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Studying Abroad
mensch-o-matic
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Has anyone here taken a summer semester of college abroad? I want to try it this summer and it'd be nice to have some tips/know what to expect! Scholarships and preferred destinations or just a to-do list would be rad but plain old stories of your time over in another country would be neat too.
mensch-o-matic on
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What country do you plan on visiting (or are you looking for recommendations there, as well?)? With a host family or in a dorm? If a dorm: by yourself or as a group? Do you need to study in the country's native language? Will you be interning/doing work for the place you're at? What do you plan on studying? That sort of stuff.
On the other hand your personality plays a huge role in what you should do and how much enjoyment you'll get out of particular things. Do you like partying or more secluded activities? Do you try new things readily (foods, experiences, etc.)? Do you like history? Archeology? Technology? And so on.
Most universities have programs they can set you up with. The people at your international office will be able to point you to scholarships (potentially run through your home university or partner universities) that you're eligible for.
I suppose there are a few key things I can note from my time and the time of those with me:
Most universities with an exchange program have a department for handling exchange students' questions and concerns. Often they'll help you handle things like residency permits (if you need to arrange that post-arrival) or bank accounts (usually for rent or receiving stipends). You need to register when you move to a new city in most European countries, so as a foreigner living in the same place for an extended period you may need to register (tends to be if you're there longer than 90 or 100 days, but varies by country and your nationality).
Unless you're the only exchange student around, chances are you'll have more contact with other foreign exchange students over native students (usually all the exchange students get housed together...tends to be the same in the US). Generally US and Canadian exchange students are younger than students from other countries (usually by 1 to 5 years).
Expect lots of walking.
Don't expect to have access to a TV (some dorms may have lounge areas; host families will most likely have one or more). Internet connections vary by location (most first world countries will get you broadband or have wireless). Having a laptop helps immensely for schoolwork, train rides and weighing you down in airports.
Buy a travel alarm clock: you can use it on trains or while waiting for various forms of transportation. I tended to supplement this with 5-10€ alarm clock where I went (they tend to have radio and louder alarms).
Laptops usually have their own power converter (the big box your power cord goes through; check it to make sure it has a voltage range of something like 100-230V), but you'll still need an outlet adapter. Europe uses two circlular prongs; North America uses two vertical ones. Other places use other shapes and voltages.
Mobile phone need is case-by-case (how long you're staying? how many people do you know? etc.). Keep in mind that you may not be able to purchase one in certain areas. One time I had one and didn't need it; another I had it and used it fairly frequently; another time I didn't have one and didn't miss it.
Generally most people have fun. Out of my time abroad, the only people I've seen who didn't enjoy it were people shutting themselves up inside their rooms (alright for studying, not so much for experiencing a country). I consider myself pretty shy, but if someone was going to a football game or a party I joined in and met new people.
I'm more of a scheduled activity kind of person but i doubt that anyone I currently know will come with me. Do you have any tips for rubbing elbows with fellow abroad students and natives? I know it'll probably vary from country to country.
A lot of the programs require a language proficiency as well.
If you want to meet people in a situation with dedicated exchange programs (i.e. sharing students between partner universities):
Generally international offices will set up small parties or gatherings (that attract native students as well). They tend to plan group trips as well (such group trips tend to be good ways of meeting people - especially if you end up staying in a hostel with 4+ people in a room).
If you're in a non-English speaking country there will likely be tandem language exchange programs, where you can be set up with a buddy of the native language. That way you can exchange English with their language.
If you want to meet new people in general:
Look for campus events or nearby parties for students (some campuses have on-site clubs). This tends to work best if you already have a small group to go with (or you need to be a massive extrovert).
In non-English speaking countries, generally a lot of people want to practice English so if you're fluent (or a native speaker), you'll tend to attract people if you're just open and friendly (but don't force English on to people).
Fun anecdote:
So we met up and walked to the stadium (and since it was about 3 miles there was plenty of time for conversing). Not only did I get to see how eerily similar football games in Europe are to political rallies, I got to learn some Polish (that I cannot spell) and met around 6 people well-enough to set up things on the fly if we met in the hall or something. That also led to a larger group planning to see a game in a Bavaria a few weeks later.
But the Slovaks ended up knowing a bunch of Czechs and Poles, who subsequently liked going on (bi-)weekly day trips. Some of those Czechs also knew a group of Italians and French who were very interested in learning English.
In my experience summer is the best time to go since things are more varied and students are open to spontaneous activities (Hey, it's burning hot outside, who wants to go to the lake?). I would imagine Japan would be a bit more xenophobic than anywhere in Europe or North America, though (although you'd probably get along fine with other exchange students).
So do it.
I did a two month program in Japan this summer, and it was a lot of fun. It was also a lot of work; it was a single term of school that was giving me three term's worth of credits at my home university and it was easily three term's worth of work. The school did arrange a bunch of activities for us, though, and I always managed to get at least one day every weekend as free.
Japanese summers are particularly nasty, so if you don't like hot weather it might not be a good destination. Days that hit 40C and 100% humidity are quite common.
On the other hand, as a westerner-in-Japan, you'll get a good bit of slack for making cultural gaffes that you might not get in a country where you're not as obviously a foreigner.
It was definitely the highlight of college, so I urge anyone who is interested, and has the means to do it, to go.
Try to deter from the typical college route and meet people in the city (on top of meeting people at your campus). Most people meet their friends through work/school, but eventually school is going to dry up, and you may be working in an environment with people you don't get along with too well.
Don't cut yourself off at the knees by relying on these two factions; take a chance and start chatting up with people on your daily commute. If you're going to Europe there's definitely going to be a bus/subway/train transport system, so use that to your advantage to meet new people. I also noticed that people really respect you whenever you take a chance by talking to a complete stranger, so there's also that.
Just my two cents.