6 Tips you must know when traveling abroad

When I wanted to come to Canada, I had many concerns that I wish someone helped me with, as it was my first time travelling abroad away from my family and my country. I started doing my research, but every site was advising things that were not applicable for me. So, this blog is aiming to help students who are interested in travelling abroad but are feeling clueless.

1. Research the country beforehand

There is nothing wrong with doing a bit of research on the country, the city, or the place that you are travelling to. The culture and traditions are often different from our home countries. Additionally, it is nice to know about the history, and the important dates of that country. This helps in avoiding culture shock, because when I came to Canada, different people were telling me things which made me get confused.

2. Arrange housing 

This point is the most important! As students, we have enough things to stress about so we do not need additional things on our stress list. As a result, make sure that you arrange housing nearby campus or on-campus. It is more convenient to be near campus and the environment will feel safer for you.

3. Download the local apps

Many cities have local apps that are popular for food delivery, taxi service, and other services. Search for them beforehand and download them on your phone. In Canada, we have many applications that are life savers. For instance, Tim Hortons & Starbucks have apps that allow you to collect points with every purchase, Skip the Dishes and Uber Eats to deliver food, etc.

4. Keep an emergency kit ready 

If you are someone who falls sick easily or has allergies, bring your medicine with you. It is always good if you have an emergency kit. The kit should include first aid items like band-aids and basic medicines based on your medical conditions. Familiarizing yourself with the hospitals and medical systems of a different country can be difficult, and this hack is useful in case of a medical emergency. You might not think of small, human details like health insurance but it is extremely important when you’re flying away from home. You never know what will end you up in a foreign hospital, so make sure you’re covered.

5. Pack your bags

Finally, the most exciting part. . . PACKING YOUR BAGS! Before doing that, it is so important to research the weather in the destination that you’re intending to study and to pack appropriate clothes. I remember hearing that Kamloops was cold during the winter, so I filled my luggage with jackets and snow boots.

6.  Prepare yourself mentally

You have to be prepared because you may face several mental challenges when studying abroad, such as homesickness, cultural shock, loneliness, and anxiety. Just like how great things are going to happen in the new destination, for instance, meeting new people and being independent, expect to have some bad days, too. But what’s important is that you know how to deal with them! Instead of doubting the idea of studying abroad or giving up, you will have to work on yourself to strengthen your personality and be flexible and ready to deal with any challenges along the way.

PS. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the Study Abroad webpage here to get more information.

Future Student Ambassador, Maryam – Bachelor of Arts. “Tips for Studying Abroad”, 10 Nov. 2022