This week marks International Education Week, a joint initiative by the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Education. Emory’s commitment to international exchange deeply shapes our campus: Tibetan monks stroll through Lullwater Park, The Carter Center monitors disputed elections in conflict zones and the Halle Institute hosts heads of state and influential policymakers.

Emory proudly subscribes to the mission of International Education Week as an effort to “promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment.”

Emory students engage the world not only on campus, but also through more than 100 dynamic study-abroad programs. The Center for International Programs Abroad (CIPA) serves as the study-abroad office for Emory students.

As a recent study-abroad alum, I want to address three realities of study abroad that Emory students might not consider when they apply to their program: safety, educational quality and available resources. Although these topics are covered during CIPA pre-departure activities as well as during orientation events held by host institutions, students frequently overlook these details until they are faced with problems.

Safety: Safety is always one of CIPA’s primary focuses during the pre-departure activities, but nothing prepared me for the South London location of my dormitory. Muggings and assaults on students were not frequent, but did happen throughout my time there.

After two years in the relative safety of the “Emory bubble,” I became frustrated by the lack of freedom to come and go as I please, and by the weak “response” of the dorm’s wardens and the local police chief. We were advised to travel in groups and to avoid taking back streets, but the police repeatedly emphasized the need for extra vigilance.

For some students, the solution was to move out of the dorm to live in another part of London. For those who stayed behind, we took precautions when going out at night, and didn’t let it dampen my time abroad.

Quality of education: The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is one of the strongest institutions for studying social sciences, but I was shocked at the small amount of face time students received from their professors. LSE students see their professors at lecture for one hour a week and attend an additional hour of class discussion led by a teaching assistant. The British teaching style stresses self-study and, compared to the American style, seemed sorely lacking until I made adjustments to my personal set of learning expectations. For students considering study abroad, be aware and flexible to how other countries learn. Taking the class seriously and seeking out professors for help outside the class goes a long way.

Resources available: The on-site Emory coordinator for U.K. programs made herself accessible and engaged throughout my study-abroad experience. However, not all of the resources offered at Emory were available abroad. At the LSE, I did not have access to tutoring programs like Emory’s ePass or an academic advising program specifically for study-abroad students, which was frustrating. Though I still did well in my classes, I should have better understood the resources available to me when it came to dealing with academic, medical or general problems. Local students were the best resources for information while the university’s international student office can also provide assistance.

Every student should study abroad, but they should be smart about it. The Emory bubble is precisely that: a bubble that does not really exist outside of our campus. You may encounter difficulties when you study abroad, but flexibility, preparation and a proactive attitude will set you up to enjoy a positive and enriching experience.

Conducting your own research will help you avoid any surprises when you arrive at your destination. Read an online newspaper, study a map of the university or learn about the local culture. Your time abroad is ultimately what you make of it.

International Education Week emphasizes the promise of engagement with the world around us. Push yourself to overcome the initial challenges, and the best experiences are yours to conquer.

Linda Wu is a College senior from Miami. She is a CIPA peer adviser.