Food is amongst the top concerns that loom over the minds of international students when they have to travel to a different country to be on campus. Luckily, this concern can be greatly alleviated due to the presence of food delivery apps because food delivery apps:
1. Make it easy to find native cuisines:
All international students would likely agree that homesickness can kick in due to the unavailability of native foods that remind them of back home. Homesickness can often lead to students questioning their decision to move abroad, significantly impacting academics and social life. Food delivery apps act as problem solvers in this case, as they allow students to easily find restaurants serving their native cuisine in the new country. For instance, a Chinese student can easily find Chinese food restaurants in Australia using a food delivery app. Just a few taps on the app makes familiar comfort foods from back home readily available.
2. Help overcome language barrier:
While international students can find and travel to a restaurant that serves native cuisines, communicating with the staff could be a problem if the student is not fluent in the language that is widely spoken around. Miscommunication can lead to the student not being able to accurately convey dietary restrictions and preferences, which may even lead to serious consequences, like food allergies. Food delivery apps avert this occurrence by letting students take their time ordering food without the pressure of having to respond promptly. If a Dutch student is in Singapore, and wants to order Chinese food, then a Chinese restaurant app with translation features would readily help them understand what they’re being served. Increased decision-making time enables students to translate and find the meaning of different words listed on the restaurant’s electronic menu through a translation tool. Likewise, students can optimally translate and convey the cooking instructions to the restaurant they’re ordering food from.
3. Help adjust to the new environment:
International students are required to adjust to the new academic culture of a different country. But adjusting to the academic environment isn’t the only challenge that international students have to face – they’re also required to adjust to new living conditions, which includes cooking and cleaning all by themselves. Food delivery apps save students time by eliminating the need to go grocery shopping and cook food. Rather, students can utilize that time to focus more on academics and other aspects of getting accustomed to the new environment.
Furthermore, social life is also an aspect that can’t be ignored. If an international student wants to celebrate their friend’s achievement and wants to throw a party for them, they wouldn’t have to worry about locating the best cake shops. Rather, a good cakes delivery app would suffice and help make all the food arrangements.
4. Provide fuel for all-nighters:
No matter what or where a student is studying, it’s likely that they would have to put an all-nighter at some point to meet deadlines for turning in assignments or projects. Food delivery apps make it easier for students to arrange for food at a time when campus dining would not be operational. Additionally, food delivery apps save students from having to navigate through unfamiliar streets just to get to a restaurant to fetch midnight dinner options. Thus, food delivery apps save both time and energy, helping students finish their assignments and get the best grades possible.
5. Help stay financially disciplined:
International students often want to try out foreign cuisines, but food prices can hold them back if they’re on a budget. If a student makes restaurant reservations and then gets surprised by the prices when they arrive at the restaurant, it would likely be an awkward moment and would probably settle for a dinner takeaway. Food delivery apps avert this awkwardness by letting students browse through the menus of different restaurants without having to be physically present. Thus, students can feel more confident about only ordering the food that they can afford.
Final Thoughts:
Food delivery apps provide international students with food access, convenience, and comfort when studying abroad. These apps make it easy for students to buy cakes online, try out native cuisines and much more. They serve as an effective bridge between international students and restaurants in a foreign country by providing translations and letting them compare prices across different restaurants.