I transferred to Pitt from a program in NYU where all my friends and I had the opportunity to study abroad multiple times during our time in college. For that reason, I’ve heard (and lived) many of the pros and cons of different types of study abroad locations.
The Novelty
For us Westerners, we often will find culture-shock or “exotic” experiences in places like China, Thailand, India, Ghana, Egypt, etc.
Pros: It’s constantly exciting and it really never gets old. After living in China, I would say that this was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I loved that everything was a learning experience. Experiencing something very foreign to you is consistently profound and will contribute to your world views.
Cons: Beyond just feeling out of place and dumb for the first few months, culture shock is extremely stressful. Studies have shown that the shock is often worse upon returning to your home country and can even lead to depression. With cultures very far from your own, you are likely to have differences in tastes and lifestyle. Be mindful of how and what you would be eating in a place before taking the plunge.
The Place You’re Obsessed With
I know a lot of people who have studied abroad in a country that they have loved for their entire life. They study the language, take culture classes, and watch foreign films. These countries typically are the UK, France, Japan, Spain, or some cities in South America.
Pros: You’ve probably studied the language and will feel more culturally competent when exploring. Even if you stand out ethnically, you might feel like more of a long-time ex-pat than a student.
Cons: You could be disappointed. Every country is different and there might be subtle things in everyday life that you wish were done in a certain way. For example, you might grow annoyed with cultures that move slower than the U.S. or may be impatient with how developing countries are still… well… developing. The key is to remember why you love the culture and the place but not to romanticize a place.
The “Too Close to Home”
And I don’t just mean geographically. Countries that are a lot like the US include the UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, and Canada. There is little to no language barrier here and, aside from some foods, you will not have a vastly different experience than if you were to just move to a new city in the U.S.
Pros: There is a lot less culture-shock and you can get around more easily when everyone speaks your language. These countries typically have a lot more opportunities for you while you study like internships.
Cons: Not as constantly exciting as the other countries.
Image Credit: 1