Three tips before you go on a study exchange

Learning while in a foreign city can be one of the most enriching experiences during your time at university. However, there are challenges that may test your resolve. Here are three tips from us to make your time abroad more fulfilling and smooth.

Learn key phrases in the local language

You don’t want to have an emergency need for the bathroom only to realise that you don’t know how to ask for where it is. Nor do you want to buy a beautiful souvenir for your grandma and get charged an exorbitant foreigner’s price.

How much is this?
What is the cheapest price you can do?
My name is _____. What is your yours?
Where is the bathroom?
Good morning / Good afternoon
Excuse me, how can I go to _____?

Explore different communities

Social media is a great tool for this. Facebook has a diverse network of Groups which are free to join and participate in. Members in these Groups often do activities together and support each others’ common interests. For example, if you are from Japan and you are studying in Australia, there are many Facebook Groups to help you make friends and feel more comfortable. Just search “Japanese in Australia” in Facebook, and then click on “Groups”. You will see many communities you can join.

Before you arrive in your exchange city, you can search for Groups that would suit your interest and network with the members in it. That way, you will have friends to introduce you to different areas and share useful tips from the moment you touch down. Memories are best made with people

Practise your mathematics

We don’t mean that you have to bring your textbook with you. Our point is that the exchange rate between your country’s currency and your exchange country’s could take some time for you to get used to. It could be quite simple. Perhaps it’s just 1:2. However, it will most likely take more mental arithmetic. Adapting to your exchange rate will make your life more efficient and budget-friendly. You don’t want to load your bag full of grocery items only to realise that you don’t have enough money to pay for it!