Study Abroad Advice/Tales of Your Experience

lderochi
Mon, 24 Jan 2005 18:52:28 +0000

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That’s absolutely right, and it’s why I also recommend that your S go for the longest time available. I went abroad for a year in college soooo many years ago, and it remains one of my most vivid and fond memories. I remember feeling very sorry for the people that had to return after 1 semester. My only advice would be to just go there with a completely open mind and soak everything in. Don’t be afraid of looking like a “tourist” at first, because he WILL be a tourist for awhile. But fairly soon, particularly if he makes the effort to socialize and not just hang with the other americans, he will make a wonderful transformation.

Your son should also be aware that he will in all likelihood come into contact with some anti-Americanism, which can be a little jarring. Everyone learns to deal with it in their own way. I more or less just ignored it unless the other party refused to let it go. Now it’s Iraq and Afghanistan, back then it was El Salvador and MX missles. Sigh.

I just can’t say enough about spending significant time abroad when your schedule is flexible enough to allow it. ONe of the few “absolute” issues I have with my S as he begins the college search process is that the college he chooses needs to have some study abroad programs. I can’t make him go, but I can at least make sure he attends a school that gives him the option.