There are so many reasons to study abroad. I mean, how many times can you realistically live outside of your home country with few to no ramifications?
After you finish your time at college/university, the answer is “not many.”
To be fair, the easier question to answer is “why shouldn’t I study abroad?”
There are no good responses to that.
I mean, sure, I withdrew from a semester-long study abroad program. But it’s one of the hardest things I have ever done. And it’s also one of my biggest regrets.
I could have spent a semester studying Shakespeare in the U.K., but no, I had to go and withdraw…
(Now that I’ve relived that, excuse me as I go drown my sorrows in cheese.)
But I digress. Getting back to #StudyAbroadBecause.
Recently, I was interviewed by Wandering Educators’ Dr. Jessie Voigts about how I would respond to the phrase #StudyAbroadBecause. It was a fun way to reflect on my experiences abroad, as well as provide some insight about the things I learned while abroad that surprised me.
Pro tip: you may have your entire life thrown upside-down in a French class about geography.
Pro tip #2: the concept of right and wrong are cultural constructs. When you learn this whilst abroad, it will lead to years of reflection. And the occasional outburst in the middle of the night yelling “BUT WHYYYYYYY???”
My favorite response for #StudyAbroadBecause was “Go early, go often, go for as long as you can, and go with an open heart and mind.”
The full interview can be found here.
How would you respond to #StudyAbroadBecause? What did you wish you knew before you left?
Related:
When to Start Planning for Study Abroad
25 Things to Know about Study Abroad
How to Survive those Bad Days Abroad
Study Abroad Guide: Preparation Phase
Why I Withdrew from Semester-Long Study Abroad