Absolutely agree. If I could go back in time I’d find some way to visit Asia and Africa in my 20s, maybe involving working as an ESL teacher (as many of my friends did this throughout Asia).
I was lucky enough to be an exchange student in High School in Western Europe and do some traveling in college in South America. After that, I wasn’t able to afford travel until I was in my 30s. So for anyone still in High School reading this, be sure to apply to any study abroad programs now!
Dang, you really should have. Wales is one of the few places I’ve been to in recent years that I hope to visit again. It was really lovely, as were the people. Please go if you get the chance.
I took three years of Spanish at my High School, and at 16 years old, went to Costa Rica for three weeks as a Foreign exchange student. I hosted an exchange student in my second year from Costa Rica. We become very good friends and penpals! It was the only time in my life I was outside the USA. I lived with a host family for two weeks, and the last week I stayed with the family I had hosted my second year.
Besides the obvious language immersion and attending a high school there. I also went on the planned trips. It was amazing! Went to the rain forest twice. Walking tour on 1, gondola ride along the canopy on 2nd. Saw a volcano erupt, went white water rafting in the rain forest. Both of my host families also took me to various locations that they liked too. Saw coffee fields, and beaches etc.
I also did stupid shit (I was 16yrs old so… obviously I did stupid shit). Examples are… went out to bars and clubs with my host sibling, (my passport did say I was 16, but they didn’t deny me from buying alcohol or cigarettes etc). That was fun then, but as a parent and an adult now… I realize just how dangerous it was. As a passenger in cars there… it was terrifying. They drove so Fucking fast! And there were literally livestock in the middle of the highways sometimes… and they didn’t slow down… they just steered around and beside these huge animals like it was a “frogger” game… 😬
All in all though… it was a memorial experience. And I don’t regret going.
Absolutely agree. If I could go back in time I’d find some way to visit Asia and Africa in my 20s, maybe involving working as an ESL teacher (as many of my friends did this throughout Asia).
I was lucky enough to be an exchange student in High School in Western Europe and do some traveling in college in South America. After that, I wasn’t able to afford travel until I was in my 30s. So for anyone still in High School reading this, be sure to apply to any study abroad programs now!
I had the chance to go to Wales for a semester during college, but was too nervous. In retrospect, that would’ve been cool as shit.
We had some exchange students from their end of the program and they were all lovely folks.
Dang, you really should have. Wales is one of the few places I’ve been to in recent years that I hope to visit again. It was really lovely, as were the people. Please go if you get the chance.
I took three years of Spanish at my High School, and at 16 years old, went to Costa Rica for three weeks as a Foreign exchange student. I hosted an exchange student in my second year from Costa Rica. We become very good friends and penpals! It was the only time in my life I was outside the USA. I lived with a host family for two weeks, and the last week I stayed with the family I had hosted my second year.
Besides the obvious language immersion and attending a high school there. I also went on the planned trips. It was amazing! Went to the rain forest twice. Walking tour on 1, gondola ride along the canopy on 2nd. Saw a volcano erupt, went white water rafting in the rain forest. Both of my host families also took me to various locations that they liked too. Saw coffee fields, and beaches etc.
I also did stupid shit (I was 16yrs old so… obviously I did stupid shit). Examples are… went out to bars and clubs with my host sibling, (my passport did say I was 16, but they didn’t deny me from buying alcohol or cigarettes etc). That was fun then, but as a parent and an adult now… I realize just how dangerous it was. As a passenger in cars there… it was terrifying. They drove so Fucking fast! And there were literally livestock in the middle of the highways sometimes… and they didn’t slow down… they just steered around and beside these huge animals like it was a “frogger” game… 😬
All in all though… it was a memorial experience. And I don’t regret going.