Top 5 Mistakes Study Abroad Students Make While Overseas According to a Travel Expert
Believe it or not, but there are worse things than getting in an unregistered cab or getting lost without a working credit card.
In this article, learn the top 5 mistakes study abroad students make and how to avoid them.
Late for class or is your bestie around the corner? Click here to go right to the results and conclusion.
Kenyan’s call it “head swell.”
Your grandparent’s call it being an “ugly American.” I call it “embarrassment.” Pure embarrassment. The kind of embarrassment that keeps you up at night long after you have children and need to get up every hour at night to relieve yourself.
While studying abroad in Florence (Italy, not Oregon), I bore witness to some of the most cringy and culturally offensive acts committed by young American study abroad students. This is the embarrassment to look out for—one that doesn’t just harm the offender.
Not only that, but I watched as students—who are on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, concede to their doubts and worries, and stay behind in their rooms as others took the next step into their exciting journey.
Everyone has these moments when abroad.
They can be stressful, worrisome, and make you feel incapable. Nobody wants this, especially while snacking on a bomboloni next to the Ponte Vecchio.
A significant benefit to travel is learning to become the person you want to become—nay, the person you are meant to become.
You can only get there by being brave enough to make mistakes, but making these Top 5 Study Abroad Mistakes will only damage the overseas experience you will soon be blessed with.
Don’t be worried about your study abroad trip.
I’m going to save you the hassle and make your experience much, much easier for you. This article is an excerpt from my eBook—the Study Abroad Lifestyle Design Guidebook.
The whole purpose of this book is to give you the most growth, preparedness, and joyous pleasure while overseas. This book succeeded better than I expected.
Let’s give these lessons a college try and dive right in!
MISTAKE #1.) — Allowing the possibility of failure to adversely govern your decisions (pg. 15):
Enter my book:
“Ask my bollocks,” said Hugh. With a tip of his glass and a wry
smile, he slapped me on my back. I like my new friends.
Ashling and Hugh were a happily married couple in their 50s from
Ireland—a pair of retired vagabonds. I split off from my friend group
from down the table and have been sharing drinks with these two for
almost an hour. They were captivating.
“You have to be courageous in the face of yourself,” corrected
Ashling. “Everyone around you, including yourself, is going to tell you
‘no.’ “
She was right.
“—and you can’t be afraid of the outcome,” added Hugh. “When you
want to do something bad enough, what is the worst possible
outcome? I’ll tell you—s.f.a.”
“What is s.f.a.?” I asked.
For those of you eager to learn Irish slang, s.f.a. means “sweet fuck
all” which loosely translates to “nothing.”
I was sharing drinks with two happy and holistically impressive
people. Their identities were bright, kind and empathetic. Hugh was
an engineer and Ashling was a college professor. They were sages of a
quiet and ingenious world—a world unmoved by paralytic “what-ifs.”
American college students, inherently, are little success machines. From the start of our formal education, we are relentlessly trained to succeed. This is a great thing but there is a hidden caveat.
We don’t do well with failure. In fact, we avoid it at all costs.
The courage to fail is our first mental hurdle to jump over.
This requires us to reexamine the outcome of “failure.” We fear failure, and when we do fail, the feeling is soul-crushing. We need to move on from this emotional catastrophe.
Comfort Before and After Failure:
The most wholistic individuals I’ve witnessed are comfortable with the potential “embarrassment” of failure. This is the key distinction that separates world-travelers from any other globetrotter.
Those who are willing to “suffer” embarrassment of failure go farther, faster and with bigger smiles on their faces.
What does that comfort look like?
For study abroad students, it most commonly comes in the form of speaking to strangers or trying something new. This includes:
- Being the only person in your travel group willing to ask for directions in German
- Skydiving off the coast of Spain
- Bargaining with an Italian street vendor for lower prices
- Hosting a MeetUp language swap while in Japan
- Ordering green tea in a crowded Moroccan market (in Arabic)
Once you shed the discomfort of potential failures, the world will open up to you and the tea in Morocco will be that much sweeter. Plus, you’ll have way more badass stories to tell your friends when you get home.
MISTAKE #2.) — Remaining rigid and obstinate to other cultures and their ways of life (pg. 18):
After experiencing 22 countries (it’ll be 23 next week), the most hurtful thing to witness is tourists complaining or making fun of their host country’s way of life. The second most hurtful thing to see is one’s obstinance to take part in harmless customs of your host country.
This is an attitude problem for all ages.
In Kenya, it’s all too common with wazungu (foreigners) as they trot around with an air of superiority over the local citizens.
When one behaves this way, it damages reputations and deeply offends those willing to host you. This makes your own country’s citizens look bad, forever leaving an ugly impression on the locals.
As a kickass study abroad student yourself, you must avoid this attitude of ethnocentrism.
America is not perfect, and nor are her friends. But in imperfection lies room for one to form creative improvement. This habit of seeing things creatively will aid you in unimaginable ways.
