Too much choice!

October 14, 2009 9:19 AM

I want to study abroad. I have absolutely no idea where. Help me narrow it down!

I've decided to take a ninth semester of college abroad. It would be during the 2010 fall semester. I've never been out of the country, and everyone I know who has studied abroad says it's the best experience ever. I am super excited about the possibility, but...

Problem is, having never been out of the country, I have no idea where I'd like to go. Or, rather, I'd like to go everywhere. Thailand, New Zealand, Italy, Brazil, who cares! My school offers programs in like 100 countries, so that doesn't help narrow it down.

I don't speak a second language. So I'd like to go somewhere where either: everyone speaks English; enough people speak English that I could get by; and/or I could pick up basic conversational skills in the language in the eight months or so before I go.

I'd like to go somewhere that's somewhat different from America- so, like, probably not Canada- but I would also prefer a place that is socially free enough that I can bare my arms, talk to men, drink, etc in relative safety (I am a white female). So probably not Saudi Arabia either.

I know this question is still pretty broad. I guess I'd just like to hear about either your great study abroad experience in x country, or your opinion as a world traveler on the best place for a newbie to jump in.

posted by showbiz_liz to travel & transportation (31 comments total)

I would choose New Zealand. My main reasoning is that (IMHO) it's easier to travel later in life to the other destinations you mentioned. I'm also a proponent of go as far away as you can while you can. From what I've heard, I think younger folks would enjoy the adventure of that area more than older, less mobile folks or ones with kids in tow.

Personally, I'm trying to make the trip out to NZ/OZ before getting on the baby train so I don't have to put it off until they're older.
posted by mrsshotglass at 9:27 AM on October 14

People in Sweden speak English reasonably well, most are excellent. And I'm loving it here as a grad student.
posted by hipersons at 9:29 AM on October 14

Go to the National University of Singapore. It is world-renowned and takes academics seriously. Additionally, Singapore is melting pot and a great place to experience how different cultures live together.

Added bonus. You can easily and affordably travel to surrounding places like Bali, Phuket, and Langkawi. They have beautiful beaches! :)
posted by jchaw at 9:30 AM on October 14 [1 favorite]

Forgot to add. EVERYONE in Singapore speaks English.
posted by jchaw at 9:31 AM on October 14 [1 favorite]

One suggestion: there are countries (such as New Zealand) that you will be able to visit on a working holiday scheme, should you wish, after you graduate. I'd suggest that you choose to study in a country where you wouldn't have this option, where studying is your best chance of visiting the country. (See here for the NZ scheme).

In most European countries, most people, certainly most people at university, will speak reasonable to good English, and be about as socially free as the US (some a little less, some a little more).
posted by Infinite Jest at 9:33 AM on October 14

2nding New Zealand. It's phenomenal in every way, and you can get to a lot of places (Australia, Fiji, etc.) when you're already that far over.
posted by supramarginal at 9:35 AM on October 14

I don't speak a second language. So I'd like to go somewhere where either: everyone speaks English; enough people speak English that I could get by; and/or I could pick up basic conversational skills in the language in the eight months or so before I go.

I would take this statement and flip it on its head. Why not take the 8 months to immerse yourself completely in a different culture where you will be forced to learn the language and perhaps provide a major benefit to a future career?

Otherwise I would shape your decision based on what your academic interests and future career interests might be? Development? How about Africa. Fashion? Milan or Paris would be good. International business? China, India and Brazil are the hot places right now...

The other issue to consider is what your budget is. Europe is dramatically more expensive than Africa, developing Asia or South America. It's hard for American kids to comprehend just how expensive living in London or Paris is, even with some expenses included.

