How International Students Can Deal
with Stress?
Being
away from home by studying abroad can be difficult. No matter how much you love
what you’re studying, you’ll still struggle with being away from your family
and living in such a new and different environment.
International
students usually have a lot more to think about than just their studies, and
this can cause them to deal with piles more of stress. This can take a toll on
their everyday lives and make their stay difficult. Here are some of the most
common problems international students face and how they can be dealt with.
The culture shocks
The first thing that usually causes stress to international students is culture
shock. When you’ve spent your entire life in one country, lived a certain way,
and gotten used to a particular everyday life, change can be pretty difficult.
The biggest issue is that most of the changes all come in a matter of hours. The
scenery is different, the new city moves at a different pace, and everything is
unfamiliar. No matter how much a person was looking forward to expanding their
knowledge by studying abroad, such a big change can be overwhelming.
If
you don’t have the ability to travel to that country before you have to live
there, the best thing you can do is prepare yourself as much as possible for
the stay. Watch videos, read articles and educate yourself about the special culture you’ll experience. While you won’t be able to find out everything about
your new home online, you’ll manage to have a pretty good idea about it, and
you’ll be more prepared for the culture you’ll find after you spend a few days
in the new country.
Financial issues
Many
students who study abroad do so thanks to scholarships. While being able to
expand your horizons and gain so much knowledge is an amazing thing, it isn’t
always financially easy for everyone. Some countries can simply be more
expensive to live in than others and there are students who struggle to make
ends meet.
It’s
not uncommon for international students to try and land a job on top of their
studies. Finding a balance between working and studying can be stressful, and
not only can it leave the student feeling exhausted mentally and physically, it
can also make them less social than they typically are.
While
many universities offer financial aid programs, it’s not an option for everyone
as they may be even more worried about paying the debt off. The costs of living
and studying abroad don’t just apply to university expenses either. Students
also have to eat, buy clothes, and pay for things like public transportation.
Most
students who struggle financially end up not being able to go out as often and
connect with their peers. That can cause a lot of loneliness, and it can be
hard to deal with for a young person. The best thing is to ask for financial
advice from a professional. Many universities offer the help of a financial
advisor who will be able to guide you through your issues. Along with that, you
can try to find freelance or part-time on-campus jobs (depending on what your
visa allows). Many freelance jobs, like copywriters and translators, are more
compatible with the lifestyle of a student and pay well after you’ve gained
some experience.
The language barrier
Another problem that causes students stress is the language barrier. Even if the person
studying abroad is fluent in the country’s language, it can still be difficult
to communicate with others because of many accents and dialects.
While
you may be able to get used to that after a while, talking and understanding
someone’s speech is completely different from studying in another country. In
most cases, based on what you’re studying, the terminology can be difficult and
that can take a toll on your studies.
While
things will get better the more practice you get, it’s usually better if you
make the situation a little easier for yourself in the first place. Before
deciding which country, you wish to study in, learn some of the languages or to
pick a destination with enough time for you to perfect your knowledge of the
language. You can always ask friends to help you practice and study with them.
Not feeling safe in the new country
The big problem that causes many international students’ anxiety is living in a
country they don’t feel safe in. At the beginning of their journey, everything
might seem ideal. You found a cheap place close to the campus, and it generally
looks like everything will work in your favor.
In
many cases, choosing a place to stay over the internet can come with
consequences. You’ll end up having high expectations and the situation can
disappoint you a lot more than it should. Living near campus might be
convenient, but it could be dangerous if you don’t know the city well.
A good idea is to try and find accommodations through your university. If there
are dorms available, you can stay there. This option is usually available to
international students and will provide you with a safer and more pleasant
experience until you get to know the city you’re now living in better.
Missing family
Another
problem international student has to deal with is missing their families. Being
away from home is never easy, and no matter how excited you are for your new
life to start, you’ll always miss your house, your bed, the members of your
family, and your friends.
The more introverted a person is, the more difficult it will be to bond with new
people and fill the gap of the people you’re missing. Focusing on your studies
is important and will help you remember your purpose in this new situation.
Your family won’t go anywhere while you’re away. They’ll miss you too, but the
best thing you can do is make them proud. Call and video chat with them often
so you see each other whenever possible.
Adjusting to a new way of life can
be tricky
Living
and studying abroad is definitely not an easy task. Everything around you will
be new, and you’ll have to learn how to be respectful toward other people and
their culture. The benefits of studying abroad are many, and there’s no
struggle that should change your mind when it comes to going through such an
amazing experience.
You’ll
definitely feel stressed during your first few weeks, and it will take you a
while to get used to the new surroundings. The key is to not give up and let
all the stress overwhelm you.
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