A long journey and uncomfortable flight makes the student exhausted and along with this you might start missing your home and family so you may feel a sense of doubt or maybe ask yourself how will I handle everything alone? or When will I get settled?
The truth is the first week of moving abroad is often the hardest part of your entire journey as you are unfamiliar with places, systems and people. You might feel isolated or anxious, wondering if you made the right decision and when you will face challenges so every International student will tell you that it is the hardest part. That’s why having an idea about the hurdles beforehand will provide you help to mentally prepare for what to expect and how to deal with them. Imagine landing in a country where you don’t know anyone, walking into a classroom full of unfamiliar faces and being expected to keep up with new routines instantly. Sounds intense, right? That’s why having a clear idea of what this first week usually looks like can help reduce anxiety and boost your confidence. And with time, you’ll also begin to make friends and feel less lonely. Sharing experiences, knowledge, culture and food with your new friends will make you feel like your home.
In this article, we’ll walk you through exactly what you might experience in your first week as an international student. 
5 Important things to do in the first week
Studying abroad is daunting as there will be times when you’re feeling super excited, hopeful and eager to leave home but there will also be times of extreme sadness and all the feelings in between. So the mix of emotions can be exhausting and it may impact your mental health. It’s important to take care of important tasks that will help you settle in. These things might feel confusing at first, but once you handle them, your life will be more organized and less stressful.
Here are five things you should focus on during your first few days abroad.
- Orientation week:
Most of the universities keep orientation week for the new students to give a tour of the campus and to help them understand how everything works like where you should go when you are sick, from where you can get academic help, how to register for courses, how to use student ID card and even from where you can get a best Iced latte. Their goal is that students don’t need to figure things out on their own. Also, universities have very lively freshers’ weeks and put on lots of events with the aim of helping students meet each other and make friends, so try to make the most of that opportunity.
Some students find orientation boring or feel too shy to attend. Later on, they often end up confused about how things work like course registration and they also miss the opportunity of making friends. I still remember my friend who went to Turkey for her studies. Back in her home country, she was quite social and had many friends, but she was also very shy deep down. Because of that, she avoided going to orientation events. She would often wonder, “Who will I sit with?” or “What if I don’t know anyone?” So she stayed away. As a result, she struggled to build friendships abroad. Even now, she regrets not attending those events. She always says that if she had just joined a few of those activities, she could’ve made her own friend group and her experience studying abroad would have been much better.
If you are someone who feels low and unable to cope; it isn’t a sign of weakness at all. Speak to other new international students and you’ll find that you share similar feelings. All you need to do is to stay positive and remember that you will find friends. To do that, you need to take action and go out to attend orientation sessions or events and meet new people. They will eventually become your community and it will make your life so much easier and more enjoyable. A study from Chippewa Valley Technical College found that students who completed orientation had higher cumulative GPAs and graduation rates compared to those who did not participate.
2. Accomodation:
It is crucial for international students to quickly finalize their accommodations as they will be already tired with the long flight so the only thing you’ll want to do is rest. But if you haven’t planned where you’re going to stay, you’ll end up struggling even more in your already exhausted state. Some students take it easy and assume that they’ll “figure it out after landing” but that often leads to living in temporary places like hostels or hotels for weeks which is quite expensive. So don’t wait until you arrive. Do your research ahead of time and short-list at least 2–3 options as it will help you establish comfort and stability as a student and allow you to put more focus and energy into your education. Moreover, accommodation in countries like the US can be very expensive like apartments and even small ones that often cost a big portion of your monthly budget. That’s why it’s important to mentally prepare before you move. For example, if you know your rent might be around $600–$800 per month, you should plan your monthly expenses accordingly for things like food, transport, bills, etc.
And you know what? Living in a shared apartment or student accommodation is a cheaper option than living alone or living in a fancy apartment and it is one of the best budget tips for students as you will save a lot of money each month if you split your rent with a group instead of paying it all by yourself. If you don’t pay attention to this, you could end up spending more than half your income just on rent and then cry for essentials like groceries, bills or emergencies. For example, if you’re studying in the US and in cities like New York or Los Angeles, a one-bedroom apartment can easily cost over $2,000 per month. But if you choose to live in shared housing or university dorms, you could bring that down to around $800–$1,200, depending on the area. That’s a monthly saving of $800–$1,200, which adds up to $9,600–$14,400 a year which is enough to cover other essentials or even a flight back home and you know what? Rent prices usually go higher right before the semester starts because demand is high. Booking early can save you money and stress.
