So you've done all the research, you've received your acceptance letter and booked your travel, and now you're landing in your host country for a semester or a year of studying abroad. Then it hits you, you've never even been out of your state before! Living in a foreign land is a very real culture shock, and getting used to the myriad of differences between your new life and what you've been so accustomed to in America can take some serious effort. It's not impossible, and since you chose your host country carefully chances are you've already got some sort of affinity for that culture or the people. Regardless, you'll feel like a local after just a short amount of time if you follow these tips for assimilating when you study abroad.
First of all, take the time to really learn the language. This is a moot point in an English-speaking country (although the accents and slang in some parts of the world can make English sound like a foreign language), but in many other places you will be truly lost if you don't learn to speak the local tongue. Get yourself in a foreign language class as soon as possible, and speak it in your daily life, even if it is a struggle at first. Hang out where the locals are and listen even more than you speak. After a few weeks it will start to come more easily.
One great option is to find a host family to put you up for your first few weeks in the new country. There's no better way to assimilate into the local culture than to see if from the local's perspective. Your host family will obviously help you learn the language, but will also give you the lay of the land, showing you where the best deals are and how to pick up what you'll need to get by. And family dinners are a great way to experience local food as well.
You'll also want to try and make some new friends as quickly as possible. The school may be able to help you out in that regard, as they'll often pair foreign exchange students with a local student who is willing to give you a proper introduction to the community. But also look to hang out where the local students gather, generally at cafes, bars and
First of all, take the time to really learn the language. This is a moot point in an English-speaking country (although the accents and slang in some parts of the world can make English sound like a foreign language), but in many other places you will be truly lost if you don't learn to speak the local tongue. Get yourself in a foreign language class as soon as possible, and speak it in your daily life, even if it is a struggle at first. Hang out where the locals are and listen even more than you speak. After a few weeks it will start to come more easily.
One great option is to find a host family to put you up for your first few weeks in the new country. There's no better way to assimilate into the local culture than to see if from the local's perspective. Your host family will obviously help you learn the language, but will also give you the lay of the land, showing you where the best deals are and how to pick up what you'll need to get by. And family dinners are a great way to experience local food as well.
You'll also want to try and make some new friends as quickly as possible. The school may be able to help you out in that regard, as they'll often pair foreign exchange students with a local student who is willing to give you a proper introduction to the community. But also look to hang out where the local students gather, generally at cafes, bars and