Studying abroad? Prepare to be lucky… By William Lightfoot

It is a big bold move to pursue a degree (or part of degree) in another country. Unlike backpacking, hostelling, or just plain travelling, when you study abroad, you are actually expected to come home with something more than a couple of gig of photos, a few trinkets, and the addresses of places not to stay. When you study abroad, you expect at the very least you will somehow be more worldly…globalization will cease to be an abstract concept and instead, you will be the embodiment of a global citizen – one who can comfortably, and somewhat effortlessly travel the world with ease, doing business, making friends, identifying opportunities because you have developed deep insights into the mysteries of the globe. Or maybe not.

But at least you will have a certificate; maybe some transfer credits, perhaps event a diploma or degree that attests the hard work and effort you have put in as a student of the world.

Of course getting to this stage means that effectively you throw caution to the wind, making several key assumptions:

1. That the educational system is comparable to the one you have been partaking in;
2. You will have basic facilities in which to:
a. Live
b. Study
c. Develop friendships
3. You will have enough exposure and interaction to the 'local' culture such that you begin to assimilate into that culture.

These are but a few of the assumptions we typically make when preparing to study abroad.

Prepare to be lucky…

And while there is perhaps one thing that is guaranteed when it comes to your experience, (that being that the experience will not work out precisely the way you expect it to)…taking a few basic steps can help you get the most out of your experience…preparing you (as it were) to be lucky.

How to Prepare:

1. Envision how the experience will go (dream a little…or a lot!)

2. Identify some key foundation blocks you can put in place that will help you realize your dream;

3. Open yourself up to the endless possibilities.

Dream

This may seem a little ridiculous, or absurd – but it is really simply a way to get you focused on getting the most from your experience. Envision the environment – literally the place you will live and study, envision the people – what do they look like, how will they act – how will YOU in turn act? What smells, sights, sounds will become part of your every day experience? What will the view be outside your rooms window?

What about the ups and downs – you know – those moments, or even days when you miss home, miss you friends, maybe your dog (or cat!)…can you envision having a few days and nights that are lonely? How will you handle them?

It helps to paint a picture in your mind, of what kind of environment and experience you will have, taking into account – at least to some extent, the challenges of being alone in a new place…besides the emotional highs and lows, you will also begin to map out how your experience can flow.  

Foundations

Mapping out the flow essentially means that you are setting a common direction for your experience. You may not have most of the details sorted, but you may know what the end game looks like (more or less).

So what are the foundations? Well an obvious one might be language – even English has many different versions – it helps to know the difference between a boot and a jumper – for example – in the UK versus the US…and a few words of 'street or restaurant' French, Chinese, or Spanish will inevitably be met with a combination of giggles, corrections, or if the accent is somehow close, maybe even (and in some cases – most terrifyingly) – an actual response! In the end, you will get a few points for at least attempting the language which more often than not, loosens up other people, and helps to establish a common bond.

Other foundations you might want to build include:

1. History

2. Culture

3. Famous people

4. Politics (enough to know when to draw the line)

5. Religion (ditto)

6. Customs

7. Faux pas' (ie what NOT to do)

And as you are a student…get your text books and other reading material early, and actually prepare! (To prepare means take off the plastic wrap, read through the material, familiarizing yourself with the content). Depending on the subject matter, you may also wish to do further research that helps you dig deeper into the subject matter. This will help you identify other areas of interest, and can also endear you to your professors in the early days – which is not usually a bad thing to do!

Open yourself up to the possibilities

So you have dreamed of your ideal situation, even taking into account the probable challenges and culture shocks that are an inevitable aspect of virtually any significant travel experience. You have plotted and planned, preparing yourself by studying maps, by learning a little of the local language, by reading through material about the history, culture, customs, and perhaps even the subjects you will study. There is one more thing you should do.

Be open to whatever comes your way! We are not saying drop the degree program, or withdraw from the course. What we are saying is lead with your eyes and your ears – ask questions, be open to others opinions, perspectives, and experiences – and be willing to try new things, new ideas, and new challenges…you may think you have all of the answers about politics or religion (as two prime examples of subjects often debated and seldom resolved in many a long turn in hostels globally)….but the truth is…there are many ways to see – and to solve – the same dilemma.

Studying abroad can deepen our beliefs, or it can significantly alter them. In either case, change does occur, and we are better for it as we will have had the opportunity to discover – through the eyes, mouths, and ears of others – as well as ourselves, some of the many different lens through which we navigate this globe.

And when we open ourselves up to other points of view, or to other unplanned experiences, then we are also opening ourselves up to endless possibilities – and perhaps most importantly, to the possibility that our dreams may in fact be realized.  

Dr. Lightfoot is the Dean of the School of Business & Mass Communication at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia. He formerly led the International University of Monaco in attaining AMBA accreditation, and in becoming ranked as one of the top Business Schools in the world. An avowed capitalist, he believes you can prepare to be lucky by dreaming big, and preparing well