ABSTRACT
The first days, weeks, and months are decisive in ensuring that studying abroad is the very best learning experience that it can be. This chapter shows how to succeed in the first few days, weeks and months of life as an international student.
Selecting courses for your studies, making new friends, dealing with problems, respecting local culture, ensuring your safety, and dealing with being popular (and sometimes unpopular) are discussed in the first part of the chapter.
The second part of the chapter shows you how to most effectively communicate with professors and mobilize them early in your studies to boost your success as an international student. Also included in the chapter are how to avoid plagiarism, and how to respond to employment opportunities that you might be offered – or you might seek – while being a student.
Following the advice of the chapter, along with flexibility, patience, and hard work, will make certain that all the challenges are overcome as you begin studies abroad.
