Did you study abroad while in college?

[mommylamb]

All this talk about where people went to college and whether an Ivy league education is more valuable, etc, made me think of this question. I spent 6 months in Australia while I was an undergrad and it was probably the single most valuable experience of my college career. Traveling on my own gave me an amazing amount of courage. I learned to be self reliant, to take risks, and I had an amazing time. I can not overstate what an immense impact this experience had on who I am.

I would have never had the courage, drive or inclination to go to graduate school oversees had I not gone abroad as an undergrad (and since I met DH in grad school, I'm very glad that I did that ).

So just for fun, did you go abroad and if so where? I'd love to hear about your experiences. Poll coming.

[crl]

Not in college, but I spent a summer at Cambridge (Downing College) while in law school.

Catherine

[brittone2]

In my major it wasn't really an option. We had a very tight courseload from the beginning (5 year combo bachelor's/master's). I had internships following my jr and sr. years and then one semester of my 5th year. I think I might have had an option to do an intersession (during the typical winter break) session abroad but it would have only been 3 weeks or so.

[mackmama]

Yes I spent a semester abroad studying in Europe. It was a great experience, although I was also pretty homesick at times. Some of my favorite memories are backpacking through Europe with my best friend for several weeks before my semester abroad started. We then went to our separate semester abroad programs in different countries. After my semester abroad program ended, I ended up staying in Europe for the summer to work at a large corporation.

[lmr1101]

I lived in Adelaide, Australia for 6 months during my sophmore year in college. It was probably the best experience I had in college.
I was a broadcasting major and was able to study and even work at an Australian tv station!

[mommylamb]

Originally Posted by lmr1101

I lived in Adelaide, Australia for 6 months during my sophmore year in college. It was probably the best experience I had in college.
I was a broadcasting major and was able to study and even work at an Australian tv station!

I loved the Adelaide area. I did one of those Oz experience bus trips up there during spring break. I was at Monash University outside of Melbourne. Loved the wineries around Adelaide!

[AnnieW625]

No I didn't. I was too much of a homebody to want to do that. I kind of regret that, but in the end moving to San Diego from the farm town I am from outside of Sacramento was enough for me

I still have never been to Europe.

[weech]

I studied abroad twice (two winter terms, so one month per trip)

The first trip was a communications class my sophomore year where we learned the history of the book (the bible, for the most part) through Europe - Germany, England, France, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

The second trip was my senior year and was more of a service trip with an organization I was involved with. In short, we were there to lessen the impact of the HIV/AIDs epidemic and work with local students to make the media and lawmakers aware of the situation. We spent 4 weeks in the bush of Namibia, Africa.

Both experiences were priceless.

[eh613c]

As an undergrad, I was an exchange student in France for 2 summers. Then when I was going to business school, I went to Oxford University in England during the winter session.

DH was also an exchange student for 2 years in Germany.

[arivecchi]

Yes, I spent a year in Paris living with a Parisian family. Awesome experience!