Enter my book (again):
Travel used to be regarded as a rite of passage—a coming of age for
the youth. Partaking in other cultures allows you to look beyond your
own habits of thinking. Something curious soon follows—you start to
reassess yourself. Sparks of creativity and hidden interests ignite
within you. Methodology is rewritten and self-exploration flips up old
stones, exposing new life under the untouched earth. Soon, you’re
recreating your own life from a blank slate. Opening your mind to this
practice cultivates a sense of self-comprehension and ultimately self-worth.
MISTAKE #3.) —Shying away from being a troublemaker (pg. 21):
“Did MTK just give me permission to jump into the Fontana di Trevi butt-naked?”
No, no. In fact, doing such a thing can get you deported from the country for good. I am not condoning any illegal, careless, or dangerous activities. I receive no royalties from that.
Rather, develop the habit to say or do things others are too timid to commit themselves.
“If there had been no troublemakers, no dissenters, we should still be living in caves.”
— A. J. P. Taylor
Enter the Study Abroad Guidebook:
Ask the question everyone else is thinking but no one is saying,
bring up glaring elephants in the room or address any blatant
mistreatment you just witnessed.
I am often considered the merry prankster from my friends and
family due to my troublemaker personality. I take pride in this, as
there are quite a few benefits attached to this insignia. It is a harmless
role and dare I say quite fun.
Troublemakers are necessary for a civilization to advance. They are
considered to be civil rights icons, inventors, progressive politicians,
abolitionists and creatives. They are the people on the forefront of
technology, business and civil reformation.
Whether in the classroom or on the London Tube, you can start to
develop your own voice apart from the crowd. Want to become a
decision-maker or leader some day? Start building those muscles now
on an independent stage.
Your voice may evoke courage and inspiration in others. Rapport
is built and more significant relationships are formed. Fair warning:
Do not mistake rapport for disharmony. Be a troublemaker―not an a-hole.
Also, troublemakers are able to endure unforeseen and unfair
circumstances more easily. Life can often be unfair but that doesn’t
mean you can’t prepare for it.
MISTAKE #4.) — Not doing the challenges in the Study Abroad Lifestyle Guide (pg. 116):
That’s right!
In my eBook, there are dozens of fun overseas challenges you can do with your friends to heighten your study abroad experience. My readers find these activities outrageously fun and inventive.
I highly encourage you to check them out and make some amazing memories while in the process.
MISTAKE #5.)—Not journaling (pg. 24):
Enter the Study Abroad Guidebook (again):
The police officer was staring at me in cold-stone confusion. He
was giving me nothing to work with.
“I must be pronouncing it wrong,” I thought. I hurriedly flipped
through three more pages until I found the map I drew of the local
mountainside trail routes (I didn’t have printer access). I showed it to
him.
“Mürren?” I said in a desperate attempt to communicate my
intentions. I don’t speak German or French. This was an impromptu
trip. I didn’t find the time to learn how to say “where is” in these
languages. Despite the January cold, I was starting to sweat. The
officer was ginormous, like a wampa from The Empire Strikes Back. He
towered over my friends and I. I stood in front of them to address this
grizzly man. If he was in fact a wampa, I’d be the first one eaten.
He bent down real close to my travel journal and squinted his eyes.
“Ah! Mürren!” He pointed his un-gloved paw behind us and up the
hillside, towards north north-east. My crude map and the proper
pronunciation of the umlaut made all the difference. We were once
again on our way. I believe now I’ve earned some coffee and Irish
cream.
I share this story not to highlight my ability to butcher simple linguistic characters (I can prove that to you in person) but to demonstrate just one impeccable advantage of keeping a travel journal.
Je Présente le Travel Journal [TJ]:
“Whether you’re keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it’s the same thing. What’s important is you’re having a
relationship with your mind.”
— Natalie Goldberg
Journaling is the biggest game-changer for study abroad students.
The goal of this guidebook is to make you as effective and proficient as possible. Incorporating the TJ is the only way I can do that.
There are two major benefits to having a TJ: sensible practicality and lavish decoration.
SENSIBLE PRACTICALITY
Regarding sensible practicality, the journal becomes a scroll where you are the scribe. On this scroll, lingual phrases can be written, flight confirmations can be recorded, and maps can be imprinted. Receipt paper can be stored between the pages and critical research topics can be transcribed.
When in the heat of travel, you do not want to be fussing with too many separate documents, maps, and confirmation printouts. Keep it all together in a well-organized place for easy and convenient access.
This is the single most effective tool I attribute to my travel success. I do not say that lightly. Look at my own examples over the years.
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In each instance, these pages saved me from major hassle, loss of time, money and worry. Nobody likes missing a train or flight. This practice will prevent just that.
In fact, due to the knowledge I gathered in my TJ, I was often mistaken as a local (even when skin-color was a factor) by tourists because I could speak the language, explain local etiquette, and know complex directions.
If you find yourself lost or in need of quick clarification, this journal offers a quick aid to explain where you are trying to go or what you are trying to do. So, Mürren ho!
