They say college is the best time of your life. If that’s true, I am going to milk every minute of this precious time for what it is worth.
One of the most unique experiences college has to offer is the opportunity to study abroad.
Now I know your home university is a wonderful place and you are thinking, “How could you possibly leave all your friends for an entire semester to go off to a foreign country?” I’ll tell you. You take a leap of faith and just go!
If you are on the fence about going abroad here are eight reasons why you should definitely go:
1. The food
(Bear with me. We are starting small and working our way up.) It is all too easy to get addicted to the food of the place you travel to. On top of that, knowing you only have a couple months in the country you are studying will make you want to indulge in all the delicious food you can!
2. Boys with accents
It may be a little unrealistic that you’ll meet a prince and fall in love, but at least all the boys have accents and you get to listen all day long! (BTW, Tinder is huge in the UK. Maybe you will meet your prince!)
3. You get the chance to immerse yourself in a different culture
Being abroad you experience things you wouldn’t experience anywhere else. Some places have more cultural barriers than others, but wherever you go you are sure to hear, see and learn about things you haven’t come across before. These things enrich will your life and teach you things that will broaden your mind, widening your perspective of the world.
4. You are surrounded by history!
History is everywhere, but it is amazing to be in a place that has a different story than the place you come from. To visit places where history was made is truly indescribable.
5. You get the chance to make friends from all over the world
Probably my favorite thing about being abroad is meeting people from all over the world. There is nothing more valuable. I now have a friends from Greece, Scotland, Australia, Denmark and the list goes on and on. I have learned so much from each of them! It is so cool to be able to connect with someone with such a different background and still develop a friendship.
6. You have the ability to travel the world
Once you are abroad, you have incredible access to the rest of the world, especially if you study in Europe! Once you are over seas it is so cheap and easy to travel. All the more reason to come!
7. You are forced to figure things out on your own
It’s quite amazing what you figure out how to do on your own, with a little assistance from Google Maps. You are pushed to your limits, but then rise above and realize just how much you are truly capable of.
8. By being out in the world on your own you find yourself
Some days are lonely. Some days you wish your friends and family were there to share the beautiful moments with you. But it is really quite refreshing being on your own for a while. It allows you to reflect on yourself, to form your own opinions, unsaturated by others, about the things you are experiencing. It is freeing.
If you are looking to enrich your college experience, and ultimately your young adult life, consider studying abroad while you can! Who knows what it will teach you or where it will take you.