Date Posted: 1/7/2013 10:25:55 AM
Posted By: Ombaba Membership Level: Gold Total Points: 1110
Studying abroad is an opportunity that many students seek in order to improve their chances of a good career. If the opportunity arises and resources allow many people especially from developing countries will jump for it without a second thought. What many of these students might not know however, is the fact that studying abroad comes with its own challenges. When study abroad students encounter these challenges some of them are tempted to quit their studies and try something else.When you go to study in a foreign country chances are high that you don't understand the language used in class in that country. In such instance one is forced to learn a new language. Universities recommend that you take a one year language course before you can commence your course of study. Therefore you will increase your study period by a whole year.Studying abroad can be lonely. Studying in a foreign country away from family and friends back home can be very traumatizing at times. Although advances in modern communication technologies have reduced the gap that existed before with social media such as Facebook and twitter, and other video communication such as Skype there is always that need to be physically close to family. It is therefore not a surprise that sometimes while abroad you will miss the people close to you and if you had close ties before it may badly impact on your studies.From the media and other campus brochures studying abroad will sound like a smooth ride all the way. However the reality on the ground when you step into a foreign country and college can be different and treacherous. You may have to adapt to a new climate, culture shock and many other issues that you were not used to in your home country.Apart from all that if and when you finish your studies abroad there is the hard part of coming back home. Most study abroad students find it hard to go back to their home countries once they get used to their country of study. Normally they will have developed relationships and attachments in and to that country. Often when going back home these students experience reverse culture shock in that they get used to the foreign country they were studying in so much so that they forget the realities of their home countries. Studying abroad can be very expensive. Unless your study is financed by a scholarship or grant while studying abroad nothing is free. Generally fees for foreign students are higher than for local students. Also in a foreign country if you do not have relatives their you may be forced to buy everything which is really hard on the pockets.So why would someone want to study abroad?One is the fact that studying abroad increases once prospects of employment. Graduates who have a study abroad experience apart from the normal academic qualifications are said to have key job skills such as adaptability, global understanding and tolerance, leadership and independence. With these skills one is also able to derive a higher pay check than his/her counterparts who studied locally. Studying abroad will help one to experience a foreign culture and how other people live and conduct their business, this will help them have a global view of the their environment. It also gives one the chance to learn an additional language. Also you will get the opportunity to pursue an activity that you wouldn't at home mainly because its unavailable. For example one might be able to try ice skating in countries that have winter season with snow.While abroad you also get to form new and rewarding relationships and create networks that will be useful in the future career-wise as well as in your personal life. Having this international links will always come in handy when you need recommendations or some kind of help that they can provide.So in the face of the difficulties that exist when studying abroad those who have the courage to pursue their studies to the end reap huge rewards. Therefore the challenges faced along the way are a small price to pay.
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