A Week in the Life of a First Year Abroad Student
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If you’re applying to a first year abroad program or considering applying in the near future, this post is for you!
Read on as we outline a week in the life of a first year abroad student on program, and be forewarned: this is one exciting adventure.
Your First Few Days as a First Year Abroad Student
The best place to start – at the beginning. When you land, the first two days of your first year abroad program will be an orientation, where CIEE center teams will introduce you to the program’s academic, cultural, and social aspects.
You’ll learn interesting and helpful information about the local culture and customs and how they may differ from U.S. culture and traditions. For example, did you know street etiquette is customary in Japan? It’s generally frowned upon to blow your nose in public and speak on public transportation systems. Many other cultural nuances like this exist depending on where you decide to go. Don’t worry too much about knowing the ropes beforehand – adjusting to a new culture is part of the first year abroad experience. You’re going to learn a ton!
We’ll also provide advice on adjusting to living in a new environment, details about academic expectations, course registration, and other aspects of academic life on the program. We’ll cover all things health, safety and security, housing and accommodations, local transportation, finances, and program rules.
Above all else, CIEE wants you to know that you can lean on us for support.
You’ll get a complete rundown of the most critical aspects of your first year abroad program.
Your Next Few Days on a First Year Abroad Program
After an info-packed orientation, your next steps will be to settle into your new living quarters. Depending on your first year abroad program, your housing options may include homestays or residence halls. Both are terrific options. Let’s take a closer look at them here.
Homestay Experience
A homestay is when students live with a homestay family, either independently or with another CIEE student. This is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the local language and culture and really get to know more about your homestay family and their unique experiences and lives. You’ll have your own room and access to the home’s amenities.
And, of course, each homestay family is carefully screened by CIEE and resides in homes with convenient transportation to your school. Another cool thing about living with a homestay family? You’ll get to enjoy authentic breakfasts and dinners in their homes!
Residence Hall Experience
Living in a residence hall means you’ll likely live with a mix of CIEE students and other local and international students in dormitory-like buildings. Most students live in double or triple rooms, and you’ll likely share kitchens and common areas. This is the most similar option to living on a U.S. campus.
Meals are not included in this housing option, but you can prepare meals in your shared kitchen and try out new restaurants and cafes throughout your city.
Study Abroad Courses
Speaking of campus, that’s next on your first week as a first year abroad student! You’ll learn to commute to school and the campus layout and begin your study abroad courses. First year abroad students will take intro-level college courses and choose from disciplines that interest them the most, including language, the arts, social sciences, business, math, science, and other interesting subjects like computer science and digital photography.
Read More: First Year Abroad Academics
CIEE’s Experiential Learning
Believe it or not, we’re still discussing your first week while on a first year abroad program. And we’re just getting started.
Outside the classroom, you’ll get to participate in at least one experiential learning activity per week throughout the program. This includes things like workshops, volunteering, and career exploration.
Some of our first year abroad workshops will assist students in developing self-management, interpersonal communication, and personal development skills. We also have a wide range of volunteer opportunities while you’re on program, including helping at local schools, homeless shelters, retirement communities, farms, and more. Your options will vary based on the first year abroad program that you choose. Career exploration includes shadowing professionals in an industry you’re passionate about and gaining hands-on experience in the field.
All these options will enhance your classroom involvement, too – you’ll get to apply these real-world experiences to your course material and absorb new information in a whole new way.
CIEE First Year Abroad Excursions
Yes, your future first week on program is still going! We’re not kidding when we say first year abroad is a packed adventure.
Outside of your study abroad courses and experiential learning opportunities, you’ll also participate in guided cultural excursions. These expeditions aim to immerse you in the local culture and historical heritage, adding context to your new surroundings and providing you with insights that will take your course material to the next level.
Take a look at examples of potential excursions in each of our first year abroad locations (spoiler alert: they’re incredible):
- In Barcelona, Spain: Explore Roman ruins in the coastal city of Tarragona, the medieval town of Girona, and the Dalí Museum in Figueres, among many others
- In Berlin, Germany: Learn about the Peaceful Revolution and the grassroots movement that contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall in Deipzig
- In Buenos Aires, Argentina: Take a day trip to the Argentinian countryside and learn more about traditional daily life, regional food and customs, and out-of-this-world landscapes
- In Copenhagen, Denmark: Visit the beautiful Christiansborg palace, see brightly colored townhouses that line the Nyhaen canal, and the iconic Little Mermaid statue
- In Dublin, Ireland: Tour the cathedrals and castles, and take a photo in front of breweries of Kilkenny, the most complete medieval city in the country
- In Kyoto, Japan: Visit the world-famous Nishiki Market and sample traditional tofu, yuba, and saikyo-yaki (delicious, Kyoto-style grilled fish)
- In London, England: Boat along the River Cam in Cambridge and explore the colleges in Oxford
- In Monteverde, Costa Rica: Visit an environmentally-focused coffee plantation and enjoy a coffee-tasting experience
- In Paris, France: Visit the region of Normandy to learn about WWII history and local agricultural industries
- In Prague, Czech Republic: Visit Terezín, also known as Theresienstadt, a former Jewish ghetto and Nazi concentration camp
- In Rabat, Morocco: Explore Tangier and visit a cave on the northernmost point of Africa where you can see the Spanish Horizon across the Strait of Gibraltar
- In Rome, Italy: Visit Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which attracts art lovers and food and fashion aficionados from around the world
- In Seville, Spain: Explore the shores of the Mediterranean in Malaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso
- In Sydney, Australia: Visit Canberra, Australia’s capital, and learn more about the country’s parliamentary government while seeing world-class architecture and attractions
Pretty impressive, right?
Your Own Adventure
And to round out your amazing first week – from your orientation and study abroad courses, to experiential learning and guided cultural excursions – you’ll get to do some exploring of your own each week, too!
It’s important to prioritize your schoolwork and follow program guidelines, but it wouldn’t be an abroad experience without your own adventures. Discover hidden gems, like small art galleries and quiet hole-in-the-wall museums, find your new favorite café or restaurant and try new dishes, explore local national parks and observe exciting new landscapes around you, and much more. We can’t wait for you to get started.
If one week in the life of a first year abroad student on program sounds exciting, imagine the whole block or semester! Don’t delay your first year abroad adventure any longer – explore our programs today!