Hello dear readers and explorers,
In this post, I want to share something more personal. About a year ago, I moved to Budapest, Hungary to study. I went through a lot, learned even more, and discovered things about myself that I never expected. This is my honest story — not a polished guide, but the real lessons I learned, the struggles I faced, and the advice I’d give to anyone who wants to move abroad at 18.
Dream vs. Reality
Since middle school, one of my biggest dreams was to live abroad and experience a completely different culture. I loved walking through new cities for hours without ever getting tired. So when I finally received a scholarship to study in Hungary, I was thrilled.
But turning a dream into reality is harder than it looks. Packing my entire life into two suitcases was exhausting. I wanted to bring all my books, all my clothes — but I had to leave things behind. Saying goodbye to my city wasn’t too difficult, but saying goodbye to my family was.
My first day: I had no internet, no phone service, and everything felt completely foreign. I walked for kilometers, trying to find my way. I needed to rent a flat, but without a working phone I had to stop strangers to ask for directions. The place I found wasn’t what I expected, and I felt like I would never get used to living there. For a moment, I wanted to go back. But I didn’t. And today, I’m proud of myself for not giving up.
Not everything will look like your dream — and that’s okay. The fewer expectations you bring, the easier it is to accept reality as it comes.
New Experiences & New Peoples
When you move to a new country, everything feels different — the faces, the voices, even the sounds of the city. In my first weeks at university, I met people from many countries, each bringing their own culture and perspective. It felt strange at first, but also exciting to know I was starting fresh and everything around me was new to discover.
Goodbyes, Loneliness, Homesickness
Living abroad also means saying a lot of goodbyes — to your family, your old friends, and even to new people who may stay in your life only for a short time.
Loneliness is real, even if you have friends. There are long hours spent alone, moments when you miss food from home, or the comfort of familiar voices. Sometimes just hearing Turkish on the street made me want to smile and say hello. Over time, I learned to accept these feelings instead of fighting them.
Culture Shocks
Culture shocks are everywhere:
People blowing their noses loudly in public — completely normal here, but strange for me.
The sound of ambulances, which I couldn’t get used to for months.Shops closing early.
On the positive side: people following traffic rules, greeting each other, saying thank you, giving way.
Every little thing was new to me, and each one was a culture shock at first.
Dealing with Paperwork & Bureaucracy
This was honestly the part I hated most. When you first arrive, there’s endless paperwork: residence permit, student ID, insurance, bank account. While trying to adapt to a new country and keep up with classes, this part was very stressful.
Living Alone & Handling Everything Yourself
I didn’t get a dorm room, so I had to rent an apartment. In the end, it was one of the best things for me — but also one of the hardest.
I had to learn everything: cooking, cleaning, fixing broken lightbulbs, dealing with a drainage problem that flooded my apartment, handling insects, paying bills, negotiating with the landlord, setting up internet. I faced it all on my own. I had friends helping and supporting me, but it was still mentally exhausting.
Be ready to manage your time and money. Daily life tasks are a bigger part of the experience than you think.
Money Management
Even with a scholarship, I still needed support from my family. You can work part-time, but during your first year it’s very difficult to balance with university.
For me, the biggest lesson was to learn how to separate needs from wants. Cooking at home instead of eating out, managing small expenses carefully — these made a huge difference. Everyone’s financial situation is different, but budgeting is essential.
Daily Life Differences & Habits
At the beginning, your old routines and habits break down completely. But as time goes by, you build new ones for yourself. A new market, a new café, new ways of spending time.
Your old life changes, and with it, you change too.
Communication with Peoples
The friendships you build abroad become your new family. Everyone is away from home, so you understand each other in ways nobody else can. You learn to face challenges together and support one another.
Identity, Perspective, Growth
Moving abroad means being ready for change. You discover yourself in new ways, spend more time with your own thoughts, and see things from different perspectives.
It’s not always easy — it challenges you and sometimes breaks you down. But at the same time, it makes you stronger.
Academic Side: University Abroad vs. High School
One of the biggest shocks after moving abroad at 18 was the academic side. University is nothing like high school. You’re suddenly responsible for everything — no one checks if you’ve studied, no one reminds you of deadlines, you need to check your emails and professors expect you to already know how to handle it.
At the beginning, it’s normal to feel lost. Low grades, even failing a class, are not the end of the world — they happen to almost everyone. The key is to not let small failures destroy your mindset. If you let one bad grade define you, you’ll quickly lose motivation.
There’s also the pressure of keeping a scholarship. In my case, I constantly felt torn between studying hard, exploring the city, and maintaining a social life. Professors aren’t always understanding, and it can feel like the system doesn’t give you room to breathe.
On top of that, you see other students — sometimes older, sometimes more experienced — getting amazing grades. It’s easy to compare yourself and feel like you’re not good enough. But the truth is, everyone’s path is different.
Focus on building your foundation. Learn how to study in a way that works for you. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about surviving the pressure and slowly building confidence.
Going Back Home for the First Time
When you finally return home, everything looks the same but at the same time different, you are different. Your favorite café might have closed. Things that used to feel normal may now bother you. People notice you’ve changed, and you notice it too.
It feels like you belong everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
Future Outlook: How Moving Abroad Shaped Me
Moving abroad at 18 changes you in ways you can’t predict. In the beginning, it feels like you’re constantly behind, constantly trying to catch up. But slowly, you realize that all those struggles are shaping you.
I learned resilience. Things went wrong — from bureaucracy to academics to personal struggles — and I still managed to figure them out. That gives me confidence for the future: if I could handle this at 18, I can handle much more later.
I learned perspective. Meeting people from all over the world gave me new ways of looking at life, culture, and even my own identity. It made me more open-minded and also more appreciative of where I come from.
I learned independence. Not the Instagram version of “freedom” but the real one: paying bills, managing money, handling stress, being responsible for every single decision. It’s not glamorous, but it’s powerful.
And finally, I learned that growth doesn’t come from comfort. The times I felt most lost or lonely were also the times I grew the most.
My outlook now? Moving abroad at 18 was not just about studying in another country. It was about learning how to stand on my own two feet, how to adapt, and how to trust myself. These lessons will stay with me until the end of my life.
Advices
- Stay open to new things.
- Find supportive and trustworthy friends.
- Keep your expectations low and avoid judgment.
- Don’t compare yourself to your friends or Instagram stories — everyone’s journey is unique.
Moving abroad at 18 is difficult, lonely, exciting, and beautiful all at once. It changes you, challenges you, and teaches you more than you expect. If this has been your dream, don’t wait for the perfect moment — there isn’t one. The journey itself will teach you.
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