Tips for International Students

Taken from: https://www.gostudy.com.au/blog/10-tips-for-international-students/

Being an international student could, for most people, be a great step for a new life (changing)
experience. Here are some recommendations for a better experience abroad.

1. Practice communicating in a different culture

We are pretty sure that one of the main reasons for your journey is about learning a language. We
recommend avoiding hanging around students from your own country or that speak your native
language. In this way you will improve faster and you’ll also get to know other cultures and make
friends from around the world. 

2. Manage your funds

Being an international student also means being on a budget. You can spend wisely and save by: -
finding a job (if your visa allows it). - having a bank account to avoid bank fees - wisely choosing
your phone plan according to your real needs. - using your student card to get some deals on
transport, and in restaurants, bars, cafes, gyms, etc. - living like a local. - cooking your own meals. 

3. Arrange community meetings

We advise you to go and visit the student services at your university as soon as possible, because
they can tell you everything you need to know about the city and its surroundings! You can also
take advantage of their resources and activities, which may lead to you making new friends!
Remember: everyone wants to make friends at university. It is an opportunity to get to know people
from different cultures.

4. Take care of yourself

Medical fees can be costly, so make sure you have access to an activated health insurance that
can cover you in case anything bad happens.

5. Get involved
Take advantage and immerse yourself into the culture and in your local life (food, activities, places
to visit...). Read local or national blogs to find where to go, what to see or eat and what to do. We
definitely recommend you have a look at this one: https://www.theurbanlist.com/

6. Be open minded

Foreign countries might not be like your home country in all aspects: from the food, to the climate,
to the mentality, even to the education system. It might be surprising so don't start to focus on the
differences between home and this new country. Being open minded abroad gives you the most
opportunity and the best experience ever!

7.  Find accomodation
While you arrive to your destination we advise you to have a temporary residence. Once you are in
the country, you can start to look for a share house. It’s very important to see the flat and meet the
people in it before paying the rent “eyes closed”. Otherwise, it's easy to get ripped off. A shared
place is a way cheaper and more comfortable than living in a hostel.

8. Fight your homesickness

This feeling is an unfortunate fact of life, and the better you are prepared for it, the easier it will be.
We highly recommend you keep in touch with your friends and family back home as talking to loved
ones can really strengthen you. We also advise you to go out, meet new people, try new things and
do things that keep you busy.
Hi!! My name is Edward, I am from Norway, and I study at Harvard University. I live in a house that
hosts many people. As there are a lot of people, there is an 0.enormous bathroom where there
are showers, toilets, and 1._____________. When I first came to live here, I didn’t know how to
use it properly because I used to have my own bathroom. What I did was to leave my 2.
______________ in the bathroom every time I used it, so I lost many personal things believing I
could choose my own bathroom. Later, I could 3.______________ how it worked. Also, I really like
the dining hall because it has many tables, the lighting is pleasant as if you were at home, and it is
so clean. I had some trouble 4._____________ my food since I didn’t see anything similar to what I
ate in Norway. Nonetheless, I tried new 5.______________ and discovered I love new flavors. One
of my favorite classes is in a big auditorium where there is a 6._____________ and many desks
surrounding it. When I attended the first class, I shared my opinion several times because
everyone was in silence, but my classmates were not comfortable with my interventions as they
stared at me with 7.________________ eyes. In the afternoon, I like to go to the gym available
which has plenty of machines for cardio and resistance exercises, and since my friends didn’t
exercise so often, I thought it would be 8._____________ if I worked out from 3 to 5 times a week,
so I stopped my physical activity. We have a lawn on the campus where we can do picnics, study
with our friends, and 9.______________; it is in front of the library. The last place is my preferred
coffee shop where I can do homework and noise doesn’t 10._______________me because the
music is relaxing, they make the best coffee ever, we should go some day!!!

1. handwashes

2. belonging

3. understand

4. picking up

5. dishes

6. podium

7. judging

8. wrong

9. chill

10. bother