3. Get a SIM card and phone number:
One of the first things that you need to do after arriving is to get a local sim card from your host country as there are some students who rely on public wifi and delay this which is a huge mistake as What if there is no public wifi in the area you are in? How will you book a cab or let your family know that you have reached safely? No sim card means no access to mobile data which can create unnecessary stress.
Whereas, having a SIM card and phone number can help you stay connected with your university as every class has a group with their teacher on WhatsApp where students receive important updates regarding tests, projects or even events of university. It can also help you to see location maps for directions which is essential for you as you are unaware of the place and area. Imagine you just landed in a new country, your phone doesn’t have a SIM card and the airport Wi-Fi isn’t working. You’re carrying a heavy luggage with 1 hand carry and you have no idea where to go and can’t even open Google Maps or call your pickup which is very stressful right? As without a sim card means you are just on airplane mode so get a phone number asap, without it you might miss cheap lunch deals, free rides or student discounts on websites. But remember that you might need your student ID, passport and proof of address to register a SIM card in some countries so keep those documents along with you.
4. Open a Bank account:
While studying abroad, one of the major hurdles students face is managing their finances so opening a bank account will help them to manage their daily spending and bill payments as we’ve all been in situations where carrying cash makes it easy to spend without thinking because you just spend money wherever you go. Then at the end of the month, you wonder, “Why did I spend so much?” But when you have a bank card instead of cash, it helps control overspending. Not just this, having a local bank account makes your life easier whether it’s about paying rent, receiving a part time job salary, shopping online or splitting bills with friends.
And there are times when you need to pay the university fees before the deadline but you are too lazy to book a cab, grab the cash and then pay in the office so instead of this you can easily pay through your bank’s online website or app. Infact, nowadays many clothing, food websites and even restaurants offer great discounts and deals to those who quickly pay through a card. For example, “Get 20% off when you pay with XYZ Bank.” So if you don’t have a local bank card then you’ll miss out on these perks. And if your family is paying for all your expenses, have you ever thought about how they’ll send you money? Without a proper bank account, international transfers can become a complicated and expensive process. That’s why opening a bank account earlier will help to save money, avail discounts and stay prepared for anything.
5. Social Adjustments:
Moving to a new country for studies is a big decision and it can be daunting especially for the students who are shy and introverted as they might struggle to adjust in a new social environment and manage their life away from home. For many students, the first week after arriving at their new college is the most challenging time of their entire studying international experience as suddenly they are faced with unfamiliar surroundings which can lead to anxiety, depression or even cause some students to give up and return to their home country. A study conducted in Australia involving 200 international students found that two-thirds reported issues of loneliness and isolation, particularly during their initial months.
It is completely normal to feel homesick, lonely or anxious as every International student goes through this. But this is the time to motivate yourself, not doubt yourself. Instead of overthinking or assuming the worst, remind yourself that you’re capable, strong, and you can handle it. It’s crucial for you to join clubs and societies as it helps to form groups and build strong friendships. Moreover, you can also participate in adventurous activities like museum visits, cultural festivals or city tours as this can help you in reducing stress and loneliness. And you know what? Social integration not only improves your emotional well-being but also enhances your academic success and overall experience abroad.
Students who plan to study abroad may encounter a variety of difficulties during their first few weeks in an International country. This is why it is critical to be aware of what to expect while studying abroad.
Challenges might include homesickness, cultural shock, language barriers, or even managing basic tasks like setting up a bank account or finding the right accommodation. All of these very strong feelings and hurdles will have an important impact on your mental health so knowing about these hurdles earlier allows you to prepare mentally and practically so that you can adjust more smoothly and make the most of your experience from the very beginning.
The efforts you put into those first few days will shape your entire study abroad experience because when you face unexpected situations you learn something new. When you handle challenges on your own, you become braver, stronger and more confident. These early experiences might feel overwhelming, but they help you to grow and settle in a completely new environment. But always remember, if you ever get stuck or you ever feel homesick, don’t hide anything from your family and old friends as you can not hug them but their smiling faces and their words of encouragement will help you to forget homesickness and continue to grow.
Make a personal first-week checklist right now. Start with these five essentials and add anything specific to your university or country. This simple step will give you clarity and reduce stress once you land.