I feel like I can't go on without lending everyone with all the great tips and trick and other things you should do if you want to study abroad or leave your home country. Here we go.
1. Choose where you wanna go
It may seem trivial but people really struggle with this. Figure out why you want to study abroad. Make a list of those things and usually that should wittle you down to a few countries or at least a continent you want to travel to. Of course be sure to consider things like safety. So no you won't be going to Egypt. My priority list was this: speak Spanish and travel to different countries. So that got me down to Spain and all of Latin America. I realized I would prefer to travel within Europe so poof I was in Spain.
2. Organize, organize, organize
You can't be too organized before leaving a country. Make sure to have all necessary paperwork for a visa, if needed, compiled with multiple copies in a folder of its own. Make copies of important documents like birth certificates, passports, prescriptions, driver's license etc. and leave them with a trusted individual. Take the originals and a copy to your next destination. I had what I called my "travel notebook" where I had my host family's information and a calendar of important dates which also had a rough itinerary of all the countries I wanted to visited and when I would do it.
3. Rack up
For those independents especially stack that paper up so you can do what you want. I saved for about a year straight and I'll compile how much I spent roughly.
4. Lighten the load
Before you leave be sure to get rid of any excess that you don't need. For people, paying your own bills (like me) suspend services on as many things as you can, you can do this with phones and internet and probably you car insurance as well. It's no point in paying for something you won't use while you will be abroad. This way I saved myself close to $500. Also, don't pack a lot of items. Take as little as possible. In the majority of traveling places you can buy what you need once you get there like towels, toothpaste, etc. EXCEPT ANTIPERSPIRANT DEODERANT. I only found that in Poland of all places so take multiples of that for sure if you go to Europe. I promise you, you will thank yourself on your return! Here's how
5. Don't look back
Be confident in your decision and remember that you will return and that in all actuality the time you spend away is really short in the timeline of your life but will probably have a greater impact than most things so respect this time. Use every second in its entirety, get on that plane, and get ready for the time of your life.
6. Get into it
Dive deep into the culture, eat the food, go out with the people, talk like they talk, and just do as they do. Try not to surround yourself with too many of your countrymen because you don't want to create another little community of your home nation. It dilutes the experience so always have someone that is the obligatory native. That way, it forces you to maintain a sense of the culture you've just walked into.
7. R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Give respect and you will definitely receive it. Not everybody acts and thinks as you do especially most Americans traveling. Don't take it personally if someone disagrees with you or does not understand the way of living you're accustomed to. You are now a student of the world and you are getting taught by your new environment. Don't miss out on that opportunity to be humbly idiotic. It works more if you look like an idiot trying as opposed to coming off arrogant and apathetic.
8. Travel
See a different city or a different country. Each place has its own gems and its better if you can learn to appreciate those.
9. Work smarter not harder
Be efficient with everything. Don't constantly go to the ATM converting money because you will always lose a little bit due to charges. Take out cash in larger sums and always try to use a card where applicable.
10. Get an exchange partner
If you go to a foreign language speaking nation, definitely get an exchange partner. For me it was the best decision I made in Spain. You can build friendships and learn a lot. It's also the best way to quickly learn the culture because you have the perspective of someone close to your age and that makes it easier. How often do you want to be preached to by your house parents? It's just like if you're home with your friends or parents. Who do you think understands you more in all your youthful angst.
11. You are not in Kansas anymore
Don't compare the new place to home if you can help it. They will be completely different, attitudes will be different, and food will be different. Recognize it as a new place that will soon fill like home as time passes but actively think yourself into a place that is able to separate native home to your adoptive home.
12. Fall in love
In whatever aspect you want this to mean, if you find something or someone that you seriously connect with, live vicariously through that. Engorge yourself in it because time passes fastest when you're doing the things you love or with the person you love (or I guess doing that person) did I just go there?
13. Get lost
You learn so much about a place the more opportunities you have to get lost. Get lost with a friend or all alone. Don't worry all smart phones will get you out as soon as you need to. You can learn about history or find some restaurants.
14. Don't waste time
Knock off everything on your bucket list as fast as possible and leave no stone unturned. Regret is the worst feeling in the world so don't let yourself get to that point. You made the money now spend it if that is a factor you're thinking about you'll go back happily exhausted and not wanting to shop or travel for a while so there you go.
15. Be open
Open your heart, open your eyes, open your mouth! Just be open minded and welcoming and positive as much as you can. Happiness is a state of thought that you can change and alter. When it gets hard think yourself into a better place. You are having an experience that most people will never have and you want to spend it developing yourself into the next elevation of yourself.
Tips:
This is how my flight calculations go for traveling through 5 countries
Barcelona roundtrip $139.45 Rome roundtrip $134.23 Milan one-way $67.64 Milan-Krakow $54.60 Krakow-Auschwitz $4.00 Krakow-Milan $68.19 Milan-Sevilla $57.21 Sevilla-Paris $208.51 Paris-Sevilla $77.89 Barcelona Casablanca roundtrip $220.50 Total: $1032.22 is what I spent on flights alone
I hope this gives you an idea and if you want more info feel free to ask peeps.