The Challenges Of Moving Abroad

My recent big move has been a fairly smooth ride as far as these things go, but it hasn’t always been completely bump free. A voyage across the seas for an extended period of time can be an incredibly worthwhile thing to do; independence, initiative and interest can all be acquired while you’re away. However, it isn’t always plain sailing (perhaps you learn how to make travel related puns as well), here are a few reasons why...

Image: cartoonaday

New People. Meeting people is often one of the hardest parts of moving away. Meeting fun, nice and normal people is often even harder. However, don’t forget that while you’re abroad, you have the perfect opportunity to meet a huge variety of people. Why not approach a randomer on the street and ask them to show you around? If they think you’re weird, just tell them it’s what all English people do.  

New Habits. Getting used to a new routine can be a very confusing thing, but it’s very important to embrace the culture of the place where you are living. Waiting until 9pm to eat dinner, as the French do, was practically impossible to get used to, but now I prefer it. Clubs not even opening until 2am was even stranger but I finally felt like I fit into French culture when I discovered that I can start work as late as 9.30am.

New Living Arrangements. Moving into a flat with strangers and a kettle-less kitchen can be a daunting thing. Discovering how to make the washing machine work provided a particularly deceptive challenge (the washing powder and the freshener look identical!), but making mistakes and learning how to not burn yourself when lighting the oven is all part of the ‘broadening your horizons’ experience.  

Had to invest!

New Language. Without a doubt the most nerve-wracking, nail-biting pre-year abroad jitters for me came from my fear of not being able to understand those around me. Of course it was a struggle at first, and I still occasionally nod my head when someone looks at me expectantly without a clue what I’m agreeing to, but over time it occurs less and less and you begin to understand more and more. 

Wakey Wakey, Rise and Shine

Image: Clips Ahoy

Being in my third week back at university, the inevitable doom of having to get out of bed every day has begun to strike its ugly chord. As frustrating and somewhat embarrassing as it is, getting out of bed is something that a lot of us struggle with, even when we’re not hungover after too many Jaegar bombs the night before. I am hoping that this prolonged bed-kidnapping phase is just that, a phase, but in the mean time I have come up with some solutions to help with that quotidian activity we all dread.

1)    The ‘Desert Island Alarm Clock’. A great technique for ensuring you arise from your bed at a speedy pace is to leave your alarm clock (or your phone) with the most annoying ringtone you can find on the other side of the room. Warning: Do not attempt if you’re living the ultimate student lifestyle and can reach every surface in your room from your bed, this one might not work for you.

2)    The ‘Breakfast Date’. If you promise a friend that you’ll meet them for a coffee before lectures/work you’ll feel like you really can’t let them down. Warning: Do not attempt if you don’t have any form of guilt complex.  

3)    The ‘Friend Alarm’. Persuade another friend with a 9am to create the raving, party-scene in your bedroom. Flickering lights, loud music in your ear and plenty of jumping up and down on top of you will do the trick. They’ll love watching you suffer and you might manage to stir slightly. Warning: Do not attempt if unwanted disturbance can cause the occasional violent impulse.

4)    The ‘Hold it in’. This might sound like a bit of masochistic torture, but why not avoid that desire to go to the loo just before you get into bed so that by the time morning comes you’ll have no choice but to jump out of bed in a fluster. Warning: Do not attempt if a) you are under 10 years old b) you have bed-wetting tendencies c) you’re drunk.