This month's column was written by Diana Nastasia.

Those who have pursued graduate studies know how strenuous, and yet exciting, this experience could be. It is all the more difficult, however, and all the more thrilling, for those who choose to do graduate work abroad.

To become what is known as "an international graduate student," one needs to conduct a search. Call it a search for an appropriate path: an appropriate program, an appropriate university, or an appropriate arrangement.

Let me tell you about my own search. I became an international graduate student because, doing research in cultural studies in my home country of Romania, I realized that I could not proceed meaningfully without gaining a lot more access than I had to scholarly materials. Postcommunist Romania of the late 1990s and the early 2000s was lacking updated print and online research resources, as well as money necessary to acquire them. I spent a year applying for funds until I successfully secured a Fulbright scholarship, which covered my expenses in the United States for one year and provided support such as matches with a university and a network of scholars.

While my plans for studying abroad bore fruit, there are many things I was not aware of in my planning process that I now believe are important to know about. For example, coming from a country in which a study-abroad culture was just taking shape, I did not know that many universities in Western Europe, the United States, and elsewhere offer opportunities for tuition waivers and stipends to those willing to do teaching, research, or service work while going to school. I still hear, back home or at conferences, many people asking what scholarships would be available for studying abroad instead of asking how they could get an assistantship. Also, while I spent much time before my departure reflecting on the differences and similarities between my home and host countries, I perhaps spent too little time thinking about some of the practical aspects of these differences and similarities-such as those regarding health care or transportation. It is quite difficult for someone accustomed to universal health care and public transportation to have to live without them.

Once the search for an appropriate path is over, there are numerous hard decisions to be made, at both personal and professional levels. Those who embark on the journey to become international graduate students often leave behind - at least for a while - family, friends, places they are accustomed to, an emerging or an established career, and so on.

I had my own sacrifices to make. For my first year in the United States, I left a husband and child behind. My Fulbright year was a year of intense intellectual experiences, yet it was also a year of longing for my loved ones, of late night discussions over the Internet, of seeing my daughter grow from one picture to another. My family was reunited after that first year, as my husband also became a graduate student in the United States, but I know that for many other people who are studying abroad reuniting with their families is not so easy. I also left behind a teaching career in my country, but this turned out less difficult than expected, firstly because I have continued to teach in the United States and secondly because I have always kept in touch with my former colleagues and many of my students.

I did graduate work as an international student for six long and wonderful years, in parallel with my spouse's graduate work. Three things seemed crucial to me during this time. First was to not allow my busy schedule to prevent me from living. Although I worked very hard, I also had fun with my daughter, then my two daughters; spent time with friends; enjoyed the sun in the summer and the snow in the winter. Second was to maintain my intellectual curiosity. I went to school to gain credits toward a degree, but first and foremost to make fascinating connections among ideas and to discuss these connections with fascinating people. For the same reasons, I joined communication associations and contributed to networks of scholars.

The third crucial point was to always remember the broader picture. Less than 3% of the U.S. population, and less than 1% of the world's population, have doctoral degrees. I am among those privileged with not just food on the table but also books on the shelves, a computer in the room, many chances to travel the world. I feel that my smallest of duties is to wisely use all these resources.

If you are thinking of becoming an international graduate student, do your research carefully and learn about your options. The experience of graduate studies abroad is not easy, but can be very worthwhile.