What are the Challenges Pakistani Student Face While Studying in Abroad

The studying in abroad journey is promising of a successful career, high quality education and personal growth. For studying in abroad, students have to deal with detailed documentations, meeting visa requirements, spending of money, time and leaving behind their family and friends. The duration spent in abroad is in itself tough and challenging and causes emotional and physical exhaustion. But evidently, to achieve something you have to put in efforts and go through sufferings. This phase of transition will broaden your vision, open multidimensional career paths, upgrade your personality and elevate your mental strength. As a Pakistani student, the complications and hurdles for studying in abroad are rather intensified because of religion and political crises. The challenges a Pakistani student might face while studying abroad are discussed in this article:

Islamophobia and Racism

Islamophobia is on rise at present than ever before. Conspicuously, it is almost on regular basis that we observe Muslims are being targeted and withheld from performing their religious duties in western countries in particular. This practice of islamophobia has been continued for a while now but of course it has stemmed from extremist activities and mass killings in the past. Seminars and conferences, public dialogue and personal efforts are however there to address this situation and many westerners take islamophobia as a wrong dogma and stand with Muslim community. So Islamophobia and racism are two main issues that Pakistani students face while studying in abroad.

Adjusting in a Different and Dissimilar Culture

Adjusting in a different and totally dissimilar culture of foreign civilizations can be challenging than it seem. The food, the attire, the life style, the general perception of people even might be quite complex for you to understand. As the saying goes, “Do in Rome as the Romans Do”, One has to adopt to new lifestyle and find a way to adjust which will eventually transform you into a better person and elevate your personality traits. It will be a time consuming process but a thought provoking and constructive one.

Managing Your Budget

Since Pakistan is a developing country, the majority of Pakistani students studying in abroad cannot completely rely on their parents for monthly living expenses and tuition fee. They will have to do part time jobs in abroad while studying and manage their budget according to the income earned from jobs. By managing your budget and earning to pay your own rent will definitely make you responsible and a careful person but of course it is not that easy.

Language Barrier and Misimpression

In one’s plight is one’s opportunity. It is not that easy to learn a foreign language and that too while living in abroad where you have to communicate with locals and fellows on that same language for your daily needs. There can be misimpression and misinterpretation of words which can lead to misunderstanding. But when the spotlight is on you and you have to learn something for your survival the chances of success are always 100%. For doing part time job, for studying and for communicating with locals you will overcome this language barrier and hone your language skills for your own good.

Yearning for Home

Being an outsider and looking around at people with their families and support system will make you homesick. Sometimes due to this homesickness, the students leave their education in between and give up. So you must be ready for pledging yourself with this commitment of studying in abroad and staying away from your family for a while. You will eventually make friends, create lifelong memories, visit new places, embrace in similarities and differences of your room mates and new friends but a few initial months in abroad are going to be hard as in Pakistan we live as close knit families.

Focusing on Your Education in Adverse Environment

When the odds are against you and environment is adverse, your prime purpose of this expedition might get defocused. You are there for education after all, you might face a hard time to fight these cluster of emotions and homesickness, language barrier and adopting a new culture and continue with your studies. But you have extract maximum potential of success and benefits out of this complex journey and utilize it for your better future and personal goals. The pressure of meeting attendance requirements and keeping up with grades requirements will always be there.