5 Things I wish I knew before studying abroad as a freshman

I didn’t start my college years loading posters, bed sheets, and clothes in the back of a car like most freshmen. Instead, I started college playing a game of Tetris with my clothes as I tried to figure out how to pack my entire life into two suitcases. After all, students are quite limited on how much they can bring when they move abroad. 

I did not have a traditional start to my college experience, and I would not have wanted it any other way. When I decided to study abroad at The American University of Paris under the N.U.in program during my first semester of college at Northeastern, I quickly realized that while it was a new and exciting experience, it was not always going to be easy. Hence, I compiled a list of the top five things I wish I knew before studying abroad.

1. Don’t underestimate culture shock 

Moving towns or states for college and having to adjust to new places is already hard enough, but moving to a new country poses an entirely different set of challenges. When you go abroad, it is essential that you are patient with yourself and your new surroundings. When I first arrived in Paris, I realized that the culture felt sophisticated, unlike the chill Los Angeles culture I had spent my whole life in. This made me feel like an outsider at times, but as time passed, I became more comfortable with the Parisian culture and its norms.

Though it does get better and you will adjust, you may experience homesickness and feel isolated. If you ever feel this way, just know you are not alone. It is in moments like this that you have to push past your comfort level and go out, meet new people, and try new things. For me, this looked like getting involved with a local church, volunteering at a nursery, and joining a campus dance club. Even in a massive city like Paris, I was able to find my place and make friends through these resources both on and off campus. Additionally, since N.U.in is a cohort of other first-year students, it is super easy to get connected, as everyone is in the same boat. Northeastern was especially proactive in connecting me with other students, which made me feel less alone in adjusting to my new life in Paris. Our cohort staff was also incredibly driven when it came to programming. Our on-site student success coordinators made an active effort to meet with me either once or twice a month and sometimes even treated me to coffee or a croissant.

2. Make local friends 

Making local friends is not always an easy thing to do when you are living in a new place, but I would argue it is one of the best things you can do for yourself. By making local friends, you not only add to your roster of people to have fun with, but you also learn more about the culture, language, and hidden gems of the place you’re studying abroad in. One of the best ways to do this is through volunteering. It was through volunteering at a local nursery that I made one of my closest friends, who I still keep in touch with to this day. She showed me the best restaurants in Paris that are off the beaten path. She also taught me more about Parisian etiquette, which helped me immerse myself in the culture. I learned that it is not acceptable to go out wearing pajamas with wet hair like college students normally do on American campuses. I also learned that eating in public can be viewed as rude, so I stopped walking to class with a bagel in hand and ate breakfast before leaving for class instead.

3. You grow FAST when you’re uncomfortable 

Use the initial discomfort of being abroad to your advantage! It is in moments like this that you learn the most about yourself and are able to shift perspectives. I did not realize it at the time, but somewhere between arriving in Paris and going back home, I learned how to better manage my anxiety and increased my sense of independence. While in Paris, I found that it was super cheap to travel around Europe. Once, I booked a flight for less than 40 euros to Edinburgh, Scotland, with a friend I met through the N.U.in program. I embraced my spontaneous side and ventured to Portugal, Germany, Austria, and Belgium. In addition, I was also able to experience more structured trips that were built into the N.U.in program. Some of my favorite excursions I attended with my cohort were to places like Normandy Beach, Rouen, The Palace of Versailles, and Provins.

My host university in Paris also offered therapy and counseling appointments, which I found especially helpful during my growth journey in Paris. I mention this because many European schools have similar resources that you can take advantage of for free or for a small cost. Attending these counseling and therapy sessions helped serve as reassurance for me to realize that even the moments where things felt messy were contributing to my evolution as a person. However, as an N.U.in student, you also automatically have access to similar resources through Northeastern itself. Staying in touch with contact points from Northeastern’s identity centers, Disability Access Services (DAS), and the cohort staff you go abroad with are all great ways to ensure you prioritize your wellbeing as you adapt to a new place. 

4. Pack lighter than you think you should 

You don’t need to pack absolutely everything you own to study abroad. While studying abroad, you are likely to find new clothes, trinkets, and other goods that you love. When packing to study abroad, pack only the essentials and your favorite things. I can almost guarantee that you’ll need the extra space in your luggage for when you return home. 

5. Reverse culture shock also exists 

Just like how culture shock hits when you arrive in a new place, reverse culture shock also exists. It’s important to give yourself grace when you return home after studying abroad. It can be an adjustment, as you’ll have just come out of one of the best chapters in your life. But with time, you will adjust once again, just as you did before when you were abroad. When you arrive on the Boston campus in the spring, you will attend a spring Husky 101 Orientation, which is an information session specifically for N.U.in students. Through this, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the resources available to you in Boston, acclimate to the Boston campus lifestyle, and connect with students from other N.U.in locations. I personally found my Husky 101 Orientation super helpful because it served as a reminder that I was not about to take on Boston alone. Instead, I walked onto the larger Boston campus knowing I had real support from friends and faculty I had developed relationships with while abroad.

I never once felt displaced when adjusting to Boston, especially considering Northeastern students are always on the move with co-ops, study abroad experiences, or other opportunities across Northeastern’s global campus network. A few days after arriving on campus, I was greeted by hundreds of tables at the Winter Involvement Fair, which is an event where students can learn more about campus involvement, organizations, and clubs. Through this event, I really found my place on campus through groups like Husky Ambassadors, Agape, and the Veritas Forum. 

In total, studying abroad does come with challenges, but they are all absolutely worth it. Eventually, you will be thankful for the challenges you endured because they will have shaped you into a stronger and more worldly individual. As you venture into your freshman year of college, you often don’t know what to expect. That does not have to be a scary thing — instead, it can be the most exciting and liberating part of college.