Ten tips that helped me on exchange

No matter what hiccups lie ahead during exchange, chances are it will be a great year regardless. However, thinking back, there are a few tips that helped me make the most of my exchange year. Here are ten tips that helped me, as well as other exchange students, have a wonderful year abroad.

1) Keep a journal!

I had never kept a journal before I went on exchange, but I’m really glad I decided to keep one while I did. It helped me vent my feelings when I was having a hard day, which was extremely helpful when I was dealing with homesickness. I also recorded all of my adventures in my journal, so now when I reread it I can reminisce on all the fun times I had while I was abroad!

2) Say yes to (almost) everything!

If you are doing a year abroad, you will be invited to do a lot of things. Go to birthday parties, hang out with friends, go to the grocery store with your host parents… They are all great opportunities to get to know your host country and culture, so say yes! As long as you go into your exchange with some set morals and make smart decisions, saying “yes” will benefit you greatly. On that note, always say yes the first time trying something new, but feel free to say no the second time.

3) Try something new!

Going abroad for a year is exciting and full of new opportunities! For me personally, trying something I had never tried before helped me have so much fun! While I was in Germany, I decided to join a volleyball team having never played volleyball before, and it was a blast! I was able to step outside of my comfort zone and the friends I made on the team helped me with my language skills and confidence! I look forward to choosing something new and exciting to fill my time with in Taiwan!

4) Speak the language!

English is hard to avoid, especially in Europe. I struggled the first month of my exchange because people would only speak English to me, which prompted me to speak English back. I had trouble learning the language, and so I had trouble immersing myself into the German community. It wasn’t until I actually started putting effort into speaking only German that my exchange year rocketed off. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes while speaking. You’re learning a new language, it will happen. Just don’t be afraid of making them, or you will never learn the language.

5) Ask if you don't understand!

Coming off of Tip #4, always speak up if you don’t understand something. Whether it is a house rule or just a word you didn’t quite catch, you will never be able to fix the misunderstanding if you don’t speak up and ask for help.

6) Have family and friends send postcards!

And send some back to them! I personally love snail mail, and for me it really helped with my homesickness. Instead of skyping my family so often, I would buy a postcard to send to them. They would send some back with updates on what was going on! True, it’s a bit slower than email or texting, but for me it was more beneficial to send and receive mail than it was to have constant contact with my family. Plus, my host mom loved seeing postcards from Idaho come in!

7) Don't be afraid to be a bit pushy!

Sometimes we need to be able to stand up for ourselves. Doing a foreign exchange year can be one of the most fulfilling things one can do, but it won’t come without a few problems. Whether it is a problem with the program, the school, host family, or friends, don’t be afraid to take a stand to explain your side so that a solution can be reached.

8) Take initiative!

Introduce yourself. Ask questions. Start conversations. If you are doing an exchange year, it is your exchange year. Not your host family’s, not your classmates’, so don’t expect them to always come up and involve you in whatever’s happening. Besides, taking the first step and putting yourself into the action shows that you really want to be there, and I know that the people in your host country will truly appreciate that and help you have a successful year abroad.

9) Be thankful!

Always say thank you, even for the little things. Your host family and friends will greatly appreciate it.

10) It's not weird, it's just different!

Ah, the motto of my first exchange. I heard it almost every time there was a meeting with my program. But it’s true, and it helped me a lot. Each country is filled with unique customs and a unique culture, and sometimes it might even be a bit overwhelming. But as long as you remember that nothing is weird, just different to what you are used to, you will have an open mind and you will be able to thrive in your host country.
These ten pieces of advice helped me immensely to live life in Germany to the fullest, and I plan to follow these tips during this next year. Some of these I collected during my time abroad, and others were given to me by other exchange students. I’m sure there are countless other suggestions to help have an amazing year abroad. Nonetheless, I hope these tips can help current and future exchange students kick off their year on a high note!