[ccurtis189]

Hey guys, so I'm trying to study abroad this summer. My main emphasis isn't girls, I mostly want to see what it's like to live in another country and another culture, but hooking up would definitely be a plus. If I'm a newbie what places would you suggest to go to?

[Handsome Creepy Eel]

Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Germany, Austria. All cultures receptive to foreigners and with great student organisations where you can make friends, but at the same time cheap (except Germany/Austria) and with a quality educational system with lots of tradition and history.

[Laner]

Summer semesters abroad are very non academic. They are focused mostly to give a person some global awareness.

For that reason I agree with HCEel. Choose a place that has a rich culture above anything else.

I know Florence is crawling with English speaking summer abroad students. As you might know from reading this forum, most European university cities are ghost towns during the summer.

Keep that in mind.

[ccurtis189]

(02-22-2012 06:26 AM)Laner Wrote:  

Summer semesters abroad are very non academic. They are focused mostly to give a person some global awareness.

For that reason I agree with HCEel. Choose a place that has a rich culture above anything else.

I know Florence is crawling with English speaking summer abroad students. As you might know from reading this forum, most European university cities are ghost towns during the summer.

Keep that in mind.

So should I just wait for the fall or spring then? Or perhaps shoot for Central America, South America, or the Caribbean?

[chairman]

(02-22-2012 09:55 AM)ccurtis189 Wrote:  

(02-22-2012 06:26 AM)Laner Wrote:  

Summer semesters abroad are very non academic. They are focused mostly to give a person some global awareness.

For that reason I agree with HCEel. Choose a place that has a rich culture above anything else.

I know Florence is crawling with English speaking summer abroad students. As you might know from reading this forum, most European university cities are ghost towns during the summer.

Keep that in mind.

So should I just wait for the fall or spring then? Or perhaps shoot for Central America, South America, or the Caribbean?

It really matters what culture you are interested in. Also, if you know spanish or another language that could heavily factor in to your decision. You can't go wrong anywhere if your objective is to learn a different culture except for the UK and Australia ( I personally think that the three are clones of the US or vice versa).

[ccurtis189]

(02-22-2012 10:25 AM)chairman Wrote:  

It really matters what culture you are interested in. Also, if you know spanish or another language that could heavily factor in to your decision. You can't go wrong anywhere if your objective is to learn a different culture except for the UK and Australia ( I personally think that the three are clones of the US or vice versa).

Well, I don't know Spanish, but I did take two years of it in high school, so I know some of the basics, so I figured maybe since I already know a little bit of it I would take Spanish language classes in a Latin American country. Some of the programs even offer staying with a host family.

[sine wave killer]

Look into what type of stipends/scholarships are available to you (you can get anywhere from 1-3k usd to help you out). Also be sure to have an account with a bank that has some global reach, or has branches in the country that you plan on studying in (if not just exchange your $$ before going). Also as mentioned there are host families that you can be set up with. I had a great experience with this, I still keep in contact with my host family and I visit them when they come to the states for vacation. I know that I always have a place to rest my head, along with a nice home cooked meal when I visit Europe.

[ccurtis189]

(02-22-2012 10:54 AM)sine wave killer Wrote:  

Look into what type of stipends/scholarships are available to you (you can get anywhere from 1-3k usd to help you out). Also be sure to have an account with a bank that has some global reach, or has branches in the country that you plan on studying in (if not just exchange your $$ before going). Also as mentioned there are host families that you can be set up with. I had a great experience with this, I still keep in contact with my host family and I visit them when they come to the states for vacation. I know that I always have a place to rest my head, along with a nice home cooked meal when I visit Europe.

Would you recommend staying with a host family over living with other students?

[chairman]

(02-22-2012 11:07 AM)ccurtis189 Wrote:  

(02-22-2012 10:54 AM)sine wave killer Wrote:  

Look into what type of stipends/scholarships are available to you (you can get anywhere from 1-3k usd to help you out). Also be sure to have an account with a bank that has some global reach, or has branches in the country that you plan on studying in (if not just exchange your $$ before going). Also as mentioned there are host families that you can be set up with. I had a great experience with this, I still keep in contact with my host family and I visit them when they come to the states for vacation. I know that I always have a place to rest my head, along with a nice home cooked meal when I visit Europe.

Would you recommend staying with a host family over living with other students?

Host family if you want to learn the language and student living if you just want a good time because normally they will put you in housing with all foreigners giving you little time to meet natives.

[Tigre]

Europe is a common choice. Because the distances are so small, you can check out several countries and cultures during your stay. If you opt for Latin America, you're probably looking at one country only. If you travel a few hours to the next city, probably you won't notice much of a change from your base.

Europe's transport infrastructure is extremely good. Budget airlines, comfortable trains with discounts for those under 26.

Most importantly, what countries are you passionate about? When you visualize yourself doing this, what does that vision look like? What's the setting, what kind of activities are you doing?

Pay a lot of attention to your own gut feeling. You should be checking out your own #1 destination and not someone else's.

[RaulValdez739]

Germany...hands down. The first country i visited in Europe and I was studying abroad. I had a great time. Alot of culture and history and the nightlife scene is pretty good.

[chairman]

(02-22-2012 11:35 AM)Tigre Wrote:  

Europe is a common choice. Because the distances are so small, you can check out several countries and cultures during your stay. If you opt for Latin America, you're probably looking at one country only. If you travel a few hours to the next city, probably you won't notice much of a change from your base.

Europe's transport infrastructure is extremely good. Budget airlines, comfortable trains with discounts for those under 26.

Most importantly, what countries are you passionate about? When you visualize yourself doing this, what does that vision look like? What's the setting, what kind of activities are you doing?

Pay a lot of attention to your own gut feeling. You should be checking out your own #1 destination and not someone else's.

Yeah I second this, you have to pick were you want to go because we have no idea your interests and background.

[ccurtis189]

(02-22-2012 11:35 AM)Tigre Wrote:  

Most importantly, what countries are you passionate about? When you visualize yourself doing this, what does that vision look like? What's the setting, what kind of activities are you doing?

Pay a lot of attention to your own gut feeling. You should be checking out your own #1 destination and not someone else's.

Well, the extent of my extra-national trips so far has been a few cruises and a week stay in Cancun, Mexico. I really enjoyed the scenery, I like tropical, beach spots so if I could study somewhere like that then that would be awesome. I've also had a bit of a keen interest and British culture but I'm not so sure if I would like the environment so much since I like the tropics. I've heard good things about the nightlife though and I'm keen on British club music like 2-Step and Dubstep.

So I suppose I'm stuck between Britain, the Caribbean, and Latin America, though I wouldn't mind a Slavic nation either because I love some Slavic girls, but I think the environment would be more important to me.

[dk902]

Try Spain. Rich cultural heritage, fascinating cities and landscape. Beautiful women, great beaches and laidback lifestyle.

One of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and it gives you the keys to the VIP with some of the hottest women on the planet now you speak their language.

[bengalltigerr]

Try going to Autonomous University Madrid or John Cabot University Rome. Both Spain and Italy have very rich culture, and the women are hot.