Why you shouldn’t spend your whole time travelling when studying abroad

If you’re studying abroad, it’s likely that you love the sweet taste of adventure. You’ve been bitten by the travel bug and want to venture to every town, city and country within a reasonable distance of your student dwellings.

But, while filling your weekends with travel might seem like the best idea, the reality is that it might not be so wise…

Studying abroad is a magical experience which is bound to go by in a flash so you’ll want to make the most of it. For some, this means packing up your suitcase and hopping on a plane at every opportunity you get.

Travelling is often a wonderful, mind-opening experience, but be careful not to miss the action right in front of you. Source: Fancycrave/Unsplash

And while this is likely to be hugely rewarding, you might miss out on a few wonders back in your host country.

If your semester breaks and weekends are spent elsewhere you’ll miss out on all the fun happening right in front of you.

Instead, why not commit to a stay-cation? Go on ‘holiday’ in your host country, explore the city as a tourist, go to all the hidden places you don’t normally venture out to and treat yourself a little!

You just might discover things about the city you live in that you didn’t even know before.

You picked to study in that country for a reason, right? Maybe you loved the food or the weather, the people or the culture, perhaps it was the language or the academic reputation. Whatever it was that drew you there, there was a reason.

You were excited when you moved there, right? So don’t go! Source: Giphy

Remind yourself of this and then make the most of it.

If you love the food, organise a food tour with some friends and travel around the city trying different delicacies. If it’s adventure you’re interested in, do some research and ask what exciting ventures are on offer for adrenaline-junkies or keen explorers. We bet there’s heaps to do!

And at the end of it all, you can go back to your student accommodation and relax for free, not to a shabby hostel you picked because it fit your student budget or a nice hotel that drained your bank balance.

While, if you have the money, travelling is a great way to spend your time and broaden your mind, you might want to look at all the wonders right in front of you before you board that plane.

Take it slow, soak up the culture, and enjoy the country you’re studying in. Remember the reason you chose it in the first place and appreciate it while you can. It’ll all be over before you know it and it will certainly be cheaper to buy a plane ticket than to invest in another degree abroad!

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