A List of Quotes from Previous International Students

            Although Illinois State University’s Study Abroad Pre-Departure guide has a wealth of resources and information in it, one interesting page stuck out to me.  The page was titled, “What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Left Illinois,” as this section went on to only discuss quotes that previous Illinois State University study abroad students wish they would have heard before they departed.  This blog post will not include all of the quotes from previous students, but will list the most important ones although this information can be found on page 15 at http://internationalstudies.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/2010Pre-DepartureGuide_001.pdf.  These quotes should not be taken for granted as they can truly aid future study abroad students in their upcoming travels.  The quotes are listed as follows:

-          “Try not to choose only Americans as friends because you are already comfortable with them.  Meet as many people as possible.”

-          “Pack light!  Almost everyone over packed.”

-          “Take advantage of everything!  You will be homesick, but it goes away so fast and before you know it you’re back, and wish you were still there!”

-          “It’s a different system over there; you can’t realize everything before you go – so be calm about it.”

-          “Don’t be shy about the language.  Just get out there and speak – no matter how many mistakes you make. You will get your point across even if your grammar isn’t that good.”

-          “Studying abroad was the greatest adventure of my life!  I can’t wait to do it again!”

Hopefully students will make an honest effort in implementing these quotes into their future international study experience.  Sometimes listening to fellow peers is the best way to get a point across and this point may have been made from the previous quote listing from Illinois State University study abroad students.

            Illinois State University Office of International Studies & Programs (2011), “What I wish someone had told me before I left Illinois,” Study Abroad Pre-Departure Guide,  http://internationalstudies.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/2010Pre-DepartureGuide_001.pdf, June 28, 2011.