Make the most of your Experience

Before you've even decided where you're going, start saving. You can absolutely plan and execute a study abroad experience with very little money (I did it three times) but the more money you have saved the more options you will have.

Once you have an experience locked in it's time to get learning. Learn the language - as much as you can before you go. The Duolingo app is a great start: it's fun and it's free. If you're going to an English-speaking country, there will for sure be some differences, so jump on google and search for the local lingo.  

Learn about the country: the local laws, customs, travel tips, etc. Smartraveller and Lonely Planet are great resources.

Make some friends: join and follow pages or groups on social media from your host city/town/university so you can start connecting with people who live there.

During your experience, make the most of every opportunity. Join a club, find a group fitness class, volunteer for a community organisation, try new things, say yes to social outings with your new friends. Of course you're there to study as well, but you didn't travel to the other side of the world to sit in a library. Everything in balance.

There's a good chance you'll get homesick or experience culture shock. The best way to get through this is to keep busy. Busy outside, doing things in your new home town. I recommend not keeping up with what's going on at home because this will likely just make you more homesick. And nothing's going on at home, literally nothing. It may seem like you're missing out but you're not. You're living your best life in some amazing destination for a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity. And when you do get home, you'll realise that absolutely nothing has changed. Except you. You will have changed quite a bit. And that's a good thing.

After your experience, you will need to readjust to life back home. You will likely experience "reverse culture shock". It can be tough fitting back in as the new person you are. Keep in touch with all your new friends but also work on finding your place at home. Look for language/cultural groups from where you've just returned from. Become an ambassador for Student Exchange or 'student buddy' for Exchange students if your university/organisation has something set up. Join any sort of international club in your town/city that resonates with you to keep those study abroad vibes going for as long as possible.

Next, it's a great idea to update your resumé to add the experience you've just successfully completed and all your new skills: cross-cultural communication, problem-solving, adaptability, ability to take initiative, a high level of organisation, etc.

Finally, as you've probably caught the bug now, it's time to start planning your next adventure!