Study Abroad advice needed!

lionlove · #1 12-03-2001, 04:49 PM

Hey everyone,
I was wondering if any fellow greekchatters have ever studied abroad. I'm studying in Aix-En-Provence France next semester and I am pretty nervous. If any of you have ever studied abroad before, I would love to hear about your experiences. Thanks alot.

Claire

SilverTurtle · #2 12-03-2001, 05:05 PM

One of the few things I wish I would have done differently in college is study abroad. I love to travel, & spent 2 weeks in Europe while I was in High School. I've always wanted to return.

I have had several friends study abroad- in France (Paris as well as the country), London, Hungary, Jamaica & Scotland. They all loved their experience. I know some of them struggled a bit with the foreign languages, but they managed (Most locals can speak a bit, and they practiced a lot). In fact, one of them will graduate with his Masters Degree this December and he's done that totally abroad (between Paris & London).

I know that for most (maybe all?) of my friends, it was actually cheaper for them to spend the semester(s) abroad than to spend them in the states, even with airfare & such. These are from private U.S. college... a State school might be different?

But that might be an added bonus!

I know my GLO loved getting news from our members' abroad, too. So you won't lose touch w/ your sisters (assuming you're in a sorority?) or friends... especially with email & the 'net.

Basically.. I give it a big thumbs up.. I definately think you should take the opportunity!!

newbie · #3 12-03-2001, 11:42 PM

Just wanted to wish you a great time

. I hope to study abroad in Germany in college! Stay safe! I hope you are very excited...the culture seems so interesting (I studied French for 2 yrs freshman and sophomore yr of HS).

lionlove · #4 12-04-2001, 03:20 PM

Wow, thanks for all the advice. I am going to be in Aix-En-Provence which is in Provence. It's near Marseille and all the topless beaches and celebrity hangouts

Valkyrie, thanks for the idea for using credit cards. With the peding switch from francs to euros, my non-math brain would have trouble with all the different currencies. Sorry to hear that you found the only bad food in all of France. Rugby center? I didn't even know they played rugby in France

I guess I learn new things everyday.

I am scared about losing touch with my sorority. Alot has changed this semester and I'm scared about what will change when I'm gone. Our chapter has 4 girls abroad now (3 in England, 1 in Australia) and although they try to keep in touch with email and post cards, it is hard to be out of the loop for a whole semester.

Overall, I am really excited about going. I FINALLY have my visa (I had a whole lot of trouble and I finally had to drive from my school in PA to the French consulate in Boston to get it )

c'est la vie. All of the rest of my paperwork is done and on Jan. 18 I leave for Provence!!!

Claire

KerriMarie · #5 12-04-2001, 03:28 PM

Study Abroad is great, I'm in London right now (only one week left, waaah!) and am loving it. I was lucky tho, my big sister came with me and is my roomie, and in the flat next door are two KKGs from a different school (UF, I go to FSU) and we met them very early on and had a little Kappa family here in London.

Like valkyre said, Paris is wonderful, I went there for a weekend and loved it.

Have fun, and just send your sisters lots of postcards 'cuz I'm sure they'll miss you. Make sure you're still getting the minutes sent to you by e-mail so you feel included in what's going on back home. And maybe some of them could come visit you for spring break!!

matthewg · #6 01-09-2002, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lionlove
Wow, thanks for all the advice. I am going to be in Aix-En-Provence which is in Provence. It's near Marseille and all the topless beaches and celebrity hangouts Valkyrie, thanks for the idea for using credit cards. With the peding switch from francs to euros, my non-math brain would have trouble with all the different currencies. Sorry to hear that you found the only bad food in all of France. Rugby center? I didn't even know they played rugby in France I guess I learn new things everyday.

I am scared about losing touch with my sorority. Alot has changed this semester and I'm scared about what will change when I'm gone. Our chapter has 4 girls abroad now (3 in England, 1 in Australia) and although they try to keep in touch with email and post cards, it is hard to be out of the loop for a whole semester.

Overall, I am really excited about going. I FINALLY have my visa (I had a whole lot of trouble and I finally had to drive from my school in PA to the French consulate in Boston to get it ) c'est la vie. All of the rest of my paperwork is done and on Jan. 18 I leave for Provence!!!

Claire

Have a wonderful time in France - the Provence is stunning. And don't miss skiing in the nearby French Alps - some of the best in Europe.
1 Euro + 10% currently equals a US Dollar.
Travel as much as you can and try to make it to Italy as well.
Good luck and don't let the French discourage you with their "love" for the English language. If you try to speak French, they'll be happy.
Lo's of fun,
matthewg

AlphaChiGirl · #7 01-09-2002, 10:08 PM

Hey lionlove...I'm leaving for Rome Monday. Isn't it great? I'm hoping to spend some time in Paris, too.

PM me and tell me all about your program!

aephi alum · #8 01-09-2002, 10:27 PM

Lots of luck with your semester abroad - all of you who are taking one

I never studied abroad, but one of my sisters did (in London) and she said it was awesome

She stayed in touch by email.

Use your credit card - you will get whatever the rate of exchange was on the day of your purchase, so you don't have to worry about conversions. Memorize a simple conversion factor (like what matthewg suggested) so you can convert rates quickly. WATCH OUT for unscrupulous money changers who advertise one rate and then give you another - I've gotten burned

lionlove, I don't get why you had to go to Boston - there should be an embassy or consulate in New York - after all the UN is in New York...

AlphaChiGirl · #9 01-09-2002, 11:31 PM

Getting a visa is much more difficult than one would think. For some countries, you either have to go to the Consulate serving your permanent residence or go to the one in NY/Boston. Not every major city has a Consulate--and even if they do, they often keep odd hours. My program took care of my visa, but if they hadn't...I would have had to go to the Consulate in NYC (3 hours from school) or the one in Miami (13 hours from home).

Anyone here spent time in Italy?

matthewg · #10 01-10-2002, 11:42 AM

I actually lived there for six years when I was a kid. It is an absolutely marvellous country even if sometimes chaotic.

lionlove · #11 01-10-2002, 12:01 PM

Hello,
Thank you for all of your support everyone! I had to go to the consulate in Boston because my hometown is in MA. There is a consulate in NYC and I skipped classes for a day back in Nov. to got to the consulate in NYC only to find out that they couldn't process my application because I am a permanant resident of MA.

8 days until I leave!!!