The biggest mistake most people make when studying abroad is to cocoon themselves with fellow Americans and never go outside their comfort zone, going to the same friendly pub where everyone speaks English...you might as well just stay home then.
posted by the foreground at 9:37 AM on October 14

I adore Italy, it's where I studied abroad, and I'm always trying to get back. However, I don't think I'd recommend it to someone who doesn't speak Italian -- sure, a fair number of people speak English (and even more think they do!), but you just wouldn't get as much out of it as you would some place where more people spoke better English, or where you spoke the language. Presumably you'd be taking classes in English, which means you'd be largely surrounded by Americans/other native English speakers, and would probably mostly socialize with them. Being able to speak with the locals and develop a social life outside of your home school's program is part of what makes studying abroad so satisfying.
posted by katemonster at 9:41 AM on October 14

I don't speak a second language.

I understand your point, but in globalized 2009 this isn't much of a handicap. I landed in Prague for my study abroad semester with about 20 Czech words under my belt (which wasn't terribly helpful because words change with cases). I learned how to communicate in Czech and then pieced together the grammar later. I wasn't fluent by any means by the time I left, but I understood far more than I realized when one day I found myself eavesdropping on a native speaker's phone call. For the most part, citizens in Europe and much of developed Asia speaker decent English.

Please don't limit yourself to countries that only speak English. In most cases, countries that share our language also share much of our culture, which sort of defeats the purpose of using a college semester to see a new part of the world.

As for specific recommendations, why don't you tell us what you like to do? Do you like museums and art? Drinking and meeting new people? Nature or big cities?

I loved Prague because it was a gorgeous city centrally located in the continent: we traveled to Germany, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, France, and the Netherlands. The locals weren't terribly friendly (we were the harbingers of McDonald's and expensive hotels, after all) unless we all got drunk together, and then they taught us drinking songs.
posted by zoomorphic at 9:43 AM on October 14 [2 favorites]

Time abroad is GREAT! My general advice would be to select a place that is a hub for regional travel. That way you can maximize your exploration. I went to school in southern Switzerland. I ventured as far north as England and as far south as Israel. I was in the same boat as you, I didn't speak any other languages and I'd never been out of the country. I did an immersive language course before I left, and that was enough to get me started.
Pick a program that interests you academically. I'd also look for a program that puts you in real contact with locals.
posted by Carmody'sPrize at 9:43 AM on October 14

I studied abroad in NZ for 6 months when I was a senior in college (4 years ago). I also wanted to study somewhere my lack of second language wasn't going to be a handicap. I was there through AustraLearn, a nonprofit that works with directly enrolling US students at schools in Australia and NZ. I didn't want to do a program through my own university since I didn't want to be hanging around with the same friends in a new location. I was at Massey University in Palmerston North, which I wouldn't recommend since the town itself is inland and nothing special, really. Both Christchurch and Wellington are great cities though.

Pros: great people, and though the kiwis are a little reserved at first, they open up a lot when you get to know them. Great scenery, both on the N. and S. Islands. I whitewater kayak, and tied in with some members of the kiwi national slalom team, and managed to kayak every week. Did some fantastic backpacking and sea kayaking as well. The general feel of the country is something like rural america in the 50s. Many people burn coal to warm their homes, everyone is pretty neighborly, hitchhiking is easy.

Cons: Perhaps the biggest downside for me was that the country wasn't very far outside of my comfort zone. My second choice was S. Africa, which would have been a wholly different, and likely more challenging, experience. Since NZ does feel like the US in the 50s, it feels pretty homey, and the culture shock is pretty minimal. If you're looking to be pushed as a person via an exposure to new cultures, go somewhere else. Also, I was housed with other international students, which meant that my flat was made up of 2 other americans, a brit, and 2 germans. May of the other international students only hung out with international students, since the kiwis were a little standoffish and there weren't many opportunities to break the ice before/after class. Kayaking with the locals gave me an in, but without some sort of shared experience like that it can be hard to hang out with the locals.
posted by craven_morhead at 9:45 AM on October 14

Oh, and NZ sucks for travel to other countries. You're on an island that is further out in the Pacific than it looks on a globe. Traveling from there is expensive and takes a long time.

