ACTIONS TO TAKE BEFORE YOU BID ADIEU

Posted date: 03 Sep 2021

So, the time has finally come for you to face your fears. Your finals are about to end, and your journey back to your home country is just a few days away. Make sure you're ready to go when it comes to wrapping up your stay abroad with these things to do before returning home.

1. Finish up your networking: During your stay abroad, you've met a lot of individuals, including friends, professors, coworkers, bartenders, and more. Obtain the contact information of people you'd like to stay in touch with, both for friendship and personal networking. You might want to return to your study abroad city after graduation and need a job, or a friend might be passing through and need a place to stay, and you'll want to see if your local friend still has that comfy couch you used to fall asleep on after a foggy night out.

2. A last meal! Go to your favorite restaurants one last time and savor the dishes you'll miss when you return home. You're unlikely to be able to find the local specialties you've grown to love during your time abroad, so take advantage of the opportunity to stuff your face silly.

3. Gather souvenirs for your loved ones: While you were abroad, your parents most likely assisted you with more than just money. Pick up some gifts that they won't find in their home country – it's the least you can do!

4. Make a wardrobe overhaul: You've accumulated new clothes, odd souvenirs, shot glasses from every city you've visited, and countless pub crawl T-shirts over the last few months. All of this new stuff won't fit in your suitcase with the rest of your belongings unless you packed light on the way to your destination city. Take this opportunity to pack the relevant stuff.

5. Weigh your packed luggage: This may be the most crucial piece of advice on the list– overweight suitcases can result in hundreds of dollars in fees or even a missed flight if weight distribution takes too long. So plan beforehand and analyze your options before travelling to the airport. If you don't already have one, see if you can get a luggage scale.

6. Take a moment to smell the roses: Take a break from the end-of-semester stress and visit your favorite city attraction. Take in the sights, people-watch, and reminisce about your greatest and worst experiences from the previous few months with your buddies. Allow everything to sink in and savor the final minutes of this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

7. Prepare for reverse culture shock: You may have experienced culture shock when you first arrived at your study abroad destination, but are you prepared for the opposite? When you return home, you might not be overjoyed. You'll miss your study abroad pals, your favorite foods, and the lovely sights you'd view every day on your way to class.

Posted By

GSP Admin