Studying Abroad

[Alan]

I've been really interested in studying abroad recently, but one recent horrific event reall makes me think again.

I just recently learned that on november 4th 2005, one of the friendliest and funniest upperclassmen at my school that I knew very well was killed by a mob of rioters in france, one of the most disturbing riots that has ever swept france. This kid was a really great kid, and I'm extremely disturbed and sad to hear that out of all the people, why did he have to die?

I planned on going to spain for maybe a semester, but its just events like this that scare me. Do you think its worth it?

RIP

[Zoltack]

It's up to you, what ever you want to do man. I mean it's a life choice we can't make that kind of choice for you. If you want advice well...

If you can pay for it...
You probably don't want to go to a country where you can't speak their language. I mean you can learn but you would be pretty far behind.
I say just stay home and go to school there, it's cheap, don't have to travel far or and did I mention it's cheap. The only down side is you'd be close to your parent's but you like your parents don't you.

Finally, it all comes down to what you're interested in and what kind of potential you have in getting in to a school. But you're a sophomore in H/S right. I wouldn't worry about it until you're a senior. Have fun because when H/S is over you will miss it. I miss H/S... had some real good times.

[RyougaLolakie]

If you think your life is pretty risky of getting yourself killed, then I recommend you not to go to Spain. As far as I remember, Madrid, a city of Spain, was recently bombed around 2 years ago by terrorists. I don't know if that problem still occurs in there, but I think it's up to you if you want to go or not.

My suggestion is to watch CNN or any other news channel that covers about disasters and such. Hopefully, I think your trip will become sucessful.

[daryliscool1]

Choose a nice, safe country......like France, wait, no. They have riots. Spain? They have terrorists and guerillas. Great Britain? Terrorists. Italy? Terrorists. Germany? Seems pretty safe, along with Australia and Canada. Go for Germany, Australia, or Canada. Haha.

[Zoltack]

No, you should go to Iraq, they got the best schools in the world there.

[Isidour]

I suggest you to parrt to the adventure
Spain is not filled with terrorist, not now that Zapatero is no longer as president and the Spanian army has been retrived from the Iraqui zone.

[Evil Genie Jafar]

Well, I studied in Spain and it was great. I miss it....

However.... since it seems most likely that you're just going to start I'd suggest to wait at least a year.

1. As the freshman you're going to be you're going to have to deal with all the changes college comes with and it can be hard to adjust to that life and even if it isn't that hard for you, you'll still have to adjust to it.

2. Every country deals with college in a different way. In fact, in Spain you'll only have one test per class at the end of the semester. This means that a lot depends on it.

So. it will be so much better for you to have a first hand experience in your own country first.

3. You are immature do deal with the cultural challenges ahead. In fact, you're immature and inexperienced. BELIEVE ME. All of us that have are almost done with college know about this. In that year we all know we are so adults and everything is going to be our way or easy... and it isn't. And when we look back we know now how wrong we were.

4. Plus... you have to be fluent in Spanish (or the language of the country of your choosing). Most people don't know English and/or will speak it.

5. In the end... it is just hard to adjust to all these changes. I speak Spanish and thought I have very similar customs to the ones in Spain and it would be really easy. It wasn't. It took me a while to adjust to all the differences.


PS

And as for your question if it would be safe or not. It will be. And in the end if all those dangers you think about could happen to anyone anywhere.

I'm not saying you shouldn't go. It is a GREAT experience... just take in consideration my advices.


... and Ryouga.... the name of the city is Madrid the capital. Besides if one were to think about the bad things that happen in a country, they ALL have. And if it was for that, people would not go to the US thinking they'll suffer the same fate as what happened in 9-11.

[Isidour]

yes, dealing witht the diferent meanings they give to some words it is sometimes the "start button" to very akward or hilarious situatons--tell me about it---...most if you have an Aunt called "Conchita"

[Kenai]

Seriously, those things just happen by fate, some strange occurence. It's not like a bomb will go off while there, although it could. I say go for it. Seeing the world rocks. Don't let all this crap of terrorists scare you and stop you from doing what you wanna do. I say go for it!

[Isidour]

and most of all:
Spain its a great country, where you can find not only study but adventure onthe cities, great food, nice friends and the very best irons and swords in all Europe

[Zoltack]

Seriously, those things just happen by fate, some strange occurence. It's not like a bomb will go off while there, although it could. I say go for it. Seeing the world rocks. Don't let all this crap of terrorists scare you and stop you from doing what you wanna do. I say go for it!

