Source: www.allianceabroad.com
You probably have some ideas on how living abroad looks like. Our stories are narrated handsomely through travel pictures, fancy Facebook profile or even in blogs. The pressure of being celebrated makes you always put on your best face on every homecoming. The airport has probably witnessed tears, happiness and every mixed emotional nuance there is when we bid goodbyes to our loved ones. It is especially tragic if you have never been far from home, let alone traveling solo. It is tough but eventually we all moved on.
I was only eighteen when I first stepped to this part of the world. No A-Level, IB (International Bachelorette) or matriculation is necessary to enroll in Egyptian universities. The only qualification I had was my O-Level which is equivalent to SPM. It is nothing short of a surprise for anyone who does not know about Egypt and its system. The first impression was not so bad at all. I saw a woman carrying a bag-load of stuffs which I estimated to weigh more than a thirty kilogram on her head supported only by her two big hands, in case it sways.
Like everyone else, I did not feel very much welcomed by the looks of its airport and the interior. My thoughts immediately receded by the smiles of strangers around me. They wanted me to feel at home.
College
The one thing greener on this side is you never have to hate orientation week. Technically, there is one but less demeaning as the only agony you have to pass is listening to boring college introduction for a day. The rest of the days are just yours to enjoy, running a series of detours around town and learn to communicate with the locals. Do not be overwhelmed by the plenty of free time you just got! When you are abroad, you will definitely realize how sturdy our high school system was when it comes to time.
College is so different this time. You will rarely bump into familiar faces that you could identify as Malaysians. Depending on the country, your classmates could be Africans, Americans, Arabs, Jews or a mix of all. Some folks speaking in their mother tongue and the modern clique ones, English.
Ahlan! Ma ra’yuka ‘an Misr?
Hello! What’s your opinion on Egypt?
I am grateful for I had some basics in Arabic and it is not hard to answer such question. We already knew the answer they wanted. In fact, everyone knows a standardized reply; ‘Om Dunya’ or ‘Ahsan tib fil alam’ which translates into Egypt being ‘Mother of the World’ and ‘The best medical education in the world’. No pun intended, but would you risk turning a decent conversation into a fight? No, I would not even if I have to agree to disagree on some points.
The Egyptian system is quite far-out from the rest of the world. They write their own books, customize their own syllabus and rarely depend on international publications. If you are keen on holding to different resources at a time, there are a lot of good books written by its homegrown professors and they are quite reasonably priced. Being in first year certainly holds you in a lot of new pressures. Some striving to become mum’s best daughter and son. There are also a small part of others who just want to secure a scholarship. The college fees vary from one country to the others. Here, it can be less than ten thousand dollars a year while double or thrice the value in Europe. So far, I have seen a friend or two failed a year because of the absence of benefactor. Let alone, to succumb to ridiculous pre-enrolment fees set by the moneymaker agents before flying abroad.
No matter where we are, being an international student makes us privileged because of our money. Although meritocracy is still very much the tradition abroad but there are certainly some loopholes. Students are enrolled based on academic performance but since it is also a business altogether (too bad if your college is just running for money), some colleges nowadays begin to accept art students into a medical school. Living in a country where rule is a bust and money becomes the ruler makes me think if there is ever any exposure to this.
Life as a Whole
If you think studying abroad is only the pleasing part, it is probably the time to debunk the myth. Again, it depends on the country. The amount of social norms you ought to adapt can be heavy if you are faced with a society that does not know a proper way to welcome a foreigner. People here do not just shake hands but they slam your hands, hug and kiss you. A storekeeper can rudely fritter you away if you spend too much time surveying their goods. People can still be thinking that a tropical country means most of the population still lives on the trees. Most of the times, we are not given the time to explain ourselves but to let them hurl us with insults and sometimes, stones.
You will temporarily miss your family and friends, especially when you are alone or having a transition problem. You will probably indulge in the emotion too much until it affects you. In my case, it took a few months until there is hardly any more. Do not idle away your time. I remember seeing my peers doing well in that department when we were here for Eid in the first year. We preoccupied ourselves with open house invitations and enjoyed hosting one by ourselves with the help of seniors. Thereafter, we had a midnight chat telling how happy and successful we were on that day. It is good to have a little chat with your new friends to skip the emotional periods. It will pass eventually.
If you assume that everyone in the country can speak English, you are probably wrong. You have to learn some tricks in communication to avoid getting cheated or misunderstood. Locals will give you their funny looks if you are travelling to the countryside and speak English while no one understands. Do not worry. I have had times when all I knew were ten Arabic words and the locals had no problem teaching me their lingo. I learned a lot in the process. Learning language will not only earn you respect by the locals but also makes your everyday life easier. I guess this sentiment is shared by everybody. As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
While being abroad offers you the chance to explore new culture, you will eventually miss Malaysian foods as much. Roti canai, apam balik, Nasi Lemak, ABC are some of your potential bucket list to have when coming home. There is always a chance to reminisce those foods; only once you learn how to make them yourself. Rest assured. It will not be your biggest problem. Lots of us often came to realize that we actually made quite a good cook after several years being abroad.
It is always tempting to get around places once you are abroad. You could travel locally or go on an expedition one or two continent away. It is certainly exciting to explore some far-off corner of the world and do activities with your friends. An avid skier like a friend of mine will allocate a few thousand dollars a year to experience different mountains and slopes under his annual travel budget. Traveling is not only about making a doable budget, planning itineraries, executing them and waste a lot of money in between. It is about getting out of your comfort zone, understanding diverse culture and cultivating independence which might be a plus, considering the current job market.
Your Choice?
Take time to evaluate yourself. It is always easy to make mistakes while being abroad. There is always a chance for you to rethink your choice. Exciting challenges are also out there, waiting for you to endeavor that may worth your lifetime. For those just starting out their life abroad or about to embark on a journey anywhere in the world, cherish the moment you have now.
Once you have spent a lot of time being away, you will realize that home is where you want to be.
Ameerul Aiman is a 5th year medical student in Ain Shams University of Cairo, Egypt. Know more about him under the Young Columnists tab.