Every semester, hundreds of students decide to study abroad. They pack up their stuff and move halfway around the world for four months, discovering a whole new world in the process. 

 Many students think about whether to make the plunge and study abroad and wonder if it is all worth it. I decided to become one of those students. This semester, I am writing to The Oswegonian from Paris, and I can confirm that it has definitely been worth it. 

Yes, some things have been difficult. The language barrier, a new currency, learning a new city that is vastly different and being away from home. I can honestly say though, that these difficulties do not compare with all the amazing things I have been able to do. 

I saw the Eiffel Tower turn pink and sparkle for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, saw the Louvre, visited the Palace of Versailles and so much more. For most of my life, I have wanted to travel and see the world and gain new experiences. I thought what better way to do that than study abroad during college. 

I still have to take classes and do homework, but if I am being honest, the workload is a lot less than I was expecting. I am still able to explore Paris during the week and even book larger trips for the weekend. Since arriving here in late August, I have been able to see cities like Colmar and Strasbourg, and I am planning on visiting Vienna and Prague this weekend. 

Being in France, there is a bit of a language barrier. I took some French at Oswego, and although I am not fluent, I can get by. I also still have to take French while I am here, which I can already tell is helping my skills.

One final perk of studying abroad through Oswego is meeting new people. The other people in my program are from other SUNY schools across the state, like Binghamton and UAlbany. I have also met French people, other Americans and people from countries like Poland and China. These are the people who have made my experiences here even better.

I know many people worry about the financial cost, which is a totally valid thing. I worked hard over the summer to earn money so that I did not have to worry too much about my spending. There are also great resources through the Education Abroad Office to apply for scholarships to cut down on the expense of tuition. 

Studying abroad can be tough at times, but to me, it has been some of the best times of my life. I would recommend it to anyone who is able to study abroad. Apply online on the Oswego Study Abroad website. There are so many places to go and experience, and I can promise that you will not regret it.