Overcome your fear of an internship abroad
The departure date of your internship abroad is approaching and although you have been dreaming about it since you were a child, the more the date arrives, the more the fears arise…
Many questions come to your mind and you can’t manage them anymore… “How am I going to manage when I arrive, and for the administrative papers, I’m going to miss my family so much, and if I get sick there, I hope not to get lost…”
It is quite normal that these thoughts come into your head before the big departure but don’t panic, we can assure you that these thoughts will disappear very quickly. Here is a little article that will help you face this fear and live your internship experience abroad to the fullest!
Arrival logistics
Leaving alone and facing the administrative procedures
When you are about to leave, you are afraid to travel aloneand to arrive in a foreign country without any reference. But don’t worry, you will soon realize that many people are in the same situation and are looking for new encounters. If you are alone at the beginning, it is normal, but don’t stay at home because you are afraid to go out alone. Go out, explore the city, visit museums, you can even find sports activities. To meet people, join Facebook groups or other social networks and don’t hesitate to talk to othersaround you and go out!
Not to make it easy for you, you also have to deal with other administrative procedures, but unfortunately you don’t have the choice, you have to go through them. Let us give you a little advice to make all these steps easier for you: find out in advance about all the administrative steps you will have to face and make a list. Once you’ve made your list, you’ll be able to gather all the documents you need and you’ll see, all your procedures will be easier because you won’t have to run around to get the documents you need.
Not finding your way around the city
It is normal that when you arrive in a city, you are a little bit lost and you have trouble finding your way. Moreover, the chances of getting lost are even higher if orientation is not your forte.
But put it in perspective, there is nothing better than getting lost in the small streets of a city to visit. You will then be able to discover the hidden corners and surely some great addresses.
Of course, if you are lost for real, you know that Google Maps will never let you down, even if the good old mapis always useful if you run out of battery with your mobile phone.
As a last option, remember to learn a standard phrase in the local language to ask for directions, it can always save your life!
Fear of life on site
The culture, too different from France?
As we know, going to live abroad also means adapting to a new cultureand this can sometimes become a step! Moreover, some countries have a very different culture from ours and this makes expatriation a little more complicated.
Fortunately, we have some advice for you: Open up and don’t judge! This is easier said than done, but if you leave with a positive mindset and a desire to discover new things, you will adapt more easily. The goal of an expatriation is not to constantly compare the cultureof your country of origin with that of your host country. You must put aside your prejudices and try! Respect is essential when talking about culture because you have to be careful not to hurt the locals’ feelings. Beware that some people do not have the same degree of humor as you do!
Expressing yourself in Spanish
No, being bad in Spain is not a fatality, you can do it too! In any case, total immersionin a foreign country is the best way to learn a language.
It’s not easy at first, but the recipe is simple: just get started without the shame of making mistakes or revealing an uncertain accent. Don’t panic, if you don’t have all the vocabulary you need, you’ll always find a way to make yourself and others understand. And yes, there are other ways of communicating besides language, you can draw, mime, or even use your best friend, your smartphone to help you translate.
Don’t worry, very soon you will get used to hear, understand others and communicate quickly in the foreign language.
And the good news is that at the end of your stay, you will return home with a great level in the language! This is one of the great gifts that your experience abroad will give you!
Missing your family, what will they do without you?
Yes, moving to a new country also means leaving your beloved family. For some, it is an easier step than for others. You shouldn’t feel bad about leaving your loved ones, it’s perfectly normal… However, the distance with your family will be felt during the first days and it will be quickly erased because you will meet new peopleand create your own little family there, because as we say so well, friends are the family that we choose!
The anxiety of the return
As we promised, your stay abroad went well but now you have to go back… And here come the fears again, but they are not the same!
The fear of having missed things and of feeling like a stranger
The time has come to see your loved ones that you had so much trouble leaving… In the end, you didn’t miss them as much as you thought you would and for them too, life went on during your experience abroad. And yes, even without you, they continued to see each other, share parties, have fun… and that’s what scares you.
You are afraid of being out of touch, of not understanding what is going on, of having missed great moments with them and that is natural! But remember that this experience has made you grow, you have been greatly enriched and you have changed like the people you are going to meet again. This will only enrich your relationships and you will simply have more to talk about!
“I am an alien…” You know this song by Sting too right? And you are also afraid to feel like an alien in your own country? Yes, this fear often affects all those who settle abroad for a certain period of time. Indeed, being back in your country after a long stay abroad is not easy to manage. You had to get used to the culture of the country, to the schedules, to the food and you still have to change everything and take new habits…
Moreover, as we say so well, habits die hard… But stay positive, this is an opportunity for you to create new habits and to change the two or three small details that you don’t like anymore in your diet for example or in the organization of your schedule!
If there is one thing you should remember from this article, it is that fighting against all your fearsis the best thing you can do, sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone to move forward. You’ll see, these little obstacles are nothing compared to the incredible experience that awaits you abroad! Seize the opportunity!
Frequently asked questions about going on an internship abroad
How to go on an internship abroad with peace of mind?
To go abroad for an internship, you must prepare your departure well: choose the country, look for the internship, find out about the company, transportation, housing and the cost of living. All these steps require good organization.
How to learn a foreign language quickly?
When you arrive in your destination country, it is important that you do not hesitate to communicate in the local language and with native speakers even if you are afraid of making mistakes. That’s how you will evolve!