The experience of studying abroad is considered one of the most complex and exciting experiences in the lives of young people, as they carry with them extraordinary dreams and hopes before departing for the Western world. However, passion quickly turns into painful reality, as students find themselves caught between the challenges of adapting to a new life, academic pressure, and difficulty in social integration. In this article, we dive into the depths of the experiences of many international students who have lived this reality, exploring how this shift in lifestyle has affected them and how they found themselves facing new demands that led to a “decrease in dopamine levels.” Together, we will review stories from inside the classrooms, the fears that permeate their daily lives, and discuss the impact of this experience on shaping their new identity. Join us as we unveil the complexities and vibrant details of international students’ lives.
Studying Abroad Is a Decrease in Living Standards
Life abroad is often idealized, filled with fantasies and expectations of a new culture. However, the reality of studying abroad often brings tremendous pressure and changes. On the journey across the ocean in pursuit of dreams, many students gradually realize that the quality of their lives has significantly declined, even to the point of becoming financially strained. Before going abroad, many may have lived relatively well, enjoying financial support from their parents, but the economic pressure and various adaptations to life abroad force them to start budgeting carefully.
Arriving in a foreign country, many experience awkward moments. In an unfamiliar environment, different accommodations, a lack of basic supplies, and often needing to “make do” in the initial stages of life. This is not just a decline in living quality but also a certain feeling of loss mentally. For students who were once used to comfortable living, such a transition is undoubtedly a significant challenge. On the first day of settling in, the empty room and simple furniture shatter many international students’ dreams, as if all the beautiful expectations vanish in an instant.
Furthermore, financial constraints make international students feel incredibly bitter. When at home, the availability of takeout and various fresh ingredients is relatively abundant, but abroad, soaring prices present fewer choices. The abundance of goods in supermarkets quickly becomes overwhelming, especially fresh fruits and daily necessities, where prices starkly contrast with those at home. International students have to repeatedly compare and adjust their meal plans among seemingly simple foods. This day-to-day life might not completely diminish their yearning for life, but it certainly exhausts the motivation that initially propelled them forward.
During this process, some desires for material enjoyment are gradually suppressed, replaced by a more pragmatic attitude toward life. International students start to get used to lower-priced food; simple and quick living becomes the norm. This simple lifestyle also makes them gradually realize that the pursuit of material enjoyment is not the only purpose of life. Economic pressure prompts them to reevaluate the meaning and value of their existence.
Conversations Left Unfinished
Many international students experience an invisible culture shock abroad, often making them hesitant. This situation is especially obvious in class, where faced with an outgoing and fast-paced culture, their desire to express themselves wanes, and their previously confident demeanor gradually diminishes. Back home, a relaxed environment allows them to boldly express their opinions and thoughts, but abroad, complex language barriers and cultural differences make them uncomfortable, leading to a gradual decrease in classroom participation.
Many international students possess abundant ideas in class yet abandon expressing them for fear of being interrupted. When they see their classmates engaging in lively discussions and skillfully contributing to conversations, feelings of unease and anxiety creep in. In this circumstance, the previously relaxed communication atmosphere no longer exists, and the classroom environment becomes tenser, forcing a change in the earlier methods of interaction and dialogue. This psychological burden leads them to remain silent in class even when they have ideas, choosing to be quiet time and time again, which undoubtedly becomes a significant pain point in their study abroad experience.
Faced with occasional loneliness and repression, their daily interactions also become mechanical. Even though they maintain long-distance concerns, it is often challenging to articulate their complex feelings. They think about messaging their parents to let them know they are well, all the while hiding many unexpressed emotions. After enduring such days, they gradually experience a sense of loneliness, feeling as if on this land, even when not understood, they still have to remain silently strong.
Sometimes, they also strive to forge new connections but often feel powerless due to their lack of self-confidence. When attempting to talk with new friends, they often find it difficult to integrate into the more extroverted social circles around them. Such experiences lead them to struggle continuously between individual loneliness and social challenges; although they long for communication, their actual actions are always limited. At this moment, internal contradictions intensify, and over time, they not only lose the courage to express themselves but also become increasingly silent amid ongoing external and internal pressures.
Fleeting Relationships
In a foreign land, what international students fear most is the distancing of human relationships. Living in a competitive environment, while briefly meeting new friends can sometimes be exciting, over time, these connections may gradually break off like kites. Building relationships is not all fun; it often requires investment from both sides. However, in this seemingly vibrant social environment, overly realistic ways of interacting can often lead to disappointment.
Many international students easily establish connections with classmates when initially entering a new learning environment. Forming study groups or discussing assignments generates a hint of warmth and belonging. However, as courses progress, this warmth is gradually eroded by mundane matters, as the attention from classmates often focuses on individual studies rather than genuine emotional exchanges. With the passage of time, the waning of these relationships leaves many international students feeling lonely, inadvertently reducing their desire to form deeper connections.
Additionally, some international students may face social dilemmas after forming small circles. When seemingly friendly interactions turn into relationships solely centered around academics, students often have to reevaluate these connections. The hopes and dreams from the early days of coming abroad turn bittersweet in reality, and they find themselves increasingly isolated in the social circles they continuously pursue. This dependence on superficial friendships makes the feeling of emptiness inside even more pronounced.
In this social environment, international students often feel a lack of self-worth. They initially thought they could find a sense of belonging through socializing, but this has instead led them to doubt their existence. Gradually, this becomes part of their growth experience, whether it’s the complexity of socializing or the loneliness felt in this foreign land; all these are important memories in the river of life. As they adapt through habituation, they also silently become stronger, striving to embrace the growth that this period brings.
Apathetic International Students
The expectations they once had gradually become distorted under the pressures of life abroad. The focus of studying abroad is not only on academic achievements but also on the mundane life chores and loneliness that transform what was supposed to be a fulfilled life into a state of apathy. Many international students, initially concerned about their image, gradually replaced this with a simpler lifestyle, as daily busyness and stress overshadow their external appearances.
Girls who once loved to dress up gradually surrendered their refined self to the pressures of coursework, and simple attire became the norm in their daily lives. They slowly realize that nurturing their inner selves is more important. Staying up late to meet assignment deadlines often forces them to adopt a minimalist lifestyle. Even their pursuit of cosmetics fades amidst recurring economic pressures, and enjoying the satisfaction of a simple life becomes a small happiness.
During such days, international students often lament the disparity between ideals and reality. The beautiful anticipations before going abroad swiftly turn to dust. Loneliness gradually leads them to self-reflection, and faced with the pressures of study and life, they have to suppress their desires. From an outsider’s perspective, this seems like a state of apathy, yet deep within, they are pursuing spiritual growth, yearning to find their rightful place.
Amidst this alienation and loneliness, their growth quietly occurs. Whether on the road to pursuing knowledge or seeking self-identity in solitude, all of this allows international students to reidentify themselves. In this journey of transformation, they begin to learn to let go and reconcile with themselves. Though the relentless pressure of life may feel exhausting, each moment of growth reminds them that regardless of how complicated the outside world becomes, the persistence and strength within them are the real driving forces propelling their lives forward. Having ended the tumult of youth, they begin to bravely write their own chapters.
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