Those of you who have spent a year abroad, how did you find the first few days?

I’m studying at Groupe Sup de Co La Rochelle but I’m living about 20 mins from the uni. Where I am there is a beach, a bus stop, a train station and lots and lots of holiday homes. As there were a lot of problems with my accommodation I accepted this one at the last minute just to have somewhere to live that I could afford!

I guess I must be homesick. My parents drove me down and left yesterday and I was just in my flat on my own all day with nothing to do cos nothing is open in France on a Sunday!!!

French TV is not the best, and I’ve only just managed to get a decent wireless adapter to improve my signal for Internet. Today I went out on my bike but as I’m so far from the actual town the only thing I’ve seen is the beach. Another problem is that no one else has moved in yet, uni doesn’t start until Wednesday so I have to occupy myself for another day! My flatmate isn’t moving in till the 11th!!

I don’t know if its boredom, or the fact that I miss my parents and boyfriend but I keep crying at little things, like today I went on the bus and didn’t understand that I needed to validate my ticket or that the French press a button to stop and ended up going way further than I needed to! It’s just suddenly hit me that all this is real, my parents won’t be able to just come get me and I can’t just pick up the phone.

Will these feelings go? I think it’s just that I’m waiting around for uni to start and once it does I’ll be busy with 101 things to sort out. Will the year abroad get better, and start going faster? And do any of you who have dealt with these feelings wish you had known anything in hindsight!

Hi,

The first few days/weeks of your year abroad can be a bit difficult. I was out in Spain and couldn't work out the metro system, and as I was working, I didn't meet that many young people at work...

I remember my first week - lots to adjust to, problems with the language (!), and having to sort out accommodation out there...But it did get better, that's for sure. I got a flat, and made the most of my spare time by going round the city and meeting some students at bars/cafés in the studenty quarter.

I don't really know what it's like where you are, but just take each day as it comes - that's the best thing to do. Don't get too stressed if you can't find your words, people will be patient with you, and if you have a bad day, you can make up for it the next day by going out/doing something different.

I think uni's about to start, so you're bound to make friends then, and as long as you've had at least one conversation with a local a day, you're not doing too bad Friends will soon come, just make sure you keep yourself busy!

Good luck

I'm panicking badly already... just over a week to go

Hey guys!

We've got a new article up for those of you getting a little worried about moving away...Check it out here:

www.thirdyearabroad.com/home/item/492-be...ing-your-year-abroad

And if you're feeling a bit blue, do check out these two articles:

www.thirdyearabroad.com/when-you-arrive/...73-year-abroad-blues

and our latest:

www.thirdyearabroad.com/home/item/498-year-abroad-alternatives

Hope this helps