Studying abroad

[artsfartsyjanet]

I'm contemplating going to either Beijing or Quebec to study abroad before diving into grad school. Grad school will always wait for me when I return. Reason for going to Beijing: travelling while I'm young, learning chinese, meeting new people, and discovering a different culture other than my suburban midwest town. The program's for a semester. Reason for going to Quebec: I studied french for 6 years and would like to immerse myself into the culture and improve my oral proficiency. It's an 8-week program as well during the summer. Have any of you studied abroad? Describe your experiences. What did you learn from your experience?

[bluecollarjap]

i was at the gymnasium at germany for a while. had tons of fun. i believe you get more out of the experience when you're young, less formal setting. they'll prob want to practice their english out on you. be prepared to be the token english speaker for a while.

[kimpossible]

You're not considering France? :cry:

[artsfartsyjanet]

I considered it, but at my school, the program is for an entire year. I don't think I could afford to live in Lyon for a year. *shrug* Je suis desolee mon amie. Peut-etre un temps different pendant ma vie. :) :dance:

[Andrew]

For me, studying abroad (in Hungary and England) was the primary cause of my Asian American awakening. I had done pretty well in school in America and had bought into all of the model minority stuff. It was only when I went abroad with a bunch of other Americans that I realized that the Europeans were treating me very different from my classmates. Europe isn't all that curious about America -- they're getting force-fed our culture anyway -- but to the extent that they are, they didn't see me as an emissary of American culture.

Basically, living abroad heightened my sense of alienation, which was just enough to get me searching for knowledge that would empower me and correct the problems that other people's misconceptions of my identity had created. This led me to become active in soc.culture.asian.american on Usenet (this was even before the Web existed!), which led eventually to ModelMinority.com... and the rest is history.

Of course, you're already empowered -- so your mileage may vary.

[princess]

i havent, but i really wanna spend some time in japan either during or after school. i hope my relatives will be up for having me stay with them.

[himura-dono]

i'm planning to go to taida in taiwan for my senior year.

^_^ can't wait ^_^

[not-a-twinkie?]

No. I haven't ever studied abroad.... tho... I **wish** I had taken the opportunity to study abroad when I was in under-grad. I'm just in the working world right now... still deciding if I want to go to grad school & what to study... etc...

Anyhow -- I would go to both Beijing & Quebec if you could!!! =) Both sound like such great opportunities! Is it possible for you to do both?????

[SunWuKong]

quebec is ok. i've been there on multiple occasions because i had relatives there. but go to beijing for your cultural awakening. then come back and tell us about the underground punk scene there - that is a personal request from me.

[mydnyht]

I've never studied abroad, but *if* I ever got the chance, I definitely would!! Gotta :luv: bein the resident :HH: , right? :D
wanna know something really pathetic? the yearly rates of murder in Canada are a mere 90 persons, and in the US, it's waaaay up in the thousands.

[kwalan]

I'm in the process of filling out my application to study in Hong Kong (HKU) next fall. Studying abroad's something I've wanted to do ever since I started meeting international students here. The international students I've met have been very kind, genuine, open and interesting... a seeming cut above the rest of the drabby folks I come across that are from other areas of California.

And some of the girls are muy sex-ay. :lol:

[AliBabaIncorporated]

HKU girls aren't all that hot :P

[enygma]

i kinda regret not studying abroad and now it's too late. :( since i'm majoring in english and psychology, i would have liked to go to england.

[kwalan]

Originally posted by AliBabaIncorporated@Nov 8 2002, 12:49 AM
HKU girls aren't all that hot :P
:o :o :o

NO!

Don't tell me this!

:cry: :cry: :cry:

not that i've signed a contract but damnit, let me believe something!

okay wait, i don't like hot girls. i like cute girls... yess... any of those species rompin' around? :D


















//oh wait, i'm there to uh, study... that's right...

[ellsworth81]

Hey all,

I was actually thinking of doing a teach english abroad deal, since job market is complete crap. but i've been trying to find a reputable company or program that offers this, and with the current econ. i need to consider all options. :rolleyes: so i'd appreciate all pointers/suggestions :D

my plan: 1) hope that teach for america offers me a position after me interview then 2) go abroad for a year or so

hehe, don't be discouraged, i'm sure there's plenty of good ones, or you'll have to lower your standards :P

[AliBabaIncorporated]

Originally posted by kwalan@Nov 11 2002, 11:38 AM
okay wait, i don't like hot girls. i like cute girls... yess... any of those species rompin' around? :D

HK Polytechnic and City U have cuter girls. But then most exchange students just hook up with other exchange students anyway.

Originally posted by kwalan@Nov 11 2002, 11:38 AM
oh wait, i'm there to uh, study... that's right...

Hah, for the most part, exchange students don't study. Especially at HKU with so many bars and clubs close at hand. If the classes you take are filled with exchange students, you probably won't study either.

[lethal]

I was comtemplating doing a summer abroad, but probably won't.

Has anyone been on the "semester at sea" program? I've heard that it is a really good experience.

