Like I have already explained, I am a planner. I planned when I was supposed to go abroad, what school I was going to attend, classes I was going to take and more. As you can imagine, this entailed an immense amount of research. I tracked down others who went to the same school , lived in the same city and all that (Now that I type it out, I realize it sounds a bit stalkery… I really just asked around). My plan was to have conversations with as many people as possible, to get an idea on their experiences. Then, I believed that if I summed all of those unique experiences, I could form an idea of what my time abroad will be like…NOT SO.In the two months since I arrived at Hong Kong International Airport, bright eyed and expectant, I have realized that the popular saying, “Experience is the best teacher” could not be more relevant. There are things no one tells you about going abroad; not because they do not want to but because experiences are different for people. In this post, I write about 5 things no one told me about going abroad citing specific examples from my life… ENJOY!
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Adapting takes time
You see pictures on Instagram, posts on Facebook about the awesomeness of being abroad. However, no one posts about the allergies they get from arriving in the new environment, the weird stomach aches that come after trying new food or just the crazy difference in weather conditions. For me, I had crazy allergies when I arrived Hong Kong. I expected it because I always have allergies but it felt like it increased 10 fold. After 3 weeks, my allergies almost completely went away and I realized it was just my body’s response to being in a new environment. It takes time to adapt and however your body chooses to adjust to the new environment, it is important to remember that it happens to everyone and it is very much allowed.
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New school new friends
Do you remember how it felt on your first day at elementary school? Everyone is new and no face is familiar, that is similar to what going abroad is like. You are in a new culture with new people and most times, you do not know anyone and need to form relationships with these people. It might seem a little daunting at first but I’ll give you some free advice. Everyone is just like you. Everyone is trying to form new relationships as well, so most people are willing to talk, grab lunch/dinner or do other things to become more comfortable with the people around them. I talked to someone randomly on orientation day; it was an amazing conversation but I forgot to get her contact details… in a school with over 800 non-local students, the likelihood that I was going to see her was very slim. Fast forward to 2 weeks after orientation day; she sees me and shouts my name over a crowd of people asks for my information and we grab lunch the very next day. I can say that she is one of the best people I have had the opportunity to meet since I’ve been abroad and I am certain that this kind of thing happened to a bunch of other people as well.
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You’re still in school
It is easy to forget that you’re in school when you’re abroad. It almost feels like an extended vacation. Do not be deceived; it is not. If you’re lucky, all your classes count as Pass/Fail but if you’re like me, that is not the case. As much as you’re here for the experience your grades still matter so you have to figure out a way to balance it all. It is not easy because it is a new system with new teachers and new grading styles but it is doable. Set out times for assignments; find friends in your classes that you can relate to. Do things and find people that keep you accountable for your school work and vice versa.
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Life goes on
The title might be a little harsh but you need to remember that while you’re abroad, you might still have certain obligations that are not abroad with you. This might be clubs, family or really anything. For Northeastern students, it is co-op. If you plan on going on co-op after your semester abroad, you are part of an elite group of students. It is funny because I did not appreciate the little things that went into interviewing and getting the offer; the coffee chats, the case interview prep sessions or even the networking events. They are all instrumental to getting the job. Which makes it harder to get one while your abroad. This past week was particularly interesting because I had interviews almost every day and time difference is not my friend. It worked out and I’ve actually just accepted my third and final co-op at Northeastern. Again, very doable.
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Your study abroad experience is what you make of it
1 week before I got on the plane to Hong Kong, a friend of mine said something that has resonated with me ever since. She said, “Never sit in your room, watching Netflix.”, sitting in my room watching Netflix is my safe space (Don’t judge) and it’s very possible she made a point to say this because she knows the kind of person that I am. The thing is with everything else going on, it is easy to retreat to those ‘safe places’. However, the point of being abroad is to get away from it. Moral of the story, DO STUFF! Figure out what you want to make of your experience before you go there. Do you want to be involved in the University you are attending? Are you interested in traveling? Do you want to make friends from all over the world? Or any other thing that is important to you. Resolve to something and stick to it. I took my own advice late into the game but decided I wanted to do all three; most importantly, I wanted to travel! I decided that I was going to visit 5 other countries in Asia before I left and I am currently in Tokyo writing this J (3/5 – progress!). I joined a social rugby team… Full Disclosure: I had never played rugby in my life until I got here; so that has been interesting. And I am going out my way to meet new people; I can’t really quantify friendships, but I am getting there. The point is that I have made it a mission not to retreat to my safe places too often (I need to watch my shows at least sometimes) but I always have something to do, a place to visit or a friend to see. Find what works for you and strive for something similar.
Going on this program is still one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am learning things about myself that I have never really thought. I am doing all that while trying to live my best life in the best way possible. 100% recommend because I think that I have grown in so many ways in the 2 months that I have been here than I have in a long time. I see it happening for those around me and am positive that it will happen for you too. So let me know if you decide to come to Hong Kong. I have many more tips to dispense!
