Studying Abroad: the Ups, the Downs, and Finally Feeling “At home”! (Part 1 of a 4 part series)

Part 1: “Help! What the heck am I doing here?!”

It happens to every study abroad student, the feeling of “not belonging” in the country you are living in with a crashing wave of homesickness and frequent dosages of frustration. No matter where you go and what you see, there will be something about your temporary home that will either confuse you or make you mad (or both!).  Depending on how you deal with the “Frustration Stage” of studying abroad, it can last as little as one month…. or it can last until you return to your home country (hopefully that is not the case for you).

And then, whether you consciously realize it or not, there will come a point in time when the things that used to baffle you will not mystify and frustrate you so much. There will a time when you find that you can overcome past annoyances and not allow such things to dishearten you, nor keep you from pursuing your dreams while abroad… And depending on your perspective and outlook on life, you may even start to feel a bit sad knowing that you only have a limited amount of time before you must board that plane back home.

Find little things that will bring joy to your everyday life.

End of Part 1