Every year thousands and thousands of young adults leave the comforts of their
homes to study in a foreign country such as the United States, Canada, United
Kingdom and Australia. There seems to be an
element of glamour involved. On the contrary, studying abroad has more benefits
than just that. However, for every pro there is a con.First, let us look at
the pros. Living in another country means leaving behind all the comforts of
home and having to do everything for yourself. You would need to do things you
may have never done in your home country. These include cooking, cleaning,
grocery shopping, washing clothes, figuring out transportation and making living
arrangements. Many students go home proud that they have become very independent
individuals. Achieving all this also improves self-esteem and builds strength of
character. You will become more confident than ever. Your life will be forever
changed.
Studying in a foreign country also means having to speak English even more
than what you are used to. Everywhere you turn, you will be exposed to the
language - on the streets, in the stores, on campus - you can't get away from
it. You will be forced to interact with the local people there in English apart
from writing and reading the language on campus. The plus point here is that
your English language proficiency will improve by leaps
and bounds. The best way to learn or improve on a language is by
using it daily. Studying abroad also has its cons. Almost everyone will
experience some homesickness. You will probably miss your family, friends, food
and everything familiar. Apart from that, there is
culture shock. You will need to get accustomed to new attitudes and
ways of life.
On the other hand, living in a different culture helps you to realize there
are different ways of doing things. You will also discover that at the end of
the day, we are all human with the same emotions. The friendships you form will
help you reach a new level of maturity.
Despite the disadvantages of studying abroad, the overall outcome is a
positive one. What you can gain from this experience far
outweighs the negative because there is no price for personal
growth and realization. |
