<p>I really, REALLY want to do some kind of study abroad. But there doesn’t seem to be enough time, what with important holidays and family occasions. I could make use of a summer, but even that is fraught with potential problems (there are several birthdays over the summer). Does anyone have any suggestions to make study abroad happen for me? And no, my school does not specifically offer study abroad summer programs.</p>
<p>You might have to just miss some holidays… If you study abroad in the fall semester, it would just be Thanksgiving. You would be home for the winter holidays, most likely. Fall semester is also often the easiest time to study abroad (fewer students apply to programs at most colleges for the fall, everyone wants to go in the spring).</p>
<p>You might just have to choose some to miss. Don’t forget that just about everything can be celebrated whilst abroad (except family birthdays) and it’s common for students to fly home over Christmas anyway. Those that don’t fly home are sometimes taken to the home of a local student over the holidays in Western nations. Of course, if you want to celebrate Thanksgiving then you’ll have to assemble a group of Americans and locate a turkey - but it can be done. </p>
<p>There’s never a perfect time for these things, and sacrifices do sometimes have to be made. I missed two family birthdays and a death in the immediate family whilst I was away (not studying, but long term travelling). I don’t regret going for a second.</p>
<p>I guess I’m not quite buying that you “really, REALLY want to do some kind of study abroad” if you’re not even willing to miss a birthday party to do so. A big part of the study abroad experience is pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and it doesn’t seem as if you’re ready to do that. When you’re ready, you’ll make it happen but only you can decide when that is. Is your family supporting you in this desire to study abroad, or are they asking you not to go so that you don’t “miss things”? If the latter is the case, then that would clearly be part of the indecision you’re experiencing.</p>
<p>It’s not really just birthdays. I was going to leave this out, but I’m Jewish and relatively observant, and missing JEWISH holidays would be difficult. I can’t, for example, find much of a way to explain having to leave for a week to keep Passover (or I’d have to kosher a kitchen which, while doable, is difficult to maintain with roommates), especially if I’m in a country where there’s less of a religious majority. </p>
<p>The sole exception would be Israel, but the place I want to go is France, for specific research and academic reasons. </p>
<p>WRT family, my family is pretty much an “all birthday” family. People in my family have moved vacations, meetings, etc. to be together for birthdays. I can only think of one case where someone missed a birthday, and people were NOT pleased. No one’s expressly said “don’t go abroad,” but I’d be the first to do it, and certain relatives would be more understanding than others.</p>
<p>Well… a bit of an eye roll here about the relatives who can’t miss a birthday. What are they going to do if you move to another city after you graduate from college? Just be sure you Skype, send a card, etc. on the special day. I don’t think they will hold it against you if you remember the event, even if you can’t be there. If they do, that seems like their problem, and now might be a really good time to cut a few of those family apron strings if you even intend to sever them at all.</p>
<p>It looks like you are at USC. Will they let you go through other school’s study abroad programs? Because if you Google “study abroad keeping kosher”, some of the links point to study abroad programs run by other colleges that look like they are aimed at Jewish students who want to keep kosher during their time abroad. If I were you, I would go ask in the USC study abroad office.</p>
<p>Thank you, intparent, and I will definitely take that information to the study abroad office! You also bring up the valid point that I really DON’T know how they’ll react. People don’t really miss birthdays around here! I think it would take some explaining (in some cases) about why I want to study abroad and what I think it’ll do for my education. At least I know that I have my mother’s support (I haven’t really had much of a conversation with my dad, but based on his own college experience, I’m pretty sure he’d be the last person to need convincing!). Really, with my parents’ support, I’d hope everyone else would at least pretend to understand. </p>
<p>I think I may make my family sound a little goofier than we are. We’re just very, very close, with everyone living nearby and most of us seeing each other on a daily basis. And we have a lot of activities that we, as a family, operate. </p>
<p>But I’d definitely send cards/small gifts (if possible!) on birthdays.</p>
<p>You’ve not expressed any particular preference for what country you want to go to, but as an example of what does occur in various countries, many (if not most) have a Jewish Society (JSoc) which offers religious and social activities. They may even know of a Jewish houseshare needing an extra housemate. </p>
<p>This is one example - [Manchester</a> Jewish Society](<a href=“http://www.manchesterjsoc.com/]Manchester”>http://www.manchesterjsoc.com/)
And another - [About</a> -](<a href=“http://www.birminghamjsoc.com/about.html]About”>http://www.birminghamjsoc.com/about.html) </p>
<p>In addition, it would appear that Passover 2014 falls entirely within the Easter holidays, so it would be possible to fly home then without missing any study time.</p>