Point: I Can Show You the World

Ever dream about riding a camel past the pyramids in Egypt? Walking through the Coliseum in Rome? Having fun in Amsterdam? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then study abroad is for you!

If that advertising strategy doesn't work for you, try this one-the 2006 data from Open Doors, a company that researches international education exchange, found that Georgetown University ranked fifth in the country for participation in study abroad, at 58.7% of undergraduates in study abroad programs. So basically, everyone's doing it. You do want to be cool, don't you?

On a more serious note, study abroad really is one of the most unbelievable opportunities available to U.S. students, especially at this time in our lives. This is the only time in which we can live (most likely) free of bills, families to support, etc. With limited roots, we can jet off to another country and live for a semester (or even a year) in a way we would have never been able to otherwise. I know what you're thinking-yes, you will miss your boyfriend/ girlfriend/roommates /parents/pets/Wii, but I think you can handle it for four months.

By now you've probably guessed that I myself have gone abroad. I spent four months living in Milan, Italy. And while I missed the aforementioned things, hating my program and thinking the city I lived in was too dirty, I still loved Milan. Even while stepping over dog poop on my way to an internet café because my apartment in the red-light district of the city did not have wireless, I loved my experience and would do it again in a heartbeat.

For one, you get to live in a city/country/continent that is totally new to you, with a different culture and most likely a different language.

Secondly, you get to travel to amazing places-I've enjoyed a pint (or many) at the Guinness factory in Dublin and at Oktoberfest in Munich, eaten crepes by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, tanned on the beach in Monaco on the French Riviera, had tapas and tortillas in Madrid, had a wine tasting in Tuscany, you name it.

Thirdly, you learn so much about yourself (as cliché as it sounds) and learn a lot about independence. For example, What do you do when you can't get back home from Oktoberfest because the trains in Italy are on strike for an entire weekend (true story)? You get by. You deal with situations the hard way, and you realize that not only do you survive, but you discover a lot about yourself under pressure.

Fourthly, you make some amazing friends. They are all going through the same thing as you are, and trial by fire equals major bonding.

Fifthly, you learn two types of appreciation. One type involves valuing all the things about the culture and country in which you studied. The other appreciation is one where you value all the things that America has and that specific country does not-for me, I learned to appreciate fully operational public services, the dollar and functioning home appliances (I don't think I or my clothes were ever really clean for four whole months).

Sixthly (and this is my last point, I promise), you learn to be more easy-going. This is not an easy concept for many Georgetown students, but trust me-if I can learn, anyone can. Grades don't count towards your GPA, so you can afford to be more relaxed about schoolwork. Flights are often delayed, public transportation goes on strike, and people rip you off because you are American. Once you can get over all of these things and learn to enjoy all the amazing experiences open to you, you have mastered the art of living. Okay, maybe not that drastic, but you're on your way.

Even if you cannot afford a semester now, take two or three months out of your summer to study abroad and broaden your horizons. So trust me - go abroad! You'll gain weight, go broke, ruin your liver and become a slacker and it will be the best time of your life.

- Jenna Weiner

Source: The Georgetown Independent

January 30, 2008