What Nobody Tells You About Being an International Student
You discover a side of you, that you never thought existed...
Before you know it, you just deboarded the plane, passed through immigration and officially stepped foot into another country. After all the months of waiting, prepping and researching the new chapter of your life, it has finally arrived. Sometimes you need to fall before you can fly; that comes with the totally natural struggles international students go through when first arriving. The stress of having to figure out how to navigate on your own in a completely different environment. The cool breeze, the lively atmosphere, and new people all bring about something that feels like a dream.
Being an international student forces you through unfamiliar territory and to be on your feet with problem solving and adjustment to your new home. The struggle is normal, and it always turns out to be ok in the end. Day after day, you become more relaxed and confident within your community and before you know it, you are calling this place your home away from home.
You are put into such a diverse and unique group of people from all corners of the globe. Back home, I would usually stick around people I knew close to my city, typically friends of friends. When I left, I had to simply be open to meeting people who are completely different from me. It is intimidating and scary at first, but like all new social interactions, you just got to stick to it and just be yourself.
You learn so much more about life outside your own country. Your new international friends talk about the little things that differ from their life compared to yours. It might be small, but it is something you really appreciate over time.
Several weeks into your new life, you find yourself trying things you would never do at home. Ordering food you never heard of, or maybe bonding with the locals and immersing yourself in the culture or maybe adopting local norms that stick with you as habits. The places you visit, you learn a little something different, whether it is small or large. With challenge comes confidence and with confidence comes growth. Exploring the world is not a privilege we all get to have. International experience brings a new way of thinking, a new form of confidence, and a lifelong experience that holds a special place within us.
By John Davis, USA