On the language issue, just about everyone in Amsterdam speaks English.
posted by craven_morhead at 9:47 AM on October 14

Here's a guided smorgasbord -- Semester at Sea's Fall 2010 voyage goes to Canada, Spain, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Vietnam, China, and Hawaii (which isn't technically foreign, but still). All the while you take classes in English through the University of Virginia.

Caveat: I did used to work for SAS, but never sailed. The reviews and experiences were overwhelmingly positive. I recommend it based on what you're looking for (no second language, difficultly choosing just one place).

I myself took my entire degree abroad in England, and sometimes wish I'd been adventurous enough to wander further. I loved it there and would like to go back to live one day, even if Americans weren't terribly popular back in 2002. I'm a huge proponent of studying abroad, and no matter where you'll go it will change your life.
posted by motsque at 9:50 AM on October 14

Oh, I should clarify that the examples in my post aren't my top 4 choices or anything- I don't have even the slightest preference for any one place so far. They were just examples of really different places.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:51 AM on October 14

Sounds like you want to experience a culture that is a little different, but not drastically so that you feel like a fish out of the water. That would rule out most of Asia and South America.

Go to the Netherlands--specifically Amsterdam. From my time there it's a fantastic place that fits all your criteria, and still leaves you with options to explore non-english speaking countries should you feel the need to do so.
posted by the_ancient_mariner at 9:53 AM on October 14

I went to Swansea, Wales (it's part of the UK) and loved it. It was through the University of North Carolina - Wilmington. But to echo what others said, it wasn't very far out of my comfort zone and I feel like I missed out on a lot.

I have a friend who spent most of his college career studying abroad. His favorite was Nanjing, China followed by Brno, Czech Republic and Yalta, Ukraine.

I wouldn't worry about language. Many programs will place you in a quick and dirty immersion program so you can get the basics. You will spend a lot of time with other American and international students (who will speak English) and half the fun is trying to figure out what the hell is on the menu. One last consideration is that before and after your semester is one of the greatest opportunities of your life to go backpacking. You might want to consider other places to visit while you are abroad.
posted by nestor_makhno at 9:57 AM on October 14

I would add a different criteria to your search and look for countries where while the language is not a major barrier, it is culturally very different to the US. I think I've said this before here but Toronto is a lot like New York is a lot like Sydney is a lot like London is a lot like is a lot like Paris is a lot like Madrid is a lot like Amsterdam, etc - I'm talking on a global scale here. I've been loads of lovely places but the only place that blew my mind was Morocco because it is not a Western culture. Subsequently, my interest in going to, say, Berlin is not nearly as high as my interest in going to, say, Tokyo.

You will, genuinely, learn lots about yourself and your new city wherever you go, but I see tons of students in Dublin and London on a semester abroad and always, always think "Cop out. This is really the full extent to which you want to challenge yourself? Really?"

So you know: at least Paris. Preferably... somewhere even more different than that.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:58 AM on October 14

Don't go to India. Everybody speaks English there, but you won't be looked on well for heavy flirting, drinking and PDA.
posted by anniecat at 10:03 AM on October 14

The management consultant in me says draw up a list and rate each by the things you care about: i.e. climate, language, academic advancement, social life, cultural experience, distance from comfort zone, ability to travel to other places or within the country, ability to act freely, cost.

The ranking you give to each depends on how good they are and what you care about most. Give each a 1-5 on "objective" feature and then give each feature a 1-5 weighting on how much you personally value it. Anything that gets the lowest score on the objective rating should, by definition, drop out of the list if you value it at all (i.e. it's a showstopper)

Once you do that, certain places will clearly rate higher than others. You've done the rational decisionmaking bit and have a decent shortlist.

