NationStates Jolt Archive

(An advance "sorry" for unneccessary/paranoid questions)

I'm seriously considering it, and although I have a couple years left before I can even apply to a university, I would really like to attend a university not in the US, but rather in the UK or in Japan.

So, for anyone who's studied abroad / been in a foreign country for more than tourism; What was it like?
Was there social stigma from being a foreigner?
How about the language/culture?
Did you already know it when you arrived there, or did you just do something to correct the situation when you got there?
And if you did study in a foreign country, was it for a full degree or just an exchange program?
How much did it cost you?


I'm doing my own independent research right now on various visa requirements, university requirements, start dates, etc. But any help would be appreciated. Thank you, NSG, in advance.

I don' need ta study dem broads...*squints and spits tobacco*

I've studied in Germany and will, because of my studies, be studying in Spain and again in Germany before I graduate from my undergraduate university.

I strongly recommend it! I wasn't a complete n00blet at German when I went there, but naturally my German advanced considerably when I was there.

It was quite fun to be "the American". Most people wanted to hear about what kind of music I listend to, what I do (wakeboarding, surfing...ect), what I wear, my politics, my accent.....whatever! It was fantastic, everyone was very friendly!

I had already been to Germany before I went there to study, but not to Bavaria, only to the North and the East. I had absolutely no problems and not a single thing went wrong....except the one time we were kicked out of the club....:p


Do it! Anymore questions?

I studied abroad last spring in France.

So, for anyone who's studied abroad / been in a foreign country for more than tourism; What was it like? Awesome

Was there social stigma from being a foreigner? I didn't really get any. Except the annoying French habit of switching to English immediately when they hear a North American accent. In fact, even when they found out I had been a US soldier in Iraq I never had any problems

How about the language/culture? I'm a French major, so that's kinda why I was there

Did you already know it when you arrived there, or did you just do something to correct the situation when you got there? I'd been studying French for a few years at that point

And if you did study in a foreign country, was it for a full degree or just an exchange program? I received credits at my home university, but I also received a "Diplôme de Langue et de Culture Françaises

Anyway, I recommend it highly. In fact, had I been able to afford it I was going to stay during the summer and study there again this fall.

Do it! Anymore questions?

Yeah, but I think it would be for those going for full degrees:

How was the application process?

(Prays NERVUN will respond)

Yeah, but I think it would be for those going for full degrees:

How was the application process?

(Prays NERVUN will respond)
Through my school....

Through my school....

Yes, but that's probably an exchange program, right? I think I'm more interested in getting a full degree from a foreign university, and spending the 4+ years in that country.

I studied for a year in Australia.


So, for anyone who's studied abroad / been in a foreign country for more than tourism; What was it like?
Was there social stigma from being a foreigner?

No. Australia has many immigrants, and seems highly tolerant (outwardly, at least). Of course, I'm white and I speak English fluently, albeit with a British accent rather than an Australian one. But I wasn't subjected to any "Pommie-bashing". ;)

It helped that I lived in a "hometel" where most residents were also foreigners. We had people from all over (England, Wales, France, Germany, New Zealand, Pakistan, Indonesia, Japan, the US...), so obviously there was no "stigma" there.


How about the language/culture?


No language barrier for me. Despite coming from France, I adjusted to Australia quickly enough, and it didn't seem too strange.

I did feel disoriented for a while. That was compounded by the fact that I knew nobody in Australia, and I had only booked for short-term accomodation, so I had to start house-hunting as soon as I arrived. I remember stepping out of the airport into a cold sunny winter day, realising that I'd just crossed the world into a country where I didn't know anyone, where I'd never been before and where I had nowhere to stay long-term, and thinking "OK... what now?". But you adjust. You have to, so you do. You may feel a bit stressed and disoriented for a while, but that's natural, and you get over it.

Also, I found Australians tended to be very friendly and helpful towards strangers. (A lot more so than New Zealanders, at least based on my short trip to NZ.)


And if you did study in a foreign country, was it for a full degree or just an exchange program?
How much did it cost you?


I was studying for my MA, two full semesters, on an exchange programme.
Since there was an agreement between my home uni and Sydney Uni, I paid enrollment to my French uni (and some anonymous Aussie paid enrollment in Sydney and went to study in Paris). Which made it a lot, lot, lot cheaper for me than it would have been if I'd been paying Australian fees.

The only big expense was the plane tickets.

Yes, but that's probably an exchange program, right? I think I'm more interested in getting a full degree from a foreign university, and spending the 4+ years in that country.
Ah, got you. Well good luck. Anyone, do it! It is very important to become an internationally educated and aware.....there is a quote I live by.
"It is a boon for a man to be multilingual and multicultural, it is the downfall of a nation to be."

