Ideal: you can study abroad, without college entrance examination and pressure.
Reality: catch up with papers and deadlines, say good night at dawn and have breakfast at midnight.
Many people have embarked on a long way to go abroad with the idea of not taking the college entrance examination or taking the postgraduate entrance examination. However, after a week of class, I was overwhelmed by the unprecedented English density, doing my homework with red eyes and being chased by all kinds of dead lines. Then I met the mid-term exam and continued to struggle in the library. In sharp contrast with domestic universities, the graduation pressure of international students is no joke. Some notoriously easy-to-fail classes are like obstacles that can't be bypassed. By the end of the semester, the pressure will be even greater. "Say good night at dawn and have breakfast at midnight" is definitely a portrayal of foreign students staying up late to review. To this end, many university libraries will distribute chocolates and sandwiches to students in the middle of the last week. On the one hand, they worry that students are hungry, but in fact, they are smart enough to remind students to arrange their time reasonably.
Ideal: there are parties every day and entertainment every night.
Reality: Work hard and have fun.
After watching the famous American TV series Gossip Girl, many foreign students always feel that American high school students and college students seem to do nothing but drink and party. I once asked my foreign classmates the same question, and their answer was: "Ga-da." Play to play, don't learn how to graduate. Societies and associations have infinite attraction, singing and dancing, and are colorful. Students' lives are so colorful. The warm scenes of these parties are true, but this is definitely not the whole life of studying abroad. In fact, foreign students' learning attitude is very correct: study hard when studying, actively participate in class discussions, complete their homework in groups, and soak in the library with black eyes at the end of the term. The so-called study hard, play smartly, and the pressure of study is released at the party.
Ideal: green mountains and green waters, endless prosperity.
Reality: Good mountains and water, loneliness.
Abroad, many universities are located in remote areas where there seems to be no one on the empty mountain, but I think I hear voices. Oh, I'm exaggerating a little. However, it is not uncommon for colleges and universities to be located in small towns or villages, and it usually takes several hours to drive to the urban area. Green mountains and green waters, blue sky and blue sea, fresh and real air, there are scenic spots everywhere. But prosperity is rare. Outside the campus, it is the countryside. Even if it is a city, as long as it is not a big city like new york or San Francisco, you will always feel, "Is this a city? It is a prefecture-level county in China. " Both the United States and Canada have a smaller population density than China. Many international students will feel that there are few people on the street when they first arrive, so every city is always nicknamed "a village" or "a township" by international students.
Ideal: eating steak, drinking coke and living a colorful life.
Reality: Every foreign student becomes a good cook and misses authentic Chinese food until he cries.
Before leaving in September, someone asked, "I'm going abroad soon. Is there anything else I must prepare? " I will solemnly say, "Be sure to practice cooking well, and then eat the characteristics of my hometown from beginning to end." Someone smiled easily and thought I was joking. I can only shake my head and say, "You will understand when you go abroad." Hamburger sandwiches are fresh one day and tired on the third. Foreign Chinese food has been improved to suit local tastes, so it is sour and sweet but not delicious. I can't forget it once and don't want to try again. So I miss authentic Chinese food. Every time I brush my circle of friends, I drool when I see food pictures sent by my domestic friends. It becomes an incurable disease-pancakes, skewers, steamed buns and tripe in maocai, and I can only live in memories. The key is that money is tight, and eating out all the time is not the way. Many international students rent houses outside and cook by themselves. When they got home, they were all good at cooking. Of course, some kitchen scraps have not improved after years of practice, so it is a good idea to have a roommate with excellent cooking skills, and it is also a good idea to put a rice basin in someone's mouth every meal.
Ideal: Make friends with foreigners.
Reality: Enter the small circle of China students.
Being in a foreign country, whether in class or in life, you are bound to meet many locals. However, many foreign students find that even though they are good at socializing and know many local people, it is not so easy to make friends with foreigners because of cultural differences and habits. On the contrary, it is more comfortable to mix among international students in China. This is not a criticism. After all, cultural barriers are a deep gap. However, respecting other countries' cultures and learning more about other people's living habits is also one of the gains of studying abroad. Try to expand your social circle. No matter what nationality or color, there is no harm in making more friends.
Ideal: English is getting better and better
Reality: The purchasing level is getting higher and higher.
Before going abroad, I gritted my teeth and finished TOEFL IELTS, thinking that my English ability would advance by leaps and bounds after going abroad, but everything was an illusion. Many friends still feel that the language environment is not suitable after going abroad, and many people don't like studying and buying. Once skin care products or local products from various countries appear in the circle of friends in WeChat business, this person must have gone abroad to study. In fact, the purchasing behavior of international students itself is wandering in the gray area of studying abroad and domestic supervision. It is reported that China students studying in Australia are facing repatriation for purchasing milk powder, which is not worth the loss. The financial difficulties of international students are understandable, but the main purpose of studying abroad is to learn. No matter what you do, don't forget your active attitude.
Ideal: to be a free man after going abroad.
Reality: I miss my parents and my hometown.
After going abroad, it is difficult for parents to restrain their children's words and deeds with desperate calls across oceans and time zones. This kind of freedom is the happiness that some prospective international students have long wanted. However, after experiencing loneliness and frustration after going abroad, more people deeply miss the carefree haven provided by their parents. They are worried about their parents' health, but they can't go back to accompany their parents at any time. Sometimes there is something urgent at home, but because of school and distance, they can't get there right away. Prospective international students are advised to spend more time with their parents before going abroad, because it may take a year or more for the flight that takes you back, and their earnest expectation and endless grief never stop.