6 Essential Things To Do Before You Travel For School

Preparing to travel for school means leaving relatives, colleagues, work, and everything you are accustomed to behind and is often overwhelming. 

Though the quality of education and life associated with living and studying abroad is unparalleled, there is often a sense of ambivalence that trails being fully prepared and simply waiting for the travel day.

Essential things to do while you wait for your travel day

Visit relatives, colleagues, and clients 

While this seems trivial, you cannot overemphasize the benefits of visiting the people you care about before traveling for a long academic journey abroad. 

Visiting relatives and friends before traveling could provide the emotional support that you would need to settle into an entirely new environment in the coming days. 

In addition, stopping by at a client’s home or office, sending a mail, Whatsapp message, or using any other means to inform him about your education travel plans would help sustain the relationship you share. If you eventually return to continue your previous role, you can surely expect to have such a client back.

Visit a doctor 

In addition to the medical checks required for visa application, spare some time to visit a hospital or clinic just before your travel day. 

The busy schedule and chain of activities may allow little or no time for things like this. However, going for medical attention here could save you from immediately needing one on arrival at your destination. 

Also, taking some prescribed drugs and supplements would help you manage the jet lag associated with long travels and common challenges the pronounced change of environment could cause.

Establish a medium of communication and teach your relatives to use it

These are basic things that could be easily overlooked. However, they are essential and should be done before traveling for school. With the current technological sophistication of mobile phones and improvements in social networks, you can easily communicate with your loved ones visually using a smartphone. 

Set up these mediums and networks on their mobile devices, teach them to use them, and practice with them before traveling.

Make arrangements for proper management of your valuables 

Whether business, house, apartment, car, or any other valuable you would be leaving behind, endeavor to make appropriate arrangements to ensure they are not misused or abused while you are away. 

If it’s a business, establish a means of evaluation and possibly a medium for monitoring. You can do this by setting up automation processes. You may also get the help of a CCTV technician or any other security camera system. 

If it’s an apartment, house, or any other property, install a burglar alarm, and ensure you make provisions for the necessary service charges. 

Learn about your destination 

A simple surf of the internet about your future school, city, or country would provide the necessary information you would need on arrival and spur your enthusiasm. 

Researching about the program and faculty members, culture, history, and climate condition of the region, relevant places like worship centers, shopping malls, recreational facilities, etc., should be done before traveling. 

You can also learn about student communities, upcoming activities of interest in the region or school, bike and car rental agencies, other new students, etc. These findings would help you feel less anxious about traveling and make settling in on arrival seamless.

Ensure you have everything in place 

That last check is critical as misplacing or forgetting even a single document could have unfortunate consequences. Some of these last checks include

• Check your bag to ensure you’ve parked all you will be needing
• Arrange your passport, visa, and other documents in a safe yet easily accessible compartment
• Re-examine your flight ticket to confirm the time
• Remind the school representative (if any) of your arrival time.

Conclusion

Traveling abroad for school, just like any other outstanding venture, is often trailed by many activities and, of course, emotions. Though these are often exciting, they could become overwhelming if not properly managed. 

Activities like visiting relatives, establishing a medium of communication, going for a health check, and learning about your destination are essential things you should do before traveling for school.

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Studying abroad in the UK; travel with your loved ones