Written by Milana Sokolova, Academic Year J-1 Exchange Student
If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be spending my exchange year in San Francisco, I would’ve been shocked. But there I was, after a torturing 30 hours travel, after cancelled flights and broken wheel in my suitcase I made it to a country I’d never been before. I was in disbelief from the very first second, even the air felt different. Everybody was rushing from the airport, but it took a while for me to realize what was happening.
On the way to my new home, I saw a yellow school bus – my first cultural shock. Everything was exactly like in a movie. On top of all the new stuff, between trying to stay awake and wanting to see the city from the bus window, I was worried.
I had too many questions swirling around in my head at once: who my new roommates were, what my neighborhood looked like, where the university was... All these things kept me busy. When you come to the United States you should keep one thing in mind: be prepared that your brain will be overstimulated. Feeling overwhelmed, scared, or excited is totally normal, American culture is different from wherever you come. I arrived the day before the first orientation day, so I only had one night before I would see the university. Despite my inner panic, I arrived at my new home, met my roommates, and went to bed. There was a big day ahead of me.
Hurrying to the first event of this school year, I boarded a local bus for the first time, where passengers thanked the driver on the way out - a second culture shock. The third, almost immediately, was seeing the Golden Gate Bridge from the bus window. Let it be from afar, but to see it in person… the movie turned into life. What helped me as well was my personal lifehack: watch before acting to see how and what people do simple things here (how to use public transport, where to go, what to say when buying coffee, etc.).
After arriving at the university and wandering around a bit, I walked into the building where the event was being held. It was very scary, but the volunteers and staff quickly explained everything to us and we sat down to wait. Within 2 hours all my fears about a new place to live were gone. We were told about everything we were worried about like housing, the school system, the city, insurance, etc. Again, it might seem overwhelming, and it is, but you can go through it. In a couple of days, I processed all information and finally felt sure about my choice.
If you are worried of being lonely here, SF State gives students great opportunity to meet people. I found friends even before the semester had started through the activities university offered: ice cream parties, hide and seek, etc. My friends and I are inseparable since then.
Another lifehack: don’t be scared to talk to people! We are all international students who might feel a little lost and scared but if you start a conversation, you might find your friends for a lifetime :) It's always easier together, and that's how it worked out for me. After getting to know a lot of people on the first day, we exchanged contacts. We spent the next week exploring the city, canonical places, parks. It seemed a little chaotic because we'd all gotten lost in the city a thousand times before we were used to it. No one knew directions, but everyone had a plan of what they wanted to see in the city. And if you don't have a plan when you get there, ask around and they will be happy to tell you where to go.
Another, equally important part right after you arrive that you need to pay attention to is where you live. The first important thing is to get to know your neighbors, talk about your schedule and rules, and come to a common decision about how to live comfortably together. After that: the first trip to the supermarket. Everything looked unusual to me, different products, different metric system (gallons, pounds, ounces...). But if you spend a little more time than usual, everything becomes clear and familiar after a while. You may also have to give up some of the foods you are used to while in the United States. Of course, you may be lucky enough to find a café or restaurant that serves foods from your culture, but often, you will need to adapt to the local cuisine. I found another way out for myself: I learned to cook traditional dishes. Speaking of which, it helped a lot in my adaptation. I knew that when I came home after a hard day where everything was unfamiliar, I would eat something I know and like. It's all individual, but another lifehack I use to this day is to keep the things in life that are familiar to you: favorite foods, books, music, etc.
Life after arrival, especially the first week, will seem unreal: it's like watching famous American movies, but live. It is very easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of information and it is important to find a balance. But the equally important thing is, no matter how much information there is, spend your time with new friends. It's better to say yes to a proposed plan than to sit at home :)
The first week is a very important week. Be open to new people, culture, traditions. Besides local people, you will get to know people from all over the Earth. Be respectful and polite. If you have any questions, you can always write to your university coordinator, ask the staff or anyone else. Don't worry, we all go through similar experience, and everyone around you wishes you the best time in your new country during your exchange program.