Tips for living abroad

Moving to Gainesville and adjusting to college life might have been a little challenging for you, but after a while, you came to love live at UF, and if you haven’t gotten there yet, don’t worry, you will. Another living adjustment you might have to make is getting used to living in another country, if you choose to study abroad. It will be one of the best experiences of your life, but it could be really difficult at first. So, here are some tips to help you feel comfortable in your host country and to really feel like you live there and aren’t just visiting.

1. Find restaurants and bars that you can frequent. These should be places you feel really comfortable going to and can afford to visit often. For example, I love Harry’s New York Bar, which is in most big cities around the world. Their bellinis (champagne and peach schnapps) are hands down, the best thing I’ve ever drank, but at about $20 (14 euros) each, if I went there a few times a week, I would be so broke, it wouldn’t even be a joke. Instead, I would choose a local bar with reasonably priced drinks. Look for places that lots of locals go. Not only will they be cheaper than tourist places, you’ll feel more like a local by hanging out with the locals.
2. Establish a reasonable budget and follow it. I’m all about seizing the day and making all your dreams come true. Really I am. But “seizing the day,” if you’re studying abroad for a semester will make your bank account very sad. And if you spend most of your money in the beginning, the rest of your time there will be terrible. You want to make your time there feel like you’re at home, just more exciting. And one of the best ways to do that is to keep yourself on a budget. It’s definitely OK to splurge some in the beginning; just don’t do it for too long and don’t spend too much.
3. Continue your normal routines. If you watch a movie at home once a week, go to the gym every other day, etc., keep doing those things abroad. It will help you feel more comfortable and like you’re part of the community.
4. Become friends with locals. There are so many benefits to this. One- they’ll show you cool places you would’ve never found on your own. Two- Who doesn’t love making new friends?! Three- Hopefully, they’ll turn into long life friends that you can stay with when you visit again.