International Housing Information
Yes, you're attending school in another country, but what is there to worry about? You're fine with the language difference. You get the currency conversion. You studied the different meanings of different hand gestures (the thumbs up could get you in a lot of trouble).
The only thing to worry about now is housing. Where on Earth are you going to live?
According to Syracuse University, students traveling abroad typically have two main choices for finding housing overseas:
- Searching upon arrival, which causes stress as the student spends the first few days in a foreign country with, potentially, a foreign language, trying to perform very important business.
- Searching before departure, which involves the home school finding housing for the student, but typically includes a large initial fee.
The choice is really up the student and what he or she prefers, as well as, perhaps more importantly, the offerings of the student's particular institution. Some schools might not offer pre-arranged housing, or might charge too much for it. Others might include it in the whole package. Some schools might have advisors meet the students in the foreign country and help them find housing. And others might just send you off on your own to fend for yourself, making you learn very quickly how to function in another part of the world.
Yes, a lot of it is up to the school, but that doesn't mean we here at CollegeAbroad.com can't try to help.
Transitions Abroad offers a terrific resource at www.transitionsabroad.com that will help with finding housing abroad and give advice on how to live and get by in another country. EscapeArtist.com is an international real estate website with numerous options based on length of the lease. Connecticut College offers a useful website with housing information on specific countries at www.conncoll.edu.
The key is to find a place that is not too expensive and not too far from where classes will be held. It should also be in good range of a grocery store or other shops. While you want to immerse yourself in the foreign culture of the country, it is also nice to be near someone from your home country to help you with the transition. In fact, schools often rent out floors or entire apartment complexes so that their students can all be together, sort of like a dorm room back home.
You should start planning long in advance. Search for websites with real estate in the country in which you will be studying. Go to sites like www.liveabroad.com and others that have classified and message board sections and post the need for living arrangements. Really, it's very similar to finding housing in the states, expect that you may not be able to speak the landlord's language.
No matter what you end up doing, and no matter whether the school does the arraignments for you or throws you into the foreign frying pan, finding housing overseas can be a difficult process. But you will get through it, and when you do, it will be the first big accomplishment in a long line of big accomplishments you are about to amaze yourself by doing. Plus, once you get your housing situated, you can enjoy the next four amazing years of your life.
Did we miss something?
If there is any information you feel we left out, please tell us here.
