Part One: For the Student
Just ten minutes ago, I googled “Frequently asked questions about study abroad.” When I brainstorm blog topics, I think about the most hard-hitting or challenging topics to address: political landscape, financial concerns, cultural shifts, etc.
I never considered the simple but most important question about studying abroad… why do it?
For me, the answer is so easy I could spew it in my sleep, but there are a myriad of reasons why someone could be hesitant. Let me spell it out for you with my whys.
This one’s for you, the student.
Self-growth.
This is when you sigh and say, yeah, thanks Captain Obvious. No, I’m talking bigger than the transition from high school to college. You will go through such a tremendous amount of change in such a short period (2–3 months for semester-long trips) that you’ll have to adapt to the environment, like a chameleon.
You’ll learn to navigate the train system, walk to class without a map, find a route to your favorite coffee shop, understand cultural differences, and have conversations with other international students about the consumer-driven lives of Americans.
After a while, you’ll be able to walk into a new place or situation with self-assuredness. You will learn to be…
