Nobody Really Prepares You for Studying Abroad

You finally get the admission.

Your visa comes out. Your family is excited. Friends congratulate you. You pack your bags, take pictures at the airport, and before you know it, you are in another country ready to begin a new chapter.

It sounds exciting — and honestly, it is.

But nobody really prepares you for what comes after that.

Nobody tells you about standing in a supermarket trying to understand what you are buying because everything is written in Turkish.

Nobody tells you how frustrating it can be when you know exactly what you want to say, but you don't know enough Turkish to explain yourself.

Or the endless paperwork — residence permits, address registration, insurance, appointments, school documents and trying to understand an official message that somehow becomes even more confusing after you translate it.

Then there is the weather.

Some of us arrived thinking, “How cold can it really be?”

Then Ankara winter introduced itself properly.

But beyond the funny experiences, studying abroad can sometimes be lonely.

There are days when you miss Nigerian food. Days when you miss hearing familiar accents everywhere. Days when you just want to be around people who understand your jokes without needing an explanation.

And there are days when things become difficult and you don't tell your family everything because you don't want them to worry.

When they call, you simply say:

“I'm fine.”

Meanwhile, you may be thinking about school, rent, money, work, your residence permit and five other things at the same time.

But somewhere along the journey, something changes.

You become more independent.

You learn how to solve problems yourself. You learn how to communicate with people from completely different backgrounds. You make friends from countries you may never have imagined visiting. You learn some Turkish — even if your “Türkçem biraz” has remained biraz for longer than expected. LOL

And slowly, the country that once felt completely unfamiliar starts becoming part of your story.

You discover your favourite places. You know which bus or metro to take without checking your phone. You have your favourite döner place. You start understanding random Turkish words people say around you.

One day, you realise:

I have actually grown.

Studying abroad isn't only about the degree we will eventually receive.

It's also about the person we become while trying to get it.

So, to every Nigerian student in Türkiye currently trying to balance lectures, bills, immigration matters, work, relationships, family expectations and life itself — you're definitely not the only one figuring things out as you go.

Some days will be great.

Some days will be difficult.

And some days you'll just want proper jollof rice and peace of mind. 🇳🇬

But years from now, many of the stressful, funny and unexpected moments we're experiencing today will probably become the stories we tell about our time in Türkiye.

And perhaps that's part of the journey too.