Youthful Vacation

What do you think about studying abroad? Can you think of any words to describe studying abroad?

 

Studying abroad can be seen as travelling because it allows us to explore the world as well as gain new perspective and knowledge by meeting new people and experiencing other cultures. Moreover, both studying abroad and travelling can be described as an adventure due to the uncertainty of the journey. Travelling makes us more willing to take risks in life, which is similar to studying abroad, there is always a need to challenge ourselves and escape our comfort zone. There are a lot of similarities between studying abroad and going for a vacation, which makes me think that the word ‘vacation’ is best described for the topic of study abroad. Studying abroad is just like going for a vacation, take it easy. This is why I named my blog as “Youthful vacation”.

 

However, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration before studying abroad. For instance, the study abroad budget which includes tuition fee, passport and visa fees, travel and health insurance fees, transportation fare, accommodation cost as well as living expenses is the main consideration as it can be a big barrier to education abroad. Besides, deciding what to study based on interests is important as it can make study life full of stress and lacks motivation if not passionate about the course, which can easily affect physical and mental health. Although the study abroad budget and study program might help to decide where to study, language, culture and preference still need to be taken into consideration. Furthermore, mentally preparing for upcoming challenges like language barrier, homesickness, culture shock and reintegration is also important. 

As can be seen, studying abroad is a big decision, it will impact your entire life, thus can be considered as a life-changing opportunity. For example, the unforgettable experience enables personal growth by allowing you to challenge yourself, escape comfort zone, develop independence and boost confidence. In addition, studying abroad may change the way you see the world and broaden your perspective as you need to immerse yourself in a different culture by meeting people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Studying abroad can be difficult, but it is still one of the best choices. However, there is no such thing as a right or wrong decision. Deciding what is right for you is the most important thing.