If you are working as a teaching assistant in Europe then you should be able to apply for an ERASMUS grant to top up your already decent wages! ERASMUS grants are handled by universities, so they should provide you with more information when the deadline for applications approach.

It is worth looking out for the other assistants, who can really help form a social basis in the country where you are working. And if in private sector, is worth taking it upon yourself to look into existence of other language assistants who are working in the public sector. If you’re worried about this limiting your contact with the foreign language, be honest about it. You could always talk the language you are studying between you and work on enlarging your network to include max number of native speakers as possible.

Part of the experience of being in a foreign country is the cultural difference.

Here  are five ways to minimize feeling overwhelmed when you arrive.