Living in Europe for three months was the best experience I could have ever asked for. I studied abroad in Malaga, Spain, and I even lived with a family that spoke no English. I completely left my comfort zone and it was amazing! Although I went to school for four hours every day, I seemed to learn more outside of the classroom. I, obviously, learned a lot about the Spanish culture. My school in Spain was a language school for foreigners, and the students were from all around the world. I managed to learn about the cultures of all the classmates that I befriended, and I believe that everyone should have a European experience like this, whether you visit Europe to study abroad or to work/volunteer. Here are five reasons why living in Europe can be the best decision you will ever make.
1. Travel is Cheap
There are so many low-fare airlines around Europe that cost almost nothing. RyanAir and EasyJet are the most popular. I flew from southern Spain to Paris for only 46 Euros via RyanAir. There are also so many buses and trains that are cheap as well. Need somewhere to stay? I highly recommend staying at a hostel when you're traveling country to country or city to city. My Paris hostel was in the city center (only two metro stops from the famous Moulin Rouge) and only cost me 75 Euros for three nights. Nothing beats that!
2. Food, Duh
"Amazing" does not give European food enough justice. It’s a mouth full of cultural heaven. Each country has a unique dish. Paella and seafood is popular in the region of Spain where I stayed. All of the seafood was perfection straight from the Mediterranean. I also tried frog legs for the first time during my visit to France (tastes just like chicken).
3. Wine is Cheaper than Water
We all want to be economical, right? So, you’ll have no choice but order wine from the most magical grapes in the world. Americans are used to ordering free water in the States. Water actually costs more than wine in some European countries. So order up!
4. Organized Language Exchanges
Language exchanges are the best way to learn the native tongue and meet new friends in a fun environment. One of the language exchanges that I went to gave everyone a colored sticker that matched the language(s) that they spoke. You find people who speak the language that you are learning, and you can practice speaking with them. This language exchange also gave unlimited beer for one Euro. This is great for beer lovers
5. Beauty
Most of Europe has maintained thousands of years of culture. I loved exploring old gardens, castles, and ruins just to admire their beauty. I explored La Plaza De Espana in Seville, which were the palaces from "Star Wars Episode II." I also saw the Alcazaba, where episodes from the "Game of Thrones" were shot. This is something that you can’t find in the States!
