and sometimes language can be a shock to the system. I knew this was inevitable, but it made me realise how much I missed such mundane things from home. I wouldn’t exactly describe my hometown as heaven on Earth, but I often found myself longing to walk down the same cobbled streets and visit the bars I’d been to hundreds of times. To make my space feel more like home, I brought pictures of my friends and stuck them on the wall in my accommodation. It definitely doesn’t compare to actually being with them, but it’s a comforting reminder that they’re only a phone call away.
3. It gets lonely
Following on from the previous point, it’s an easy point to forget when you’re miles away from everyone you know. It can feel like you’re being ‘left behind’, especially if your friends are all with each other back home and you’re stuck in a foreign country. My first few weeks of Geneva were the perfect example of being surrounded by people but still feeling lonely. It’s hard to form connections with others when you’re already dealing with the anxiety of adjusting to an unfamiliar place. If you’re considering a year abroad, it’s important to be comfortable with your own company – it takes a toll on your mental health, but learning to embrace being alone will be invaluable.
4. It won’t be like how you pictured it, and that’s alright
There are countless posts on social media of the romanticised side of a year abroad. Travelling to other cities or countries, Erasmus parties, making friends for life, what is there not to like? I’ll answer that for you – the fact that there’s far more to it than that. For a start, a lot of people leave out the part of studying abroad where you actually have to study, so don’t neglect that in aid of a good time. Everyone’s experience with a year abroad is going to be different, and I started to feel like I was doing mine ‘wrong’ until I realised that there’s no ‘right’ way to do it. Travel, party, try to make friends, but don’t feel like a failure if your experience doesn’t look exactly like the ones you see online.
5. Packing is a pain
Before leaving, I was anxious about forgetting something essential. I reasoned with myself that I was going to Geneva – not outer Mongolia – so anything I forgot could be bought (albeit for a much higher price). The thing that was even more stressful was packing to come home. I wasn’t exactly a shopaholic considering I was in such an expensive city, I still underestimated how much stuff I would accumulate over a semester. I ended up having to buy another suitcase because all my stuff simply wouldn’t fit. Even with two suitcases, I couldn’t fit everything so I ended up opening my suitcases in the middle of the airport and impulsively throwing things in the bin! I wouldn’t recommend doing that, but if you’re studying abroad, just be prepared – you might need to shell out for an extra suitcase when coming home.
I could go on and on about my studying abroad and what I learnt, but I only decided to include what I deemed the most important points. The bottom line is this: going abroad isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but if you can learn to adapt, you will come out more resilient and self-aware. It isn’t for everyone, though, so if you find you don’t enjoy it, don’t beat yourself up over it. I’d heard so many people say that “going abroad will be the best thing you ever do” which may be true for some, but not for everyone. Just take each day as it comes, embrace the experience for what it is, and make the most of it in your own way.
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