No matter which country you are visiting, you are going to be stoked about exploring a new place and immersing yourself in the culture. However, if it is your first time going abroad, you should also be prepared for unexpected twists and turns along your way.
Traveling as a student can be entirely different in many ways. To start with, a majority of you might be constricted by a budget and might be looking to explore places hopping from one hostel to another rather than settle for a comfortable staycation.
So, here we have prepared a list of the most common things first-time student travelers experience and some tips for preparation.
1. Make Sure You Are Free From Stress
The last thing you want to do is worry about an unfinished college assignment when you are away on your first trip abroad. As students, depending on your academic level, even summer and spring breaks might come with a load of papers to finish.
So, we thought it best to include a tip on how you can manage your coursework. If you have some time to prepare a draft, all you need to do is place a request for a professional to edit my paper on WritePaper, the online educational platform.
This way, you do not have to worry about getting the citations or format right. In fact, if needed, you can get expert guidance right from the stage of literature review. So, now you have your school assignments sorted out, let’s get you to the other fun stuff.
2. Prepare for Border Control
If this is your first trip abroad, you might find yourself overwhelmed while at the airport or when actually starting your journey. One way to control any excitement-related stress is to make sure that you have got everything right. The first step to that is checking whether you have all the sufficient documents.
A good place to start would be to check whether you need a visa to visit your chosen country. You should also see whether there are any medical requirements, such as any vaccination that you need to get donew.
It would also be a good idea to take medical insurance for the duration of your travel. Once you have all the right documents, your way will be hassle-free.
3. Expect to Have Fun Packing
There is nothing more exciting than packing for a new adventure. However, this is not something that should be based entirely on how much fun you want to have. You should take into consideration the weather and the culture of the place you are visiting.
The safest bet would be to pack layers, so you can shuffle the outfits and create one that fits the day. Also, make sure that you have packed comfortable shoes. You might also want to carry a weatherproof jacket depending on your destination.
Other than that, do not forget the important stuff such as an adapter and charger. And perhaps, crucially, leave some space in the bag to fit any items that you are highly likely to fill with some things you pick up on the trip.
4. Prepare Backup Payment Methods
Although several countries have gone paperless when it comes to payments, that does not mean that every vendor will accept your credit/debit card. Even worse is the fact that your service provider is likely to charge you a hefty transaction fee.
It is well worth planning for this in advance. You can sign up for a travel card, which can help save some fees. There are platforms like Wise and Revolut that allow you to have multiple currencies in a single card.
This is very convenient and cost-effective. It is also recommended that you have some spare cash in your pocket, which can come in handy when traveling to remote places.
5. Expect Culture Shock
Once you land, the first thing you might notice is how different things are. Culture shock doesn’t always mean that you will find a new city or the people completely alien. But there are bound to be some aspects that you will find foreign. After all, you are visiting a new country.
This could be anything from food, your type of accommodation, the level of comfort, language, or even how people interact. No matter how much you read about the destination and prepare mentally, you should expect to experience a certain level of unfamiliarity. On the bright side, this is what traveling is all about.
6. Expect to Be at a Loss of Words
Yes, a vast majority of the world’s population speaks English. But that doesn’t mean everyone will or want to. If you are traveling to a foreign country, it is only respectful to pick up a few phrases of the local language.
You can start with the general greetings and even memorize the common phrases that you are likely to use when in restaurants or at your place of stay. Not only will this help you, but the locals will appreciate that you took the effort.
Also, you will inevitable make mistakes and getting a local to teach you a few phrases is the best lesson you can get.
7. Student Discounts Are Popular All Over the World
Perhaps the most crucial advantage of traveling as a student is that you can benefit from some great offers. They range from discounts in transportation costs, special fare in museums and other attractions, and even lowered costs at restaurants.
So, it would be a good idea to do some research before you book everything. You do not want to miss out on saving some serious bucks wherever possible.
And lastly, expect to have fun. The trip might be entirely different than what you thought it would be, for better or for worse. But one thing that is certain is that you will have memories that last your lifetime. You will also learn valuable lessons that you will carry with you, helping you to broaden your perspective and build a better future.
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