Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity to challenge oneself
Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity to challenge oneself. It's scary at the beginning, when you see all the necessary documents, but when the stage of gathering the initial package is over, you feel on top of the world. Then when the letter of acceptance comes it's a moment of happiness, pure and simple happiness, but then you realize how much work you have to do to actually go abroad. And here the tiredness and frustration can come, because the letter of acceptance doesn’t mean anything, it's just a letter, and you start to understand this. Difficulties emerge in a lot of ways: gathering the documents for your visa, trying to find accommodation, choosing your courses, buying tickets. My personal experience was that initially my visa application was refused. It was a hard day, but I still had time to try again. So I tried, and I got another rejection. It was a day of desperation. I tried the third time without any hope, and I got my visa just one day before my flight. I have never felt so nervous before, but at least I had my visa.
Then my actual overseas experience started, and from that moment onwards I don’t have a single regret about deciding to participate in a study abroad program.
So, I would like to say to anyone who is thinking about taking part in this adventure: if you say yes to any opportunity which you'll get abroad, if you are open to trying something new every day, if you are willing to explore the new world around you, and if you leave your comfort zone, then it will be the best time of your life, but be careful, after it ends you will still have to go home :)
Anna Malova, Faculty of Economic Science
University of Winnipeg, Canada, summer 2015