7 Lessons Learned from Study Abroad

There is a lot more to study abroad than just academics. Here are 7 lessons you can learn from the entire process of studying abroad.

Studying abroad lesson #1 - You can learn a lot from the simple act of traveling.

One of the biggest pastimes for students studying abroad is traveling to explore their adopted country. In fact, many study abroad programs are designed to have the academics condensed into Monday through Thursday in order to allow students the ability to travel during an extended weekend. You will be surprised at what you can learn from your travels throughout your study abroad experience.

Studying abroad lesson #2 - You take your physical surroundings for granted.

If you grew up in flat surroundings and then study abroad in Ecuador amongst the Andes Mountains for a semester, you may notice just how flat your homeland is once you return. In fact, you may notice it for the first time in your life. In any case, studying abroad proves that people can quickly adjust to their surroundings. You will experience some reverse culture shock upon return, especially if you study abroad for a semester or longer.

Studying abroad lesson #3 - College students are similar all over the world.

Wherever you find college students, you will find a party. The more you interact with college students from other countries, the more you realize that there are more commonalities among people than there are differences. This is an invaluable lesson no matter what field one is studying or where he or she goes to college.

Studying abroad lesson #4 - In some countries, it is the norm to live with your parents until you are married, even if you have a good job.

This is especially true in Latin America. At first you might find it a bit strange, but it can be a blessing as well. Older host-siblings can help you learn a lot about the culture into which you are submersed. This is especially true if he or she studied at your host institution.

Studying abroad lesson #5 - Living with a host family isn't as scary as it first appears.

One of your biggest fears might be living with a host family. However, it can turn into the best part of the experience. If you really don't get along with your host family all that well, you can always travel every weekend. In that way, you won't have to spend much time with them at home, and you will get to see the country. Relationships with host families are as complex as those in any family or living situation.

Studying abroad lesson #6 - Life is one huge adventure.

It is an understatement to state that studying abroad is a big adventure. The thing is that it makes you realize that everything in life is an adventure. If you are the least bit timid, studying abroad will quickly bring you out of your shell. After you study abroad, you won't look at the world at the same way. Adventure will always be a part of your life after you study abroad.

Studying abroad lesson #7 - You can always go home again.

Even though you will come home with a lot of experience, wonderful stories to tell, and memories to last a lifetime, you truly can go home again. Before you know it, you will be back into your routine in no time. Just be sure to break out of it every once in a while in order to satisfy that newly developed sense of adventure you developed while studying abroad.

While there are a lot of academic reasons to study abroad as well, the life lessons learned while studying abroad are invaluable. There is no good way to estimate their impact on your life once you return.