Ways to Study Abroad Internationally and Blend In: Tips from Other Students

* When I was studying abroad in France, it was my first experience studying internationally and I was living alone in a family. At the same time, the war broke out in Iraq and I knew very well that most people didn't support it. I wanted to blend in as much as possible, but still get the most of my international study abroad experience. Instead of hanging out at American places, like bars and American clubs, I started to go to the French places and tried to look like I belonged as much as possible. Now, I don't know if it really would have made a difference if i still wen to the American bars, but I do know that while I was studying abroad, it made all the difference that I did get out to do things that the French do like the French do it. I recommend pretending you're a native to any one.

* All international study abroad participants will find tricks to blend in. Mine was not opening a map on every street corner to try to find where in the world I was. I really wanted to be smart about blending in, so I went out of my way to avoid the maps. Before I left the dorm everyday, I would plan my route as much as possible. If I happened to get lost, I would look at the back of a bus bench or kiosk for directions. If I was looking for a very specific place that required a map, I would print it on paper so it looked like I was just looking for an address or something if I opened it up in public. I really liked how people kind of left me along and let me blend in.

* I signed up for gym membership at a gym down the street. All of the workers started to know me by name and it was really rewarding to feel like even though I was an international study abroad student, I had a home and reputation in Germany. I think it's always a great idea to sign up for gym membership if you want to blend in with the locals.

* I made friends with the sister in my host family. She took me to all these places that the other international students in my study abroad program never learned about - the fun local bars, the poetry nights - all that stuff. I learned Italian faster, I think, because I didn't' hang out in the same crowd as all the other English-speaking participants. I embraced the mystery of the international experience and really benefited from it.

* Some of the other International students that I met in a hostel while traveling on my own and i rented a car and drove from Interlaken in Switzerland all the way to Bern. We saw parts of the Swiss country that we wouldn't have had a chance to see otherwise. While none of us spoke German, we got by in gestures with the locals. I would recommend renting a car and just taking off for awhile to anyone studying abroad. I loved it!