7 Ways Studying Abroad Can Be Disappointing (And How To Cope)

By Madison White on January 17, 2016

It’s easy to hype up the study abroad experience: interesting people, beautiful views, new foods; what could go wrong?

Unfortunately, living up to those expectations is next to impossible which makes disappointment inevitable.

Image via theplaidzebra.com

Here are seven ways studying abroad might disappoint you and how to cope with them.

1. Making friends is tough.

I’m not outgoing and that’s okay, but how do I make friends easily in another culture? I can’t rely on common experiences, food, television, or anything else for that matter, so what gives?

Solution: Keep digging. Common grounds can be found with almost anyone if you try hard enough. Even if you fail with some people at first, there’s bound to be a match out there somewhere.

Seek out school-organized socials to find other students. Also, don’t make the assumption that you need to be friends with everyone on campus. Make a few close friends you feel comfortable talking to and traveling with. Your experience will be just as rich.

2. Making local friends is even tougher.

Okay. So I found common ground, but it’s only with other international students who feel my pain. They’re great, but I came here to immerse myself in the culture that’s here.

Solution: Include yourself. Sometimes locals won’t reach out if you seem automatically different (which you might). Include yourself in things that they do like joining a society (that isn’t the international one). This automatically builds a connection.

Start up a conversation with the student next to you in class. You can talk about the assignments or the teacher at first until you get to know each other better. Don’t expect to be besties right away, but simply being kind can go a long way.

3. You don’t travel every weekend.

When I imagined myself studying abroad, I pictured myself jet-setting off to exotic locations every weekend. But I’m sitting here watching YouTube just like I would at home.

Solution: Do take the opportunity to travel, but don’t expect it to be extensive or glamorous. Travel is expensive and timing rarely works out perfectly with friends so you’ll have to work around schedules.

Add in homework and you’ll have some very mundane weekends. They aren’t exciting, but they are necessary. Don’t forget that even if you are sitting and watching YouTube, you are in a different country and that’s pretty amazing.

4. You’re missing out at home.

I love studying abroad, but I keep seeing my friends back home posting pictures of themselves having fun times and I feel so left out. I wish I could appreciate my time here instead of wishing I was with them.

Solution: It’s easy to think that your friends’ lives will go on hold once you leave, but that simply isn’t the case. They aren’t trying to make you jealous and I’m sure they miss you very much.

Just remember that they probably think that whatever you’re doing abroad is infinitely cooler than what they’re doing back home. You have plenty of time to enjoy your friends back home when you return, but far less time to enjoy being abroad.

5. You actually have to study.

I pictured myself having wild nights all the time, but all I seem to do is study.

Solution: It’s true. Studying abroad seems like a vacation and people sometimes forget that you are going to school. Being abroad isn’t just about expanding emotionally, but academically too.

Spending time learning new approaches from different perspectives is a privilege known by few. Go out and have fun, but don’t feel like the time you spend studying is any time wasted.

6. Culture shock didn’t go away immediately.

I’ve been abroad for almost a month, but haven’t settled into the culture yet. I still feel like an outsider and am worried that I always will.

Solution: In many cases, you’ll probably feel different no matter what you do. You might inherently talk and act differently than everyone else and that isn’t your fault. Don’t feel embarrassed by this. Culture shock varies for each person and coping slowly isn’t abnormal.

Instead of dwelling on differences, appreciate them. Take note of all the small abnormalities and tell your friends back home about them. They’ll find what you tell them exciting and new; perhaps eventually you’ll feel that way too.

7. You feel lost all the time.

I feel uneasy in almost every situation I’m in. I feel so starved for the familiar that I can’t appreciate the culture around me.

Solution: It’s easy to miss what you’re used to. Try and find something small around you that reminds you of home. While abroad, I spent way more time at McDonald’s than I care to admit.

Eat, smell, or look at this thing whenever you’re feeling a bit lost and remember that you can always go back to it, but you may never have these experiences again. This may help you put things into perspective and ease the homesickness.

Studying abroad is a privilege and an opportunity worth taking. However, living in another country (possibly alone) isn’t free from challenges. Many of your struggles can be seen in a positive light by simply changing your thinking.

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