One of the questions we ask on our student evaluation is "What do you know now but wish you had known before you left for study abroad". I thought it would be interesting to compile the results from our students who were abroad in 2006. There are some really good answers (and some funny ones as well).
· I wish I had known that four months was not enough time to explore the city.
· I wish I had known more of France’s history before I left. I would recommend to anyone planning on living in another country to try and understand at least their basic history.
· I would not need any of the three jackets I brought and that I would actually need an umbrella (only a couple days). I'm sure I was advised to bring an umbrella but it didn't seem practical when I was packing.
· Simplicity makes the experience easier and more enjoyable.
· Everything REALLY shuts in August.
· I wish I had studied more language prior to my departure.
· Just how expensive it is there!
· How to travel. You need to plan your travels ahead of time and you should know and pick where you really want to travel.
· When I was told not to pack too much, I should have listened!
· How hot it would be.
· Traveling is hard work!
· Things close very early.
· If you forget something, you can always buy it over there. 2. You can survive with a lot less than you think. 3. Most people are willing to help you.
· How rainy and cold it would be in the winter.
· I wish I would have used my time better there so I could have seen more places.
· Italians speak Italian. (Not everyone speaks English)
· Bring mosquito repellent!
· How expensive it really was going to be to just survive over there. I know I was warned, but I didn't really understand until I saw my bank statements!
· That Spain is very different than the rest of the Spanish speaking world. That Europeans dress differently than we do but are not more conservative.
· To bring a fingernail clipper.
· Time goes by too fast.
· I wish I would have made a better plan as to how to manage my money with conversion rates and everything.
· I wish I had done more research and know more about the Spanish history. I love Spanish history now, but I guess that wasn’t going to happen until I saw such incredible places like Cordoba, Seville, and of course the Alhambra.
· I wish I had taken advantage of the exchanges with international students. I wasn’t aware of them in advance and didn’t know enough when I started the program to want to get involved. In hindsight, I wish I had.
· That I needed more money.
· I wish I had known....nothing....I liked finding out a lot of stuff.