Who better to give you advice on going abroad, than other Newcastle University students who have done the same?

Before You Go

Connect With Each Other

"It helped having the community of Global Ambassadors to lean on. We were all going through the same things at the same times, and a lot of us had similar problems (with schools, visas, bank accounts etc.) My biggest advice would be to get involved with this community as soon as possible. Find the group chat, find people going to the same destination you are, and talk to them!! I'm not naturally super sociable but I forced myself to message people and go to almost all the events that people were organising and it definitely paid off."

Good to Know

“It may seem like common sense, but make sure you pack for the weather. In Spain, September is one of the hottest months of the year, especially in places like Valencia and Cordoba. [My second semester during] winter in Norway was very cold, more so than we are used to in the UK”.

“I wish I’d looked at the services available specifically where I was going to be living. e.g. where pharmacies, hospitals, and post offices are located, it would’ve just made things a lot easier for when I needed them”.

“Foreign administration takes time - the longer you allow for forms to be sent back to you, the better."

“Make sure you carry at least some cash as not everywhere will take card, and make sure that it is the correct currency, not everywhere uses the Euro. This is especially important if you split the year and go somewhere else, or travel in the summer. For example, while the Euro is used in France, Spain and Germany, you will need a different currency for Denmark, Sweden, Norway etc.”

“I couldn’t work while abroad, so ensure if you want to go traveling after your time aboard that you have saved/budgeted enough.” [and bought your own insurance while still in the UK -- GO team] 

When You Arrive

Resilience

"Be ready to be on your own, and to overcome challenges by yourself. I think it should be reflected that, at the end of the day, a new country and new people require a very independent mindset, and the strength to look out for yourself. In contrast to Newcastle, where we enjoy the support of personal tutors, friends, professors who know and appreciate us, mental health advisors... in a host country, there is nothing like this, and if there is, it isn't easy to find. I went through hard times in which I felt lonelier than ever, but these were some of the most enriching moments and I would not change them for any other experience abroad."

“Time difference is challenging. I found it very frustrating. Sometimes a whole week passed when I kept missing my friends from home because the timing wasn´t good for one of us. It´s confusing to wrap your head around the fact that they live in the day when you live in the night, and they freeze in winter while you are enjoying summer”.

"Fitting in and finding a balance was difficult for me. It's easy to feel like you don't belong. When everything is new and so many new connections were being made around me, I felt a constant pressure to be active, socialise, 'put myself out there'. But I learned that it is equally important to take some time for yourself, and that it is ok to say no to some plans. The experience of studying abroad is different for everyone, and for me, time alone to explore the cities, museums and parks were vital to achieving my own happiness."

"[E]ven if you know roughly what to expect and read up lots beforehand like I did, the [culture] shock is unavoidable, and it takes time to get used to your new surroundings. The best thing is to just be aware that it will take time."

"I think it's important to remember that it takes time to get used to the new place you are living in, so don't let your first reactions dictate the whole of your time there, I think most people shed tears at the start when they realise the reality of having left their own country, friends and family....I think it's important to recognise that moving abroad in an incredibly challenging thing to do and it takes most people at least a couple of months to settle in and get used to their new place, so students shouldn't panic at the start if they feel overwhelmed and out of place - its expected."

Problem-Solving

"Moving around and figuring out what I was allowed to do and what I wasn't was hard as different sources had different information. I resolved to just try and ask locals whenever I felt confused about something and most of the time, they were really helpful, despite a certain degree of language barrier as not everyone speaks fluent English..."

“Even if you don’t wish to completely learn a language, buying a phrasebook or using a free app such as Duolingo to learn some useful phrases will go a long way to endear you to the locals as you are making an effort.”

"I struggled with the different style of teaching. I remedied this by talking to my lecturers and other students for study tips."

"Don't feel attacked or unwelcome because of different cultural tendencies, instead focus on the positives."

Socialising 

“Most universities and cities have opportunities for international students to connect and meet each other.”

“I made amazing friends who I worked with in the office. Working together 9-5 everyday was a really easy way to make immediate friends.”

"In the first week I would see girls I had spoken to at the induction posting on their Instagram story, doing lots of fun things with new people and I was disheartened that I wasn't doing as such fun things, [even] though I was always joining in with plans and meeting new people. By the end of my year abroad, I came away with an amazing circle of lifelong friends. So, just because you don't meet people you click with instantly does not mean you never will."

“The people in my labs were all from Valencia so it was great getting to spend a lot of my time with locals and being able to hear the local language.”

“It was surprisingly easy to meet people in the country, as so many people were wanting to practice English and willing to help teach their own language.”

"During my time abroad, I made friends with people from Mexico, New York, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Korea, and Germany to name a few! Some are now friends for life, and I have already hosted some of my Dutch friends over here in the UK."

“Don’t let someone’s native language be an influential factor in making friends, but an opportunity to meet people from all over the world.”

When You Return

“I can do more than I believe about myself. I can climb and learn to surf; I can deal with cockroaches and be unshaken when I see a spider the size of my palm. I can live in a different country, and I can make friends. I can remember what matters to me wherever I am.”

“I can be quite chatty! Constantly meeting new people means I have learnt how to make a lot of small talk but also gained the confidence to speak to new people in any situation.”

“I am actually good at coping in a completely foreign situation.”

“I can be extremely independent. Having to do everyday things alone in a country where you don’t know anyone can be daunting, but you soon learn how to enjoy these everyday tasks!”

"When studying abroad, you realise how big the world, and how everyone's perspective of the world is so unique. I found it hard to go back home where I was no longer meeting so many other exchange students whom I could constantly learn from. At the beginning it felt like a regression."

“Being abroad helped me realise I could be confident in new situations”.

“I learnt so much about new places and new people but mainly about my own country and myself. Re-considering what I thought of as being normal. Having open eyes and open hearts to discover how different our lives are and listening to each other. It sounds like a cliché, but it is true!”

"It felt strange to be surrounded by English again. There were also some cultural things about France and Spain that began to feel very normal, and it was strange to return home and feel the difference. I felt like I had changed a lot internally, but everything else was the same upon returning, which felt a bit strange and almost like I no longer belonged [here]. However, this is a feeling that dims in intensity as I get used to life in the UK again. If anything, it is encouraging, as it means I can now imagine myself living in another country in the future just as much as the UK."

“I knew to expect reverse shock but it didn´t make it any easier. It makes you feel nobody understands you because they only live in one place while you are torn apart between two or more and unsure where is your home, unsure how to share your experiences because they might not understand.”