After long months of continuous wait, uncertainty, hard
work, sorting out of documents and applying in various Universities, finally
getting admissions into a college abroad may seem like a dream. Congratulations!
We bet you can't wait to begin your new life.
Studying abroad is definitely one of the most exciting
experiences you will ever have and the most probable to change your life
forever. However, the actual experience of studying abroad may be very
different from what you have probably been day dreaming about since the last
few months.
First of all, we would like to inform you about the various
myths of studying abroad. Beware, we do not wish to break your heart or pull
your morale down, but we do want to give you a clear picture of what to expect.
Studying abroad is not a cakewalk. Most of the University
brochures, websites and movies (read Bollywood) you have seen till now have
created an image of perfection in your mind. Even Google images seem to
repeatedly remind you of the beauty of that place.
Yes, this is all true, but not entirely. The city you will
live in will not be as beautiful throughout, and you will NOT live in the most
expensive, beautiful area of that city. The window in your bedroom may not have
that picturesque view Google images had shown you and the locals around you may
not always be as fluent with English as you thought them to be nor as helpful
as you'd like them to be.
For most students, studying abroad comes with a lot of
dreams. Having realistic expectations about the country you are going to study
in is always a better option. Prior research on the culture, people, and
University campus will help you a great deal. Getting to know about the local
history, cuisine and sentiments of people will help you integrate into the
society better. If the country has a language other than English, prior
knowledge of the language is a great idea.
Many students go abroad with unrealistic expectations of
traveling, partying and having a good time. Traveling not only requires a lot
of money, but as international students, there are several laws and regulations
that have to be fulfilled.Ideas about working and earning should also be realistic;
these do not pay very well and require a lot of hard work.
If you go with such expectations, the monotonous routine of
going to attend lectures every day will seem very boring to you. You must go
with a clear mind on these aspects.Now that your bubble is burst, we would like to familiarize
you with the highs you will experience once youâve left home.
The first and the foremost are your freedom and
independence. After so many years of living under you parents, that
exhilarating feel of freedom will be irreplaceable. Of course, there will be days
you will miss your family and feel homesick, but rest assured, the years spent
away from home will make you independent and strong. You will learn how to deal
with the worst situations on your own and you will finally realize that at the
end, all is well.
At some point, you will find friends who will replace your
family and make you feel that you are not alone. You will also find some very
kind, empathetic people and will notice the feeling of responsibility every
citizen has. You will suddenly want to make sure roads are clean and follow
traffic rules!
You will build a life of your own and know all the streets
of the city. You will finally be living the life you've always wanted to in the
city of your dreams!
This is when you will
find yourself so well integrated into their society that your home town will
seem like a distant reality. Countless opportunities will cross your way.
And then, all too soon, there will come a time when your
program will near its end. You will then you will pack all your memories and lessons
and take home the new person you have become, leaving the old you behind.
Tags:
Study Abroad
