Nothing beats being thrown into the deep end of a new country, culture or even language. It will quickly help you learn about yourself and the world around you. You will have millions of highs and maybe some very deep lows and they will help shape you to become a better, wiser person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going on exchange is more like starting out in a video game with a new character with all the possibilities to build whatever life you want, and a clean slate to be whoever you want to be.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
2) New Friends<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Out of all the most unlikely possibilities that could ever happen in this world, walking away from an exchange having made zero new friends is about a rarer chance than pigs learning how to perform on Broadway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You won’t know who they are until you get there, and that’s literally the most exciting, scary, and beautiful part of it all. Some of these people could even have a lifelong impact on you… and at worst they’ll be cool friends to visit if you ever pass through their home cities in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3) Travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you’re a fan of travel like me, this is the best time to get as much done as possible. You could be studying in a region where flights to other countries cost LESS than a Big Mac combo. OR you could be in a beautiful country where you end up exploring every nook and cranny during the weekends. Whatever your travel style is, you will find a University and location that suits your preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Travelling normally is fun, but travelling on exchange is a whole different story. Especially if you’re with your newly-made exchange friends, it’s a great way to bond quickly and make memories that last a lifetime!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4) Culture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If culture is your fort\u00e9<\/em>, perhaps an exchange is for you. There could be so many reasons to live in the country of your dreams, whether it’s to connect with your ancestral homeland or to pick up a language you’ve always wanted to learn. You’ll gain a much greater understanding of the country than if you simply went there and did some tourist things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although a few months can be a short time to be fully accepted as a local. We all know that ONE guy\/gal who comes back home thinking they’re all cultured but barely learnt to say thank you in the country’s language, so at the very least you can become the next meme amongst your ‘normal friends’ back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n