Traits to "Pack" For Your Study Abroad Experience

By Danielle Wirsansky on December 22, 2016

Studying abroad is a part of many a college student’s career, and for a lot of them, it was a crucial time. There are many things to commend studying abroad for: the independence, the new people you get to meet, the cultures you get to experience. Participating in this college experience can be beneficial, even transformative, for many students.

But in order to get the most out of your study abroad experience, you should begin to think about what traits to “pack” for your trip. There are many traits to adopt that can help make your trip and the experience as smooth and fulfilling as possible. Read on to learn the traits you should “pack” that will help make your study abroad experience more than rewarding.

pexels.com

o·pen-mind·ed
adjective
           willing to consider new ideas; unprejudiced.

Sometimes it can be hard to be open-minded. It is certainly much easier said than done. We can all be a little set in our ways. I mean, it is not like we do the things we do (or avoid the things we do not) for no reason, right? We are closed minded because we have learned, because we think we know best, because we have been shaped by an experience that makes us wary of trying something. We are trying to protect ourselves from any threat.

But sometimes you cannot get any further ahead without being open-minded. If you are not willing to change and grow and change again, it will be hard to become a better, different person. And if you really want to experience study abroad, let it soak into your bones, immerse yourself into a different country and culture, and let yourself be changed by it, you will have to be a little bit open-minded about it all.

flex·i·ble
adjective
          (of a person) ready and able to change so as to adapt to different circumstances.

Another great trait to try and adopt is flexibility. This one is a toughie too. It can be very difficult to change our ways and do something in a different way than we usually do. We are who we are because it works for us, right? Why fix something that is not broken? And yet sometimes you need to be flexible and adapt to the situation occurring around you.

When you are abroad, you are not as in control as you would be at home. You might not speak the language, you might not know the lay of the land, you might not understand the form of public transportation: there are any number of things that could go awry. You need to be able to roll with the punches and acclimate yourself to your new surroundings and new situation. Be flexible and everything will settle. It will all work out if you give it enough of a chance.

pexels.com

ad·ven·tur·ous
adjective
          willing to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas or experiences.

You have already got at least a taste for the trait of adventurousness if you are contemplating studying abroad. In order to make the commitment, fly overseas, and move to a new land, it certainly requires you to be at least a little bit adventurous. Moving to a new land with new people and a new language is a little daunting, to say the least.

But to make the most of your experience, you have got to be a little daring, a little bold, a little adventurous. Try that new food that looks strange but could certainly end up being delicious. Attempt to speak to someone in the native language and test out your knowledge

spon·ta·ne·ous
adjective
          (of a person) having an open, natural and uninhibited manner.

Being out of your element might not sound like very much fun initially, but you can make it into a positive aspect of your study abroad experience by being spontaneous! When you are a fish out of water, you cannot be as in control of a situation as you might like to be, especially while you are getting used to being in a new country. Maybe your new roommate asks you to join a few people who want to explore the neighborhood of where you are staying or to grab a bite to eat in the café down the street.

Perhaps you feel like it would be best if you stayed in your room and got unpacked and got everything ready to go for when school truly starts. But imagine what you will be missing out on. You could end up having the best time, making new friends, and getting into the culture of the new country you are residing in. What will you lose by going? That is not to say that you should shirk your duties and responsibilities. Let go of your worries and inhibitions and let yourself enjoy the time that you have there.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format