Who would not want to make new friends while traveling the world? When I studied abroad, it encouraged me come out of comfort zone and gain cultural experiences in another country. I will never forget the connections and bonds that I made. And yes, you will make life long friendships. Let’s not forget that one day these experiences could turn into potential career opportunities.

I was able to travel as much as I wanted, all while I was learning about new subjects and taking new classes. My schedule differed a lot while I was abroad. Most of my classes met once a week, rather than two to three times a week in the states. I really enjoyed that I had a lot of freedom to explore new cities and meet new people. I gained a lot of independence and grew a lot while I studied abroad. I must admit, it was quite nerve racking to embark on a journey like this alone, but the second I saw Auckland city all of my worries disappeared and I knew I was ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Everyday abroad was a new adventure and I always found how easy it was to really branch out and get to know others as well as myself. To really embrace the cultural and day-to-day life, most university housing options are with host families. Living with a host family entitles you to meet native people and really appreciate the culture and new language if there is one.

Financials are oftentimes the scariest factor to distinguish when debating to study abroad. First and foremost the study abroad office at UNCG or any university is there to help you and make a plan to show how this is all possible. For those of you who are granted financial aid, it does cover some of these study abroad tuition costs. Secondly, the UNCG study abroad program has many universities that are on a direct exchange, meaning we send a student to a university in another country and a student from that university comes to us! While doing so, you are paying UNCGs tuition price! This is how we, as a community on UNCGs campus, have become so diverse and international. In addition to paying tuition at your home university while studying at another, there are many study abroad scholarships that are available for everyone to apply for. These three factors make it very possible for anyone to study abroad through the UNCG program.

Studying abroad changed my life, as cliché as it sounds. It has really helped me expand my horizons. These connections and relationships share a special bond that cannot be broken. I continuously learned new characteristics about myself and others that I may have never known if I did not study abroad. Whether its festivals, night markets, shows or events around the community, something is always going on no matter where in the world you are. Do not be afraid to talk about your options to a study abroad representative on campus, the choices are endless and the memories will last a lifetime. Be safe, be smart and be brave.

“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” –Daniel Kaye