In search of greener pasture

Going abroad or searching for ‘greener pasture’ as it is popularly called is not a new phenomenon but I think the first question to ask is how grey (sorry , I mean to say how green) is the supposed greener pasture. In all fairness of truth, there is nothing wrong with the desire to go abroad especially to study, it is the fundamental student right of anybody to desire it. In fact, if I am filled with sufficient pounded yam and egusi soup today, I can desire to study abroad tomorrow too. 

While the opportunities to study abroad are limitless the disillusion is also enormous. Although it seems the opportunities are drying up abroad and the economies of western countries are stagnating, studying abroad still undoubtedly expands the horizon of students and it could be culturally and intellectually enriching.

However, before you start expressing your fundamental student right of going to study abroad, there is need for physical, financial and psychological preparations among many things.

Physically, the student should be prepared to adapt to the physical environment, if you know what I mean; the food is always cold, bland and not fresh, the weather is always cold, dark and most times it rains. There is always the possibility of getting lost and being left alone with maps to direct you. How many average Nigerians can read a map, well, I can’t but if you can read a map good for you!

Psychologically, there is need to be at alert putting on the boy scout motto: BE PREPARED. Students should be vigilant and ready to act, there is inevitably going to be a cultural shock, a high level of circularisation or language barrier. There may also be issues of acceptable discrimination meaning that the system could allow legitimate discrimination against foreigners of certain nationalities. There are usually a set of rules that could permit certain organisations to legally discriminate. For instance, this could be in form of work restrictions, because it is strongly believed that immigration has became a social problem, which is putting a strain on the infrastructure of society and devaluing local jobs. This is common in job hunts where indigenes are given preference against foreigners, especially in Europe. This makes political sense and it is flawlessly defensive on a social level.

Above all, the journey should be made with finances put in place and secured. Finances available should be able to cover living and studying expenses during the period of stay, people over there have confirmed that it can be very frustrating to try to work your way through paying for your school fees.

So, now that you know that money doesn’t grow on trees abroad and that beyond having the funds to study abroad there are other preparations to make, what do you think about going out there for a greener pasture, well, for me I think, proper preparation will prevent poor performance!