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. You shouldn't let people who don't want you to have the freedom to learn stop you. You shouldn't be afraid. I mean be cautious but certainly don't be frightened. My consin he lives in Itally and he loves every minute of it. So yeah, if that's what you want you to go right ahead.

[2099net]

Choose a nice, safe country......like France, wait, no. They have riots. Spain? They have terrorists and guerillas. Great Britain? Terrorists. Italy? Terrorists. Germany? Seems pretty safe, along with Australia and Canada. Go for Germany, Australia, or Canada. Haha.

Yeah.

And the US has hurricanes, tornados, floods, gangs, drive by shootings, guns... Oh, and they had a terrorist attack too I seem to remember.

You can't let stuff like this dictate your life or your choices. Really, ignore the sensation on the news and meaningless gimmicks like "Terror Alert: Elevated" - I mean, what's that supposed to mean? What are you supposed to do? Stay inside all the time?

You have more chance of being hit by lightining, run over by an automobile, or even slipping in the shower and killing yourself than being injured or killed in a terrorist attack.

By the way, I wouldn't go study in the United Kingdom if I were you unless you like: Rain, eels in Jelly, rain, endless soaps on tv about miserable people leading miserable lives, rain, eating chips out of newspapers, rain, "kiss me quick" hats, rain, "Pink Princess" Jordan and Peter "Six-Pack" Andre, rain, cockney rhyming slang, rain, trains that never run on time, rain, the Chuckle Brothers, rain, strange "totally incomprehensible" comedies where people saying "medibot" results in an explosion of laughter, rain, The Daily Mail, rain, David Blunkett, rain, shouting "'Ere we go. 'Ere we go, 'Ere we go" repeatedly in a crowd, rain, queuing, rain, eating crumpets and drinking tea and finally - the most important - rain.

See, terrorism doesn't really come into it.

[Evil Genie Jafar]

Also, forget what I said about being freshman since it doesn't matter. Colleges and progams are aware of what I said and they don't allow freshmen to go.... you have to complete a certain number of credits that for the most part qualifies you as a junior.

So when you're ready you have to make a research on what part of the country you want to live in since they're that way different. In terms of things available to you, the way people behave and the climate.

PS

I'd suggest you try on internationalstudiesabroad.com They make things REALLY easy for you. Once you pay them they will include at least 5 trips around the country (hotels and meals paid), you will be automatically enrolled in the university with your courses chosen for you AND will be living with a family (that you won't have to pay them; already included) and they will cook for you and even do your laundry.

[Alan]

it turns out the whole thing was just a joke. Someone had posted on facebook that the kid was dead, but he just made it up, for whatever morbid reason. Phew, I really thought the kid was dead.

[Isidour]

the only thing you should worried about going to Spain is to be on the streets the very day of the "Pamplonada" ...or "La Tomatina", but the worse thing that could happen on that is to met a gal who was hitted by a tomatoe. If you decide to go, when "La tomatina" is being done, stay in your school, safe; or go out and enjoy(but if you don´t want to be hit, wear a red cap)

[Roger Rabbit]

Only consider it

1.) if you have the money

and

2.) if this study abroad will actually benefit you in some way in your degree and actually mean something when you go into the work force

[Prince Eric]

it turns out the whole thing was just a joke. Someone had posted on facebook that the kid was dead, but he just made it up, for whatever morbid reason. Phew, I really thought the kid was dead.

I knew that must have been made up because that would have come up on some type of news outlet. I tried searching for it on the web and nothing.

[Alan]

Only consider it

1.) if you have the money

and

2.) if this study abroad will actually benefit you in some way in your degree and actually mean something when you go into the work force

I'm actually planning to study abroad to improve my spanish by talking just in spanish for a couple of months with native speakers...

[Isidour]

sounds pretty good to me
but there´re more thasn one type of Spanish, and the "Catalan" is the least possible to find in the US

[Evil Genie Jafar]

sounds pretty good to me
but there´re more thasn one type of Spanish, and the "Catalan" is the least possible to find in the US

castellano, Isidour.

And yes you're right. But still it is Spanish so it is the same.

If we were to be so picky then he wouldn't be able to go anywhere as each of our countries have different accents and words.