Something like that.
I studied for a year in Australia.
Studying abroad is 100% amazing and I'm sure you had an amazing time in Aussie-land, but don't you think it would have been better to go somewhere you didn't know the language, thus you could learn it?

Vuhifellian, the first thing I would advise you is to make an estimate of your budget. Are you planning to get some loans? If you plan to study in England you can check the British Council website and get some important info on all of these issues. Remember that if you choose any country in Europe you can visit the whole area without much restriction. That's definitely a PLUS.

How much did it cost you?


I'm doing my own independent research right now on various visa requirements, university requirements, start dates, etc. But any help would be appreciated. Thank you, NSG, in advance.

Isn't there any kind of study abroad scholarship that you could get, like an exchange program? I think that's pretty much the only way anyone here (Germany) does their study abroad semesters/years. Meaning I have never met or even heard of anyone who just went off by themselves and enrolled in a foreign university for a bit. In fact I would think that that would be quite difficult - do they really take you on for a couple semesters in the middle of your university time?

Have you checked with your current uni about the exchange programs they offer? Here, every uni has a few, plus there's Erasmus (European program) and the DAAD (German government sponsored).
Most people apply to more than one at the same time to make sure they actually get one of them. Depending on the program you can pick the uni you want to go to or at least list your preferences. And yeah, it's a bit like taking exams, what with the written application and the evil interviews, but eh, it's worth it.

I got my uni's direct exchange scholarship and the DAAD one and ended up taking the DAAD one, which meant they paid the flight, health insurance, complete tuition for a year, plus a monthly stipend (which in my case was about twice my monthly rent).
And they also made sure through the longstanding agreements they have with their partner universities that I could literally pick and choose my classes, even doing both undergraduate and graduate classes at the same time without any problem. I seriously doubt that that would be possible without some organization saying "Hey, s/he's with us, just let her be for a year and send all the bills to us!"

Also, we (as in the about 50 people who did the DAAD's American Studies scholarship thingy that year) all flew to Chicago together for three days of info & preparation about how stuff like banking, renting, course registration, etc. work in the US.

Anyway, blabla, what I'm saying is if I were you I'd go see what is available to you in terms of exchange programs.

(An advance "sorry" for unneccessary/paranoid questions)

I'm seriously considering it, and although I have a couple years left before I can even apply to a university, I would really like to attend a university not in the US, but rather in the UK or in Japan.

So, for anyone who's studied abroad / been in a foreign country for more than tourism; What was it like?
Was there social stigma from being a foreigner?
How about the language/culture?
Did you already know it when you arrived there, or did you just do something to correct the situation when you got there?
And if you did study in a foreign country, was it for a full degree or just an exchange program?
How much did it cost you?


I'm doing my own independent research right now on various visa requirements, university requirements, start dates, etc. But any help would be appreciated. Thank you, NSG, in advance.

Wait, why Japan? Depending on where you are, you will choke to death if you're not good with crowds.

Yes, but that's probably an exchange program, right? I think I'm more interested in getting a full degree from a foreign university, and spending the 4+ years in that country.
Its expensive, no doubt. In the UK if you're not a UK/EU citizen, then you get have to pay the full whack of the fees. This is about £10,000/yr I believe (though don't quote me on that). Add on your crappy exchange rate, and cost of living etc and it would be a lot. However, its not the end of the world - the Omani guys on my course are getting massive scholarships from Shell, and a guaranteed job at the end of it. There are ways and means, it just takes a little more effort.

Speaking as an exchange student myself, I'd say go for it - it's one of the best opportunities of your life. :)

Wait, why Japan? Depending on where you are, you will choke to death if you're not good with crowds.

It can't be much worse than riding the rush hour NJTransit bus from New York City...

Ok, I'm responding for whatever help I can give, though I came over for a teacher exchange program, not a university one so...


So, for anyone who's studied abroad / been in a foreign country for more than tourism; What was it like?
Awsome. Um... I need a bit more specific question though.

Was there social stigma from being a foreigner?
From time to time. Normally I don't feel as if I'm really getting anything differently because of my status, but there are times when I do notice it. Mainly through the only thing I do get is a lot of Japanese panic a bit when they see me coming just in case I use English.

How about the language/culture?
Can be difficult. There are a lot of things that you just don't learn until you get your feet on the ground that the guide books and classes don't teach you. Language can be interesting as well as usage can really varry from what you are used to.