It's now time for the emotional decision making bit - what seems like the most "you" place, what you want to tell your friends, grandkids etc. Any of your shortlist should be acceptable, it's just what you like best.
posted by MuffinMan at 10:40 AM on October 14 [1 favorite]

My college offered about 100 destinations too but in reality there was only one country that had good programs for my major. Have you talked to the study abroad office about this yet? I'm sure they can offer guidance. I was offered placement at 6 different unis in England and only two were any good in my major and I chose the less expensive option. It was amazing and changed my life. I spent an entire school year there and I would recommend doing the same if there's any way you can. If you go for a semester by the time you make friends and get comfortable you'll have to leave.
posted by Bunglegirl at 11:10 AM on October 14

One angle that could help you -- exactly what is it that you are studying? Because the travel experience is great, but certain areas lend themselves more obviously to certain interests than others (i.e., if you're studying gourmet cooking, a semester abroad in Antarctica may not be the best idea).

Think about what your major is and see if any places leap to mind as being especially good for that field. Archeology? Maybe try Egypt. English literature? Choose a country from the English commonwealth so you can study how their regions' literature fits into the canon (technically, Australia is "English literature", but being all the way in Australia must have affected their literature interestingly, no?). Art history? Pick one of your favorite painters or schools of art and go to where their stomping grounds were, or do what Gaugin did and go to Tahiti. Women's studies? You've got all sorts to choose from here, from the effects of women taking out micro-loans has on the local economies of Latin American villages to the changing perception of women in contemporary Japan.

Theoretically, you'll be STUDYING something while you're abroad, so thinking about what you're studying may help point you in one direction or another. Some schools may ask you to justify your studying abroad as well, so starting to think in terms of "well, if I studied [blank] in [location,] it would be better than if I were studying it back home because..." may also help if you need to do that too.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:12 AM on October 14 [1 favorite]

I studied abroad at the University of Bergen in Bergen, Norway and it was wonderful! Classes were in English, but you are required to study Norwegian while you are there. The city is great, I traveled all over Europe while there, and Norway is a beautiful country.
posted by ihavepromisestokeep at 11:20 AM on October 14

I spent six months living and studying in South Africa in my senior year of college and, as you said, it was one of the best experiences of my life.

While I'm sure "Semester At Sea" is a great program, I'm actually going to advise against doing something like that. I imagine it would be a wonderful sample of many places, but I believe there really is something to *living* in a single country for an extended period of time. A six month stay is going to be a vastly different experience than a 3 week stay, no matter where you go. So go for the six-month stay in one place if you can.

When I decided to study abroad, I instantly knew where I wanted to go. I didn't have to think twice about South Africa. Africa, in general, was the one continent I wanted to travel to the most since I was a kid. And to touch on something you mentioned in your post, South Africa does have the benefit of having a huge number of English speakers. All of the classes I took at the university there were in English. I also do not speak a second language and, as much as I would have loved to learn another one, I simply had too much on my plate and was not able to at the time. But English is not the only language spoken there....South Africa actually has 11 official languages I believe, and I got to meet many people and visit a lot of places where they mainly spoke Zulu or Xhosa or Afrikaans. I am so grateful for those experiences.

Safety is certainly a big concern when traveling to South Africa, however. I lived and studied in a city that was relatively safer than the other larger cities, but I was always cautious regardless. I did not travel to other parts of Africa alone, nor did I go into the city alone after dark. The program I was involved in through my university also briefed me endlessly on a lot of the Do's and Don'ts, which I adhered to. I did not have any problems while I was there, and I got to travel to many parts of the country and neighboring countries with the friends that I made. This was five years ago though, and I am not certain how much things have changed since then.

I would highly recommend South Africa to anyone looking to study abroad. It is extremely diverse and culturally rich, the country itself is gorgeous, and it was an educational experience for me as well....it definitely broke the bubble I had previously been living in, in the US.
posted by Squee at 11:47 AM on October 14

I see tons of students in Dublin and London on a semester abroad and always, always think "Cop out. This is really the full extent to which you want to challenge yourself? Really?"

