Being an international student is undeniably stressful. You leave your life behind, say goodbye to your friends and family, and go to a different country to study. You won’t be able to walk the streets you’re used to or greet your neighbors for some time. But it’s also an exciting period!
As you study, you’ll be able to make friends, learn a new language, and, most importantly, travel. There’s a whole city for you to explore on a daily basis. Once you get some time off, you can even take a short trip across the country.
But how does one get comfortable in a new location? How do you even manage the logistics, find the energy to study, or socialize with the locals? In this guide, we’ll walk you through that and more. You’ll learn how to keep your budget at bay and even transform your accommodations into a cozy home. Follow along!
Logistics and Navigating a New City
Navigating a new place might seem complicated from the get-go. As soon as you arrive, you won’t have a proper internet or mobile connection unless you have a suitable eSIM activated.
Only with an eSIM card will you be able to text your family when you land and use the maps to get to your accommodation, so it’s recommended to pick a good plan until you get access to the local Wi-Fi network. Checking the comparisons like Saily vs. Airalo helps you find a deal that works best for you.
Once you’ve unpacked and gotten comfortable, you might have some free time to explore. It’s nice to see the location, get some food, and grab a coffee after arrival. But first, you have to understand how to get around. If the city is small and walkable, you won’t have any problems with it. You can just go out on foot and follow the GPS navigation. If the city has bike lanes or an established bike-sharing system, you can ride a bike instead. This option is faster and completely eco-friendly.
In most cases, however, you’ll have to rely on the local public transport. Buses, trams, and trains are usually the most common way to travel. Depending on the part of the world, you might not see many people getting on or off, it’s best to ask around about the most used transportation then.
Some countries and cities around the world have dedicated public transportation apps. They let you see which means are available, when they arrive and depart, and how often you can board them. You can also buy tickets or a pass through most of these apps online. If you get lost or need to get somewhere quickly, use ridesharing apps.
But the best way you can learn about the city and navigate it is, of course, through other people. You’ll make friends, get to know your neighbors, go on dates, and the locals will help you find the most appealing spots. Eventually, you’ll explore all local coffee shops, museums, malls, and restaurants.
Studying and Academics
Navigating the city isn’t what you came here for, though. You came here to learn something new and graduate. For many international students, the move is distracting. You have to do so much in addition to getting a hang of your coursework! Don’t worry. It’s normal to go through low motivation and procrastination when you arrive.
First, you’ll need to create a suitable working environment in your new accommodation. Ensure that nothing is distracting you when you study, you need to fully focus on the task at hand. If your roommates are too noisy or you don’t have any personal space to occupy, find a quiet corner in the library or coffee shop. Everyone prefers different locations, so you’ll have to try and learn what works for you.
Secondly, don’t forget to take some breaks. Studying might be important, but you can’t be hard on yourself. You’ve got so much weighing you down as an international student that you can’t possibly risk overexertion and burning out in the first semester. Divide your day into three parts and study during one of them. Always dedicate weekends to socialization and relaxation.
Last but not least, don’t hesitate to ask for help. You’re new in the class, but it doesn’t mean you can’t reach out to others when you’re struggling with your studies. Maybe that can be the start of a new friendship!
Building a Social Network from Scratch
When you move, you leave all of your social connections behind. Although you can still text your friends and meet them when you visit your home country, you’ll have to build a new social network from scratch. Try to find connections organically by exploring the city and enjoying hobbies, such as:
- going to a local coffee shop;
- exploring the nearest bookstore;
- studying in the library;
- getting a gym membership or joining an amateur sports team;
- hanging out in a park;
- doing art, pottery, or any other creative activity;
- visiting a museum, etc.
You can ask the people from the orientation for advice on the most active spots in the city. Even if you have trouble making friends, enjoying your time, and improving yourself will bring the right people closer to you.
Downloading a relevant application can also help. Similarly to dating, you can find apps for socializing and making friends on the app store. This path can be easier as you don’t have to reach out in person, which makes some people nervous.
Managing Finances
When you go abroad, you’ll probably have to get used to the new prices and currency. Understanding the differences will be a huge part of managing your finances. So, make sure you download a currency converter before you depart to convert the prices into your domestic currency and understand how much money you’re spending in a new country.
Next, pinpoint how much money you can work with. Calculate your personal savings, family contributions, scholarships, and income, and see how much you can spend every month. Then, subtract costs like tuition, rent, and other fixed sums. The rest will be your allowance. You’ll spend it on food, transportation, and entertainment. These costs usually vary.
You can stick to the common 50/30/20 rule when managing finances. 50% of your money goes to needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings. Of course, not everyone can save money as a student, but you should chip in as much as you can into your emergency savings, just in case. To control how much you’re spending, note each purchase, review your habits, and limit certain categories as you see fit. If it’s possible with your visa, you can take up different part-time jobs to have a little more monthly allowance.
Making Your New House a Home
As you move into your room or apartment, you’ll instantly feel like it’s empty and uninviting. Once the boxes are unpacked, the fastest way to make a new place feel like home is through familiar comforts — a movie night with your favorite show, a video call with family, or some music while you settle in. Most of these small rituals depend on that Wi-Fi network you just connected to, which is exactly why it's worth thinking about how safe and reliable that connection really is.
That’s why remember to use a VPN for streaming, whether it be to catch up with your favorite shows or watch coursework remotely. A VPN is also useful when you’re using an open network with different people to protect your personal data, or else someone you don’t know can intercept your connection.
That said, you can start making your room your new home to offset any homesickness. Surprisingly, lighting and scents are the two main things that’ll make you feel immediately cozy. Get a standing bedside lamp and a couple of fairy lights to decorate with to turn a practical atmosphere into a more relaxing one. Additionally, consider scented candles, a diffuser, or incense to make your room smell better. Just remember to ask whether your roommates have any allergies or asthma before you set any of them up!
Waking up in the morning and stepping onto cold flooring is the worst. Upgrade your room with a soft, fluffy rug, and you’ll be that much more excited to jump out of bed before classes. Rugs can be expensive, so you might need to look for a second-hand option in a charity shop or grab a small one at home.
Did you know that plants reduce stress and anxiety? On top of that, they look pretty, make the air quality better, and can instantly make your new accommodation more inviting. Don’t worry if you can’t take care of a plant, though. Many of them need minimal care, so focus on:
- cacti;
- succulents;
- aloe;
- rubber plants;
- monsteras;
- spider plants.
Finally, think about little items that might make your room feel like home. It might be your favorite mug you hesitated to bring from home, some high-quality bedding that’ll feel good against your skin, a nice-smelling laundry detergent, or a comfortable chair you could study in for hours.
On the Road to Success
Being an international student is a tough challenge. But you don’t have to handle it alone. We hope this guide helped you understand how to navigate the new city, focus on your studies, socialize, manage your finances, and make your new accommodation cozier.
