Any kind of abroad experience, whether it be through a study abroad programme or an internship, will transform your life. Travelling to a foreign nation may seem intimidating at first, and it is, but you change as a person when you overcome the obstacles that come with it.
Travelling abroad offers you the opportunity to learn about a new nation, language, culture, people, and many other things. Living abroad offers a unique and thrilling experience every day. There is much to benefit from your time spent in a foreign country, from little things like grocery shopping to bigger ones like building an international network.
In this blog, I’m going to share those five experiences that you develop personally from your time abroad!
It's quite simple to become stuck in a comfort zone—the same coffee shop, same circle of acquaintances, even the same walking path home. One of the biggest obstacles of your foreign trip will be stepping outside of your comfort zone. But it's also the most effective approach to develop, learn, and increase confidence. You have the opportunity to discover new opportunities when you take on the challenge of entering a completely unfamiliar environment.
You make a significant transition into adulthood when you graduate from high school and enrol in university. You unexpectedly find yourself living alone and having to learn how to solve your own difficulties one day. Naturally, if you live in the same nation as your relatives and friends, getting support from them is still quite simple. However, when you reside overseas, you have to rely on your own abilities for everything from meal preparation to administrative duties. You must manage every one of your tasks on your own. Although it could be challenging at first, doing so will enable you to develop into an autonomous individual.
Every nation has its own culture, as we all know. But the only way you can open up and gain greater knowledge is if you actually feel the difference. The difficulties begin as soon as you walk into the home where you will spend your foreign adventure and don't end when you leave. In every circumstance you encounter while travelling overseas, you will learn something new about the culture. Gaining knowledge about foreign cultures can enable you to comprehend diverse attitudes and ways of thinking. This will eventually make you better qualified to work in multicultural workplaces and multinational teams.
During an internship or study abroad programme, individuals typically prioritise honing their hard skills, commonly referred to as technical abilities. Acquiring knowledge in coding, project management, and marketing analytics are hard skills that can influence a career. But having international experience also helps you acquire soft skills. Soft skills are character traits that facilitate interaction, communication, and ultimately improve performance in work. During your overseas experience, you will gain soft skills such as problem solving, teamwork, leadership, and flexibility.
Global networking is a great advantage in today's digitally connected society. You will have the opportunity to establish an international professional network while you live overseas, whether it is for employment or study. International relationships can lead to a variety of potential chances. Employers value international experience greatly and it might help you land a position at the top businesses.
Although it may seem too difficult to take the step to live abroad, it is unquestionably worthwhile.
