Studying abroad in a foreign country, whether in Europe, Asia, Africa, or elsewhere, is a fantastic opportunity that many college students take advantage of, and for good reason. Many students return from their semester or year abroad a person who has changed for the better. This is the result of several factors.
First of all, studying abroad teaches you to think on your feet, but it also helps you realize that things rarely turn out as badly as you fear they will. Most students have a laundry list of fears about leaving home to live in a foreign country for 6 months to a year, but, once they get there, they usually realize that things are a lot more positive than they thought and that their worrying was all for nothing.
Also, because things rarely play out as expected in a foreign country – from train rides to eating out – it teaches you to react to things as they come, and you become better able to adapt to strange and surprising situations.
Finally, studying abroad teaches you how to be more independent. Most students are very homesick at first because the friends, family, and boyfriends/girlfriends they’ve relied on for so many years are now miles away. However, you’ll soon learn how to function on your own (with the help of new friends and acquaintances), and this is an invaluable skill to retain once you return to your home country.
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