LAVISH DECORATION
Regarding lavish decoration, your TJ becomes a beautiful artifact—and enchanting talisman of past truths and experiences. It becomes the representative of your transformative experience overseas.
In time, you (and maybe your future partner) will look upon your journal in charming wonder as your mind drifts back into detailed recounts of your study abroad trip—details you lost long ago.
When speaking with adults about their far-off overseas experiences, all of them confess they wish they kept a travel journal like mine. They wish they could recount little details and acute visceral feelings from their enchanting journey.
These little things matter the most—the time of the day you walked into the café, the color of the waitress’ eyes—these details are what ground your experience.
They become a gift, a rendering in which you can revive substantial feelings that give you the idea life is in fact meaningful.
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”
— Anais Nin
Last book feature:
Some of history’s most profound identities kept journals. To name
a few (and I mean a few)—Einstein, Mark Twain, Marie Curie, Martin
Luther King Jr, Thomas Edison, Charles Darwin and even celebrities
such as Emma Watson. Not to mention the countless serial
entrepreneurs and CEOs that seem to breed accomplishment and
innovation. Some write strictly to record; others write to flush out
cluttering thoughts from their heads. It is fun to think what you might
accomplish when you free up your mind and explore your ideas.
What Results Have I Gotten From This Advice?
Anything you wish would happen to you while taking an overseas trip has happened to me— only because I live by the attitude and code of my book.
To name a few perks:
- Most profound conversations even experienced in the most inimitable places in this world
- Free scuba diving in otherwise off-limit sites
- Enjoying expensive wine and Cuban cigars complimentary of fellow expats and high-tier restaurant owners
- Dozens of free admittance into packed night-clubs, private shows or music events
- Free lodging in Thailand for two weeks
- Welcomed to the best kept secrets of local restaurants, beaches, sunset points, pubs and hidden venues
- Thousands of dollars on discounts and free gifts
Do you think I care about money and rubbing shoulders with rich people? No.
I care about the moments they all shared with me because ever since I stopped entertaining my fears and worries of embarrassment, accomplished people and rare experiences started welcoming me into their own supreme world.
They saw their own gratitude and genuinity in a young and curious adventurer who does not conduct himself from a place of ignorance and ethnocentrism. For each trip, each day, they’re making conscious efforts to learn more about themselves and the world in which they inhabit.
This makes wanting to share time with a stranger compelling and enriching.
In being welcomed into a world where the connections and excitement don’t stop, I myself have fallen in line with a richer world.
Travel is obtaining that sense of richness— that internal wealth. Isn’t that what we all crave in this life? A sensation of completeness?
My Coffeehouse Wager to You:
Here is your Coffeehouse Wager:
Heed these warnings and avoid the potential catastrophes that ensue if not followed!
Your life is precious. A strong sense of identity will allow you to see this and be proud of who you become after your transformative study abroad experience. Strengthen your identity by maximizing this incredible overseas opportunity. Get lost in the details and run with your courage close by your side.
Anyway, people crave those who are larger than life and full of color and vibrancy. Avoiding these Top 5 Study Abroad Mistakes will grant you affirming recognition we all secretly crave but are too shy to nourish.
Your Concise Conclusion:
Here is your concise conclusion for those who need to get the deets quick!
These are the top 5 mistakes study abroad students make while overseas (from our Study Abroad Lifestyle Guidebook):
- Allowing the possibility of failure to adversely govern your decisions (pg. 15)
- Remaining rigid and obstinate to other cultures and their ways of life (pg. 18)
- Shying away from being a troublemaker (pg. 21)
- Not doing the challenges in the Study Abroad Lifestyle Guide (pg. 116)
- Not journaling (pg. 24)
Each common mistake from overseas travelers can easily be rectified by following Expat Philosophy’s advice found in this article featured from the student’s #1 “must-have” study abroad prep guide.
Thanks for reading,
MTK
Mike T. Kelly
Editor of Prosperity
Ex-structural engineer gone expat polyglot. Through his book, speaking events, published writings and online blog, he strives to influence millions to be their best selves while experiencing novelty overseas or at home. His desire for adventure travel is rivaled by his love for motorcycles, airplanes and family. Michael graduated from Gonzaga University with studies in civil engineering and philosophy. For his 29th birthday, he moved to Africa where he is experiencing his next transformative experience.
Study Abroad Mistakes Easily Avoided FAQ:
What not to do while studying abroad
Expat Philosophy suggests you don't remain obstinate nor come in with an ethnocentric mentality. As well, we suggest you try new things you wouldn't otherwise try if back at home. Your study abroad experience is about you learning to become the person you were meant to become.
What should I keep in mind when studying abroad?
Study abroad and travel is meant to be a transformative experience. Keep in mind you are there to see the world from a different lens, get closer to yourself, of course, advance your studies. Want more? We have a lot more suggestions!
What is the biggest challenge of study abroad?
Though most think it is homesickness or managing your studies, the biggest challenge my clients faced was allowing the possibility of failure to adversely govern their decisions. We encourage study abroad students to try new things without the potential "embarrassment" of failure.