Why Study Abroad?
I have just returned to Philadelphia this semester from three months of traveling and studying abroad in Rome, Italy. This once in a lifetime experience opened my eyes to the variety of cultures that exist in Europe. Besides my travels within Italy, I visited Barcelona in Spain, Brussels in Belgium, and London in the UK. My favorite destination, however, was London because we share a common interest and that is football (our soccer). Even though football is a European obsession, the United Kingdom is the home of one of the best football leagues in the world, the Premiership. Myself having played soccer for over 10 years, I have great appreciation for the game and never in this world would I give up an opportunity to witness a Premiership match. My uncle who resides in London was able to pull some strings and before I knew it I was sitting in Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal, a popular football club. For those of you unfamiliar with football, Arsenal has consistently ranked as one of the top teams in Europe, currently number 3 in the Premiership League. With that I will leave you with a picture or two… as you can see there is not a single seat empty.
Oh yes, Pranav’s Top 3 Reasons to Study Abroad!
3. Experience in countries outside of the U.S. will help you learn what it really means to be an “American.” It is an opportunity to compare other cultures with the “American” way of life as well as find the inside scoop on how other countries feel about American politics, American culture, and Americans in general. Moreover, my experience has given me a new perspective on life and more importantly, the world.
2. Living abroad is a chance to meet other international students/residents. The Temple Rome program consisted of students from over 30 universities and colleges. Rome is also the home of many universities including American, Penn State, and John Cabot. I have made friendships with Americans and Italians alike that will last a life-time.
1. The number one reason to study abroad is for the food. Italy is unique in that every region has its own way of cooking food, not to mention the wine. Having traveled throughout Italy, from Portofino (northern Italy) to Sorrento (southern Italy), I can vouch for this fact. The food was even better in Barcelona, where one can find authentic tapas, paella, and sangria.