Living and studying abroad is a dream for many students. Plenty of them succeed in fulfilling their dreams without a second thought. There are also numerous benefits of living in an area other than your native place. But, along with the benefits, several challenges are also associated with it. However, it is not arduous to solve these challenges.
If you know about those challenges in advance, it becomes easier for you to solve them. Moreover, knowing about them in advance makes you mentally prepared to face such challenges.
Here, you will know what the main challenges are of living abroad along with possible solutions.
Language Barrier
Language barrier is a major challenge that students face when they reach abroad. This challenge occurs especially in those countries where English is not a native language. We can take countries like Germany and France as examples where native languages are German and French respectively. In such places, sometimes, it becomes difficult to communicate with native students and other native people.
Besides, sometimes, language problem occurs in the native English-speaking countries also. Non-native English speakers may face problems with fluency and understanding accents.
Solutions
There are different ways to solve this challenge, and in different countries, there are arrangements to do this. Many universities, colleges, and independent institutions provide special language courses for students. Besides, if you are in a non-native English-speaking country, you should start learning the native language of the country through the internet and other sources. You can start by learning some major words. Many YouTube videos are available, which teach foreign languages whose help you can take. You can also learn accents of different countries through YouTube videos and many other internet sources.
Besides, you can also explore the libraries to learn a foreign language or to increase your fluency in English. There are some best libraries in London, Paris, Berlin, and many other cities, where you can visit. Moreover, practicing the language with your classmates who are native to that place also enhances your skills in that language.
Change in Culture
Immersing into a new culture is a challenge in itself. You get many culture shocks when you visit a new country. You may find differences in traditions, ways of talking, and many other things. But, it is not a difficult challenge to face and you can easily immerse into the culture of the country or city that you have chosen for your studies and stay.
Solutions
You can start reading about the culture of the country or city where you are going from your home country on the internet or in the books. You can do the same after reaching your host city.
Besides, talking to the native people of the place where you have relocated yourself is the best way to immerse into the local culture. For this, you can talk to your classmates who belong to that city or country. If you have chosen a homestay as your student accommodation then it becomes easier for you to understand the new culture. In the homestay, you choose to live with the family living in the city where your institute is. So, you watch their daily life, customs, ways of talking, and many other things, and sometimes become part of them. It gives you a practical experience and you easily immerse into the culture.
If you have chosen a student housing property, then you can talk to the staff there that belongs to that place. You can also talk to the co-resident belonging to that country; however, housing properties for students usually host international students so you may not find the local students there.
Change in Climate
If you are coming from a distant country, you may find a different climate in your host country than your home country. Climate change can be a challenge since it may affect your health. Besides, if you are from a hot country and going to a cold country or vice versa, then you may find it difficult to bear the climate.
Solutions
Know about the weather of your host country/city via available resources and keep suitable clothes with you. Get the medical advice from time to time in your host city.
