Student to Student

Student's Guide to Study Abroad

Talk to People

By Christopher Moore

Talk to people who have been on your selected program. Ask them about their experience. What did they do for fun? Were there any interesting people who gave them insights into the country and culture?

Get in-country contacts: friends, relatives, family, friends of friends. Don’t be shy. Call a contact up when in your host country. Tell them you are new to the country and would like to meet with them to chat and find out a little about living there. Offer to take them to dinner or buy them a drink. They normally are more than happy to assist you in “getting to know the place.” People are usually pleased you’re interested in their country and will often be proud to show you around. Smile, ask questions, test your language skills, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself or of being laughed at by others. It’s all part of the fun.

I went to Spain inexperienced, naïve, and deluded by stereotypes. I left Spain with a new perspective on the world, a greater sense of independence, and a passion for travel. The most important things I’ve learned are: be prepared for anything, assume nothing, and keep smiling. Follow this and you’re guaranteed success on any trip you take.

CHRISTOPHER MOORE is a junior at Univ. of Nevada-Reno pursuing a double major in Spanish and International Affairs. he is currently on exchange at the Univ. of International Business and Economics in Beijing. See his student contest winning article from the March/April Transitions Abroad issue on Internships in China for more.