Did you already know it when you arrived there, or did you just do something to correct the situation when you got there?
I had studied Japanese for four years before I went, but I took a three year break before I went so to say I was rusty would be an understatement. As for culture, I had been studying about that for quite some time. I also made sure the year before I went to read any English newspapers from Japan daily to understand what was going on in Japan today as opposed to the 10 years ago that the books were written.

And if you did study in a foreign country, was it for a full degree or just an exchange program?
As I noted, I didn't study at a Japanese university, I came to teach English.

How much did it cost you?
Nothing, they paid me. :D

If you have any questions about Japan, I'll be glad to answer them for you. As for progams, try the USAC or your local Rotery or Lions Club, they often have scolarships to go abroad. Japan has a lot of Japanese language/culture scholarships as well.

So, for anyone who's studied abroad / been in a foreign country for more than tourism; What was it like? A good experience
Was there social stigma from being a foreigner? No, most people thought it was cool.
How about the language/culture? The U.K. was pretty similar to
Canada.


Other stuff didn't apply to me, I just though that sense I came from a similar country and was in the UK (Keele) you might be interested, although I assume the Japenese one is what you were worried about.

Well, I've not done it yet, but I'm hoping to do a semester at Oxford through a program my University offers, at some point within the next year. I love traveling to new places, and Britain is one that I have yet to visit, despite many trips to Europe.

It can't be much worse than riding the rush hour NJTransit bus from New York City...

I've never been on one, so I can't test the validity of that statement, sadly enough.

Yes, but that's probably an exchange program, right? I think I'm more interested in getting a full degree from a foreign university, and spending the 4+ years in that country.

D'oh. Must have missed that earlier. Disregard my post above, then. ><

I'm in an cooperation program between a German institution and an English uni so I will spend one year in England and study there. Fortunately my school is doing most of the organizing.

Ive been studying broads fer years, and I still cant figure em out.

har! har!











Yeah...I'll just go get my coat....

While I can't study abroad thanks to my program, I do plan to flee the country for 65 days this summer. I'll be visiting South East Asia, the Middle East (or maybe North Africa), and Europe.

So far I'm looking at these countries:
Thailand
Vietnam
Cambodia
Myanmar
Israel
Turkey
Ukraine
Poland
Czech Republic
Austria
Italy

While I can't study abroad thanks to my program, I do plan to flee the country for 65 days this summer. I'll be visiting South East Asia, the Middle East (or maybe North Africa), and Europe.

So far I'm looking at these countries:
Thailand
Vietnam
Cambodia
Myanmar
Israel
Turkey
Ukraine
Poland
Czech Republic
Austria
Italy

All right, I'm going to spam and hijack, but I don't care..

Buy a good camera before you go.

I've never been on one, so I can't test the validity of that statement, sadly enough.
Hokkaido has crowds though? Besides cows I mean. ;)









Yeah, I'm going to get hit for that one.

All right, I'm going to spam and hijack, but I don't care..

Buy a good camera before you go.
by that you mean buy A camera...which I am currently lacking due to the sister.
I'll have to see what kind of money I'm working with...I'm figuring about $6000 total for the 65 days, and that has to cover my airfare, visas, hostels (I will be using couch surfers), food, backpack...all that stuff.
I'll see what kind of money is left to buy a new camera. I am currently begging for one for christmas.

by that you mean buy A camera...which I am currently lacking due to the sister.
I'll have to see what kind of money I'm working with...I'm figuring about $6000 total for the 65 days, and that has to cover my airfare, visas, hostels (I will be using couch surfers), food, backpack...all that stuff.
I'll see what kind of money is left to buy a new camera. I am currently begging for one for christmas.

http://************/28spj7

I don't care how inconvenient the size may be, just be glad your fat ass wont have to lug lenses around. And use macro.. sometimes.. stuff. I'd give you mine, but I'm sure that sexy Canon I have my eye on wont be purchased until that college acceptance letter comes in, and that may take years and many thousands of dollars in bribes.

I lived in Australia for most of my High School years, and I was posted all over the world during my term in the Marine Corps. It's the single best thing about my service, in fact, being able to go around the world, learn about other cultures, and see the amazing things each country had to offer.

90% of the people I met were friendly and nice, even in countries we were having problems with at the time. They seemed to accept me as "just another guy", whatever sort of problems our governments were having. Many were interested in how people lived in the US and what things were like (I was able to set some of them straight on a few things, and vice versa about their cultures).

So I'd say, go for it. I'd also advise you to choose a country with a different language to your own - immersion is the single best way to learn a language, and it's a skill that will help you all of your life.