Perhaps they just have a really large interest in the country or culture in London or Dublin? I wanted to study abroad in London, not for being a slacker, but I was super interested in London since I was a little girl, but my program didn't have any applicable courses there.

I considered Buenos Aires, but it wasn't vegetarian-friendly, and my major focused on Spain. Plus, the proximity to countries I wanted to visit wasn't there, and so I studied in Madrid, which was amazing. It wasn't a "cop out" because I already spoke the language. Because I spoke the language already, I wasn't tethered to language learning, took all my courses in Spanish, and could jump right into daily life without worrying if I were asking something correctly. So that's what I did. I lived in a studio with neighbors and my landlady on the same floor. I went out and communicated daily. It didn't make things easier for slacking, it put me on a level with a certain freedom. This is the kind of freedom that the OP seems to want.

I learned a lot, traveled around, and fell in love with Spain. It's a beautiful country, diverse, filled with wonderful food and amazing culture, and long, interesting history.

I wound up taking a trip over to London during that semester too, and had a wonderful time, and was reluctant to leave. It would've been so great to have been able to study there.

Ultimately consider what your interests are, what courses might help your program/degree, are you a big city or small town kind of person (I am big city all the way), the proximity of other places you'd like to travel to (within Europe, you could easily hop on cheap flights from one country to the next via carriers like Ryanair), and language.
posted by cmgonzalez at 11:52 AM on October 14

I went on study abroad in the Netherlands. It is very progressive and and is rich in history and culture, as well as architecture. Nearly everyone speaks english as a second language, but everyone of course also speaks dutch so there is opportunity to learn a new language if you

Here is a David Sedaris bit about Sinter Klaus (sort of a Dutch Santa) that I experienced first hand.

I stayed in a small University Town called Leiden and my experiences were great. Here are some photos of my time there:

Dutch version of disneyland

Dinner I had with some squatters

The town I stayed in had it's own version of Independence Day in October where the city was transformed into a carnival

In April there is a national celebration for the queen's birthday, with yard sales and a carnival


Utrecht is another fantastic student town and some else mentioned Amsterdam if you want the more urban experience. Any of these places and you will see beautiful canals. Everyone rides a bike, it is centrally located in europe and it is easy to get to other places if you want to travel. It was truly a lovely place to live for a year or even a few months.

I think you will find that no matter where you go, you will have the "study abroad experience." Many of your friends will be other Study Abroad students (which is a good thing) and you relly have to make an effort to blend in with the locals.

Best of Luck,
John
posted by poyorick at 2:29 PM on October 14

I love learning new languages, so consider the source when reading my advice...

Don't go somewhere that speaks English. Those places are best left for once you're working, because they'll still be easy then, and then you'll have what, 2 weeks max to go somewhere? You'll want easy then.

Go for difficult now. Do you have any friends or acquaintances who speak a foreign language? Teach yourself that language and practice conversation with them before you go. One of my most adventuresome adventures was going to Albania. I started studying the language 4 months before the trip with some Albanian security guards in my building. I only went for a month and by the time I was done I could spend a whole day talking in basic, kind of crappy Albanian. It was amazing.

When you go, avoid other English speakers. Do a home stay instead of staying at a dorm, if possible. That can help narrow your program down right there - pick something where a home stay is a possibility. This is what will immerse you in the language and culture and give you that unforgettable experience of being somewhere altogether foreign to you at first, and coming to be, at least somewhat, a part of that place before you go. If you're interested in Albania, frosina.org is a good resource, a guy named Vladi runs it and he set me up with a private room & breakfast each day at an elderly couple's apartment for $15/day for that month. I wouldn't necessarily recommend Albania because your language skills, while awesome, won't necessarily get you anywhere in the long run. It's a very small place, with limited affects on its surrounding area and a crappy economy. Its education facilities are limited, as well -- basically just to Tirana University. On the other hand, it does have great beaches, is relatively unspoiled and traditional b/c it was isolated till 1991 (barely any cars in the whole country till then!), AND it's a crossroads between the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Middle East. Most Europeans are prejudiced against Albanians, most Albanians love Americans, and most Americans have no idea where Albania is.

