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- by Charlotte King
- In Study Abroad
Posted March 9, 2015
Studying Abroad: Organising Friend Visits!
Although studying abroad is an exciting experience, it can get lonely at times. No matter how many new friends you make, will be points when you really miss your friends back home and want to catch up with them. Friend visits are a great way to beat homesickness and share your new life with your friends. Here are a few things you need to think about when organising friend visits.
Make Sure You Are Allowed Visitors Don’t assume that your friends will simply be allowed to crash in your room for as long as you want. Different building managers have different rules and you may well find that your friends are turned out into the cold if they simply turn up unannounced. If in doubt, it is best to check with the building manager before organising friend visits. Special permission may be granted if you apply in advance, state exactly how long your friends will stay and turn on the charm a little.
Term Time Differences Term times tend to vary from country to country, and you might not be free at the same time as your friends. Be prepared and do a little planning so that you can find a time that both you and your friends are free. Skipping lectures to have a good time with your friends is not an option, so think again.
Check Your Assignment Schedule Of course, you need to make sure that you have enough free time to catch up with your friends and show them around your new city. The due dates of upcoming assignments and exams should be posted far in advance. It is also a good idea to check in with your course lecturers to make sure that they don’t have a big assignment planned for the time your friends are due to arrive.
Making Plans It is a good idea to plan a few activities when your friends come to visit such as going to a party at the student union or attending another type of event. However, if your friends have travelled a long way to visit you, they may well be suffering from jet lag. Make allowances for this and allow them plenty of time to relax before taking them out to a big party.
Prepare to be a Tour Guide Bear in mind that although your friends have come to visit you, they will probably want to check out your new city. This may mean acting as a tour guide and showing them around the most popular attractions. Even if you have visited these places a million times, show you friends around with good grace and allow them to spend time doing touristy things.
Don’t Exclude Your New Friends While it is only natural that you will want to spend as much time with your old friends as possible, make sure your new friends don’t feel left out. Arrange a social event where everyone can meet and hang out together, such as going out for pizza or a small party at your dorm.
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Make Sure You Are Allowed Visitors Don’t assume that your friends will simply be allowed to crash in your room for as long as you want. Different building managers have different rules and you may well find that your friends are turned out into the cold if they simply turn up unannounced. If in doubt, it is best to check with the building manager before organising friend visits. Special permission may be granted if you apply in advance, state exactly how long your friends will stay and turn on the charm a little.
Term Time Differences Term times tend to vary from country to country, and you might not be free at the same time as your friends. Be prepared and do a little planning so that you can find a time that both you and your friends are free. Skipping lectures to have a good time with your friends is not an option, so think again.
Check Your Assignment Schedule Of course, you need to make sure that you have enough free time to catch up with your friends and show them around your new city. The due dates of upcoming assignments and exams should be posted far in advance. It is also a good idea to check in with your course lecturers to make sure that they don’t have a big assignment planned for the time your friends are due to arrive.
Making Plans It is a good idea to plan a few activities when your friends come to visit such as going to a party at the student union or attending another type of event. However, if your friends have travelled a long way to visit you, they may well be suffering from jet lag. Make allowances for this and allow them plenty of time to relax before taking them out to a big party.
Prepare to be a Tour Guide Bear in mind that although your friends have come to visit you, they will probably want to check out your new city. This may mean acting as a tour guide and showing them around the most popular attractions. Even if you have visited these places a million times, show you friends around with good grace and allow them to spend time doing touristy things.
Don’t Exclude Your New Friends While it is only natural that you will want to spend as much time with your old friends as possible, make sure your new friends don’t feel left out. Arrange a social event where everyone can meet and hang out together, such as going out for pizza or a small party at your dorm.
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