Please note that due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, many institutions have suspended on-campus instruction and are holding classes online until further notice. Due to increased travel restrictions, reduced visa services and public health quarantines, study abroad options may be affected. ApplyESL recommends contacting your program of interest and local embassy or consulate to obtain the latest updates.
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5 Steps to Study Abroad Success

Step 5 Get Ready

Adapting to New Surroundings

Emerging Differences

Gradually, as you become more involved in activities and get to know the people around you, differences, as well as similarities, will become increasingly apparent. There are many differences that may at first seem "foreign" or strange. However, exposure to those differences is what makes the study abroad experience worthwhile.

Living in a foreign country necessarily means that you will be exposed to lifestyles, cultural aspects, and people who you have not been in contact with before. Of course, adjusting to a new environment is difficult as well as exciting. This difficulty may lead to something called, "culture shock." However, if you remain positive and keep an open mind, you will overcome culture shock and develop a new appreciation for such differences.