Also, if you have eight months, I think you can pick up enough that you'll get by in most languages, with Arabic being a strong exception. That said, if you want an easier foreign language to learn, since you haven't learned one yet, you might consider Spanish. Also, there are lots of language rankings that show how difficult languages are for foreigners to learn, and you can pick off something easy from one of those lists.

Also, try to go with something where the area will hold your interest at least somewhat after you leave, because then you'll have the drive to practice and retain your language skills. Similarly, if there's a group of people near you from a particular country, or a large population of people from a particular country where you think you might eventually settle, you can focus your attention on going to that place. That way, you've got a language you can keep using every day, along with cultural knowledge that will actually continue to relate to your life going forward.
posted by lorrer at 2:33 PM on October 14

Hangon - I just checked your post history - if you're still into anthropology and journalism, surely your professors have ideas of places they'd kill to go right now. Maybe checking in with them is worth your while.
posted by lorrer at 2:41 PM on October 14 [1 favorite]

What do you want to study? New Zealand is a great place and we have some awesome Universities but they do tend to specialise in different areas. It may be that something you want to study is a specialty of one of our Unis and you'd get excellent, word class teaching with a different perspective from what you'd get at home, or it's possible that it's not and you'd get the same ol same ol so coming here would have been pointless.

There are lots of other reasons to go to a country of course. But if in the end you can't decide and you think you'd be happy with several places then looking at what kind of education you get could be a good tie breaker. This is your primary reason for coming so might as well make the most of it!
posted by shelleycat at 3:14 PM on October 14

I chose Australia and absolutely loved it. I had friends going places like China and South America and I just didn't want something so alien at that point. I wanted to have fun and have an adventure while mom and dad were still picking up the tab. For me Australia had always been the mysterious land of wonder and I'd always wanted to go. I was so glad I did.

I didn't go there for the academics at all but did wind up enjoying my classes. I hadn't really thought beforehand about there being a different approach to education but there was. It was less absorb and regurgitate, with more onus on you to go out and find the sources and do the learning and then come back and discuss it.

But I was there to travel and party and have outdoorsy adventures. I got that in spades. What I hadn't expected but really enjoyed though were the cities. I only spent a little time in Sydney, but that is a world class city. I think I'd rather live there than anywhere. It's got it all. If I went back, I'd base there this time. And it's easy like somebody upthread said to get to NZ or Bali or Fiji and the other little islands. The flight suuuucks but Qantas is the best airline I've ever flown by far.

Australia was enough like the US that I got on just fine right away, but that was sort of the sneaky thing about it. You think because they are so much like us that it's not a different culture, but it is. It takes a while to understand what you're really witnessing and note the differences, and they're unexpected. The little stuff like "why are there no clothes dryers here?" and beer delivery and fun foods and wonderful beer - those were the fun differences to discover. The more philosophical musings on comparative cultures were the more valuable, though. Any other culture will help you see your own more objectively. Definitely definitely go, go anywhere, and have a wonderful time.
posted by kookoobirdz at 3:49 PM on October 14

where ever it is that you go, just remember: it's suppose to be different! Different=good, you are paying good money for different so enjoy it, seize it. Don't pull the annoying "at home it's like this", "everything we do is better" crap.

Good luck and knock yourself out!
posted by Neekee at 4:44 PM on October 14

Take the list of 100+ countries. Go through each one, think about it, check self for "eww" response. Narrow it down, come back with the list, or research the options and eliminate any that bring up further 'eww' on research. You might just get down to one option. :)
posted by titanium_geek at 10:00 PM on October 14