SF State welcomes exchange students from more than 100 associations all over the world. Students navigate the challenges of living far from their homes while chasing their aspirations in foreign countries.

According to the Fall 2024 International Student & Scholar Statistical Report, over 1600 students decided to continue their education miles away from their home country, family, and friends. How does that make them feel? Learning to be independent and how to manage a house are some of the main challenges for them, says Celia Parra, an exchange student from Spain.

“Make new friendships, just experiencing how life is here in California to gain a new insight in life,” said Thorn Horwell, an exchange student from Australia and president of the International Education Exchange Council (IEEC) program.

There are some things that can make the arrival and adaptation process a little bit hard for foreign students.  

Study in the USA , an educational website specially designed for helping students to fulfill their dreams of studying abroad, suggests that creating a stable, supportive space where they can thrive is vital for maximizing their efficiency at university while also enjoying the experience of independence. The absence of family and close friends can make students vulnerable to feelings of loneliness or anxiety, making it even more important for them to seek out opportunities for connection and support in their new surroundings. That’s why it is important for students to adapt themselves to the new culture, language, educational program, and style of life. 

Midway University in Kentucky has developed personalized programs to make it easier for foreign students to be successful. This includes programs that enrich students with the cultural knowledge and rules of the country so their stay will result in a faster adaptation and better academic performance. 

“If you are missing someone, it can make your mood a little bit low, especially when I think I have to go to all my classes,” said Horwell. “It definitely does lower your motivation.”

SF State offers help and support to new students through the IEEC program. The program includes a team of 80-100 officers each semester and three different groups of students: exchange students, domestic students that are planning to study abroad, and domestic students that already went to study abroad.

HorwelI thinks the IEEC is a really good initiative. “Everyone there is in the same situation as you and it is a useful community for making new friends and starting to create bonds and connections,” he said.

Homesickness is also one of the main challenges students face when studying abroad. Time zone differences can make students feel the real distance from their homes and families.

“In the place I’ve lived before, the time difference was the same basically, so that made it easier to call my family and friends,” said Saara Ilomäki, an exchange student from Finland that has just arrived to study this semester at SF State. “But here [in the U.S], I feel like it is kind of a hassle to call my family,” said Ilomäki . 

Another challenge students face when living alone for the first time is having to develop independence without their parents. This is the case of Parra who assures that the main challenge she faced was learning how to manage a house. 

Exchange students have found different ways to manage their homesickness. Some of them tend to go for a walk while listening to music and others prefer to hang out with friends. 

Ewen Rousseau, a French student, prefers to call back home and be honest with his friends and family about how he is currently feeling and recommends students to take the opportunity of going to study abroad, meeting new people, and enjoying as much as they can. 

They also gave us some advice to share with other exchange students or for those who are planning to study abroad. 

Bahar Karakucuk, a student from SF State who spent last year studying abroad in Thailand, assures that you should be able to determine how much you want to keep in contact with your family. “Sometimes too much contact will make you more homesick,” she said. 

Horwell recommends to stay open and remember that you can always ask for help if you arrive and are still feeling unsure.