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by kwalan@Nov 10 2002, 10:38 PM
Originally posted by AliBabaIncorporated@Nov 8 2002, 12:49 AM

HKU girls aren't all that hot  


:o :o :o

NO!

Don't tell me this!

:cry: :cry: :cry:

not that i've signed a contract but damnit, let me believe something!

okay wait, i don't like hot girls. i like cute girls... yess... any of those species rompin' around? :D


















//oh wait, i'm there to uh, study... that's right...
hahhah woh i completely missed this post.

hey man don't worry about it. get with the overseas chinese girls in HK. they're cool. :)

[pfc beansprout]

~my gf is studying abroad now...she LOVES it...i really, really, want to go also!!! do it! :D

[deez nuts]

Studying a broad rUxors :D

[axi0m]

I'm going to Japan this summer for 6 weeks for "language instruction" but basically it's an excuse for me to get to Japan, and get through the low levels of Japanese as quickly as possible.. Sooo I'll be in 300 level Japanese when I get back and maybe actually LEARN some "proper" Japanese and not this hacked up version I speak now. hehe. Then, I'm going to study abroad in Japan for a year my junior year. Should be fun eh?

-Satoshi-

[AliBabaIncorporated]

Originally posted by axi0m@Dec 22 2002, 11:39 AM
I'm going to Japan this summer for 6 weeks for "language instruction" but basically it's an excuse for me to get to Japan, and get through the low levels of Japanese as quickly as possible.. Sooo I'll be in 300 level Japanese when I get back and maybe actually LEARN some "proper" Japanese and not this hacked up version I speak now. hehe. Then, I'm going to study abroad in Japan for a year my junior year. Should be fun eh?

-Satoshi-
is that the program at International Christian University?

[axi0m]

Originally posted by AliBabaIncorporated@Dec 25 2002, 10:05 AM
Originally posted by axi0m@Dec 22 2002, 11:39 AM
I'm going to Japan this summer for 6 weeks for "language instruction" but basically it's an excuse for me to get to Japan, and get through the low levels of Japanese as quickly as possible.. Sooo I'll be in 300 level Japanese when I get back and maybe actually LEARN some "proper" Japanese and not this hacked up version I speak now. hehe. Then, I'm going to study abroad in Japan for a year my junior year. Should be fun eh?

-Satoshi-
is that the program at International Christian University?
No, it's through IES, I'll be at the Kanda University of Foreign Studies in Toukyou.

-Satoshi-

[beachgerl]

Dag, I'd love the opportunity to study abroad. During earlier undergrad years I was afraid to go anywhere outside of the USA (call me Americanized). Ironically, I've transferred schools from east coast to west coast without a problem. I counted that as getting out of where I was ("homegrown" in the mid-west). I plan to travel a lot later after I find a stable job that I'd not be in a hurry to quit or a "revolving door" job lol.

If I had a chance to study abroad, I'd choose Paris, France or London, England. They have great history and art stuff. I'd met lots of international students and they were cool. Esp. those who were from Europe. They were not a bunch of stuck ups like some Americans are.

Someday... :rolleyes:

[yoMAMA]

One of my friend is studying aboard next year in Osaka, Japan.

For me, If I can choose a place, it's gotta be Kyoto! :D

[terence]

I highly recommend studying abroad to anyone who considers it. I studied abroad last semester in Florence, Italy, it was the single greatest experience of my life up to this point. It's really a learning experience that goes way beyond any classroom and lasts longer than the amount of time you're actually gone. Be aware though that once you actually arrive at your destination, good ol' culture shock & homesickness will hit after the novelty wears off. It's normal and totally part of the learning/growing experience.

And a word of advice: don't go on an abroad trip while you have a significant other. It wreaks havoc on relationships (generally speaking). I've never seen so many people cheating without regards to someone else's feelings in my life. I think the biggest cliche I heard in Italy was "Whatever happens in (insert city name), stays in (city name)."

[teaz0r]

i studied abroad for most of my schooling life,
i grew up in thailand and was enrolled in an
international school until i went to an english
prepatory school at the age 11, and moved to
massachusetts when i was 15 to matriculate
at a prepatory college, then did my university
studies in both california and england.

funny thing is i never really experienced culture
shock, i guess i expected change therefore
embraced it, the only time that i did go into
culture shock was when i was in england, and
it was not because of the brits, but rather my
own culture, it was the first time for me to
really see the diversity of thai people.

i learned a lot. what particularly? shit, basically
everything i know now, adapting, be it the
american method of teaching or the english. the
people i've come acrossed. the fusion of individuals
and the honour of learning about not only the
host country's traditions and culture, but of the
internationalisation that surrounded me. a chance
to have a perspective as an outsider, and a local.

the best thing about being abroad is that you learn
so so much. especially about yourself, your limits
and you can't help but being a little more cosmopolitan.
now that you see a whole different world that you
didn't even dare to dreamed of, grant it that you out
there humble, and willing to learn, and not stay in your
room all day and play with yourself.