I am bad at writing reflectively while a thing is still happening, so here is the first month as lists instead.
Harder than expected
The time difference with home, and what it does to staying in touch. Reading a city whose recent history is visible in its layout and being a visitor inside that. Getting a local bank account.
Easier than expected
Making friends in the cohort. The coursework, so far. Public transport, once I stopped being precious about asking for help.
Nothing about this semester has been difficult in the way the pre-departure workshop prepared me for, and plenty has been difficult in ways it did not mention.
Ask me again at the end of term, when the long essays are due and the novelty has worn off.