College is about learning. But I don’t think it’s a stretch to say thatabout as much learning happens outside of the class room as inside theclassroom. In addition to the knowledge I’ve gained from lectures and seminars, my college experience has taught me about navigating stress, trusting myself, and building my own community. And I’m learning aton of those lessons right now, in the most fun way I can imagine – by studying abroad.
I’m a U.S. college student, and this semester, I’m studying in Uppsala, Sweden and I couldn’t have made a better decision.
Here’s why:
It’s a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity
Studying abroad is both a great way to get introduced to international travel and a way to connect with people who you can (hopefully) visit in the future. Most study abroad programs will help acquaint you withyour University’s town and set you up for success when it comes tomeeting people and getting settled it. Odds are, you’re not gettingdropped off in the middle of a foreign country to fend for yourself! So,if you’ve never traveled internationally before, studying abroad is agreat way to experience life in another country for the first time.
It May Be Less Money Than Your Main College
If you do your due diligence by talking to your school’s study abroadadvisors, researching different study abroad programs and seeking outscholarship opportunities, you may be able to find a program that is more affordable than your normal tuition. With a combination ofscholarships applications and finding an affordable program, I’mactually saving money abroad right now compared to what I would be paying at my home university!
It's Getting Me “Out” of My Comfort Zone
I’ll admit that I was a little scared to study abroad. Until I traveled to Sweden, the longest I had ever been away from home was two weeks. So, comparatively, five months sounded like forever! But time has beendisappearing since I got here and I’m doing everything I can to makethe most of every day and spend as much time as I can with my international friends!
I can’t think of too many other times in life when you’ll get theopportunity to be surrounded by so many people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. From seeing falafel on the McDonald’s menu to listening to Chinese country music, traveling out of home country and learning about the idiosyncrasies that people carry with them from their homes has been unreal. I wouldn’t trade thisexperience for anything and encourage everyone to take the chance and study abroad! -- Katya Lien