When you go abroad, the chances are good that you will live in a self-catering student residence hall or an apartment in your new home town. And that means you may have to do all of your own cooking instead of going to a cafeteria for every meal. This site will help you get started if you have never cooked before, and help you become a better cook if you already have some experience.

We'll discuss some of the differences [1] between cooking in the U.S. and overseas, give you some tips on how to set up your kitchen [2], suggest some good places to go for recipes [3], provide some advice [4] that will help make cooking enjoyable, healthy, and inexpensive, and suggest some resources and links [5] to help you keep learning.

Making your own food doesn’t have to be a chore. It can be a great way to relax after a day of classes and studying, and it will SAVE YOU MONEY, which is one of the main reasons to do it. Creating your own meals is generally a healthier way of eating, too, especially if you shop for ingredients locally and avoid buying overly-processed foods at a grocery store. And cooking can be a great way to meet other people – local students and other study abroad students sharing the same kitchen will be more willing to strike up a conversation if there’s something savory on the stove.

We’d like to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe that you have learned since you went overseas, please share it with us [6]. If you have some tips and advice for other students, let us know [6].