Anyone here study abroad while in college?

[Breezie]

I've gone back to school after about a year absence. Because I'm already so behind I'm thinking about studying abroad. I like to think after I'm done with school, I'll take off six months and travel the world, but realistically? Probably not.

If you have studied abroad, if you would just tell me if your experience was a positive one, and whether or not you'd do it again if you had the chance. And basically, tell me anything you want to!

I'm leaning toward spending a year in Paris, France or Edinburgh, Scotland. But regardless of where you studied, I'd still like to read your experiences!

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

I spent a summer in a smallish town in France called Bourges. I LOVED it. I went with my university, so credits were no problem, got in 2 french classes. We only had class mon-thurs and so we traveled on the weekends. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I lived with a french family and got to see things I never would have had an opportunity to see otherwise.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I spent my jr year at a Cal State Uni studying in Madrid, Spain. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I encourage anyone who can do it to take advantage and study in another country.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I didn't but my two ds's did. One spent a semester in London and the other spent a semester in Paris. Both said it was the best thing they ever did, and they can't wait to go back.

 

[pr surfer]

I did a semester in Guadalajara, MX, and summer exchanges in Buenos Aires, Florence, and Barcelona.

 

[phorsenuf]

My son is currently in London. He loves it!
He's heading to Florence, Rome, Venice and then Barcelona on his semester break. Flights between countries are really cheap. I'm so jealous!

 

[mrsv98]

I did a semester in England my Sr year and loved it so much I went to Cambridge for grad school! It was wonderful. I had friends from Scotland, France, Japan, Iran, India, Pakistan, Ghana, Zambia, Wales, Australia. Canada...there are more but you get the idea. We Americans huge out together at first but we kept adding more people to our group and it was so much fun.

During the year, parents, especially the moms from India would come to visit (and cook for us which was great because the food in our hall was awful!). We took a trip to Paris staying really cheaply at a Hostel and having a wonderful time. I was really broke or I would have gone more places but it was one of the best times of my life and I would reccomend it to anyone!

 

[SRICE100]

I spent a semester in Taiwan and a semester in Hong Kong. It was great and led to a job overseas after I graduated.

My husband (before we met) spent a year in Japan.

I think it impacted us both positively, and neither of us would trade the experience.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I spent a semester in Austria and traveled via train all over Europe.. Best time of my life! I learned more life lessons in that semester than through all of college!

 

[gate_pourri]

I spent all 4-years of my college education at the American University of Paris. It was an AMAZING experience! If you have any questions of living/studying abroad, please drop me a PM.

 

[DVCLiz]

DD19 will be in Quito, Ecuador next semester. She has had brief trips to Japan and Spain while in college and has had amazing experiences!!

 

[Breezie]

Thanks for sharing everyone! I'm almost positive I'm going to do it. I just need to talk it over with my Dad first. I think it will be a great experience.

gate_pourri: I will most definitely drop you a PM sometime in the near future. I'm sure your information will be exremely helpful!

 

[englishteacha]

I spent a semester in the UK. It was the best time of my life, honestly. I went with my uni, so there were several people there from my home school. My best friend and my fiance (now DH) came, too. We met lots of great people, spent every weekend seeing new things, and took some really cool classes. I'd go back and live in Oxford forever if I could.

 

[skuttle]

I spent a summer in Paris. LOVED IT! I will definitely encourage DS to study abroad when that time comes. My college did a group of 45 students. We had class in the morning and our afternoons were free. We did a lot of weekend trips as well to the surrounding areas.

When I did it, I had only flown one other time in my life (The summer before to Chicago) and I didn't know anyone doing it. When I brought it up to my parents, they thought I was nuts. LOL! I'm from a very small town and my generation is really the first one in our family to go off to college. My parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc didn't go to college. I was the talk of the family at that time!

 

[maelstrom]

My best friend studied abroad in Scotland and graduated from the University of Glasgow.