Help...! Should I study abroad?

[The Lone Moon]

Hiyo! ^_^

Well, I'm coming across this dilemma and I wanted more opinions.... My school is offering a traveling abroad program to Taiwan (to Tamkang University) for a semester (5 months), and I'm wondering if I should go for it? I have a friend who's wanting to go with me...

Anyhow, here's the pros and cons:

Pros
1. I've have been wanting to study abroad for a while now for about 5 years
2. My friend will go with me
3. My school offers a $5000 scholarship that almost basically makes it a free trip, and I might be able to get it if I apply
4. I wanted to improve my Mandarin and meet people
5. I wanted to try living at an exciting place for a bit
6. I really want to visit Taiwan
7. If I'm there for 5 months, my chances to see Fahrenheit is high!!!!!!

Cons
1. I have to take two classes before I can apply for the study abroad program (A Mandarin language & asian culture class). But I'm already done with all of my class requirements, so taking them is sorta a waste of time.
2. If I don't study abroad, then I could graduate in one year (like by Spring 09)!!!!, but if I do go, then that may extend it for a whole year (Spring 10).
3. There are no classes over there I can take that will help my Biology major, so the classes taken there is really only for fun
4. I did not have permission from my Dad yet, and that might be a little difficult
5. I'm a really homesicky person, and I'll miss my mom a lot, terribly a lot!
6. I'll miss my boyfriend too

Ahhhh! But I'm not sure. ~_~ For now, I'm leaning a little towards not going cuz I don't want to take those classes when i don't think I need them, but awwww..... I've been wanting to do this for a while, but now I'm not sure if it's too inconvenient for me. o.O;;

[tempii]

ooh...hard choice
i'd miss my family too
but sometimes it's good to learn from a different and new atmosphere
just wondering if you visit taiwan another time. who would go with you?
if it's what you've wanted for the past five years, your dad should let you go
and how else would you visit taiwan if your dad doesn't let you go this time?
no point in living everyday thinking "what if i had gone to taiwan.."

sorry i can't help you
but i do hope you end up making the choice that makes you happiest

goodluck

[*_Vicky_*]

hmm, its quite a good choice to travel abroad to let you know more about other countries.. i'll also miss my parents when i'm abroad.. i think you need to think it very carefully.. yeah, but get to see fahrenheit is nice and can get their stuff from there.. hope the decision that you've chosen, you'll feel happy for it (:

GAMBATEI!

[karli]

travelling abroad can make you more independant
however there is no point in studying something that isnt related to your course.
your better of studying at home.

[dyana]

wow that's a big chance, but i think if ur parents till the end not wish u to go abroad, if i were u i choose to stay. not go to taiwan. but that's only my opinion, the decision is in ur hand, so u must think about it.. i never live without my parents beside me, so i dunno maybe i will homesick too >.<
5 months juz kinda short time, if u enjoy 5 months not a problem i think
i wish u all the best ^^

[The Lone Moon]

You guys are pointing out really good points, and interesting to see what others consider more important. As for my friend, I'm not sure if she can go to taiwan with me if I miss this chance. She's planning to go to pharmacy school after she graduate, so it's very unlikely that we even get to see each other anymore let alone travel to taiwan...

[evilmusicalgal93]

I really think you should go. I went overseas for a bit myself(to Japan). It was so much fun! ake the chance and go! There is always a chance to take the classes you need later, but to get to go to Taiwan with a friend and live there as a student is something very few people get to do! I say go for it!

Good Luck!

[dyana]

so if u think u can handle ur homesick then go to taiwan. that's the right choice.. nowadays u can use phone 3G, web camera to chatting.. so there's always a way.. hope u can make the right choice so u won't regret.. the important point is enjoy ok ^^ gudluck!

[faith05z]

hmmm...

I gotta say, chances like this is really rare... And you r really lucky to be given chances like that, haha! I think u should take it. Its a good opportunity to learn more about your own culture and i believe your chinese will improve tremendously after the trip.

Homesick is somthing everyone would have whenever they travel, so i believe u can overcome that, especially since u have a friend there with you and that technologies are so advance nowadays..
As for graduatin late, that would really depend on individual. do u mind being a year behind ur classmates? or maybe like do u need to start earning an income soon?

Last, i would conclude that its indeed a good chance i wont miss.. I would wanna try out studying in taiwan myself too given the chance... I hope you make the right choice yout wont regret!
Good luck!~

[rinrin]

hard choice, but maybe you will see fahrenheit in there, good news . I really want to study abroad too, I want to go to japan. you're so lucky, It's your chance take it

[The Lone Moon]

I know, it's such a chance, and if I don't go, what if I'll have one of those regrets of my life? O.O I really really want to go! ^.^ But I'm really scared what if my father won't let me? ^^;; I mean, I asked all my brothers and my mom, they're all skeptical, but would support my decision if I really wanted to go, but not my father. He is one of those REALLY tempered person. I mean, he snaps at the smallest little things, and he's very illogical guy too.

In high school when I'm 15, I remember mentioning that there's this 1 month exchange student program to Japan, and before I even finished that sentence, he started screaming at me to the point of disowning me!! O.O He called me a very *friendly* person and everything, thinking that I want to go so I can be a very *friendly* person and sleep with people, etc etc really yucky words. Really scary guy. And at that time, I didn't even said that I wanted to go yet. I only MENTIONED that there was that opportunity!!! O.O;;;;;;; My father was always like that, angry at everyone all the time.

So he's really my main reason why I'm kind scared to go. ~_~ This time, if I study abroad, it will be 4-5 months instead, and it's to Taiwan. And if I do go, however, I will be 21 years old by then. But still, I'm scared if I go anyways or something, he might get in a huge arguement with my family, and very likely to 'disown' me again. Actually, all of my 3 brothers and I each have been "disowned" more than twice before. Anyways, my whole family hates my father for various deeper reasons, but we pretend to be okay with him for the sake of our mom. It's just that I do really want to go, and it sounds kinda sad that I can't make my own decision even when I'm 21? I kinda want to just go and do something.

So... erm... What's your opinion about this? Do you think it's worth the big fuss to go?

[dyana]

yeah maybe i dunno about how u feel, but i think that's so bad, really really bad..coz my parents always support me, but u can said that i'm a follower , coz if my parents said me don't go, don't do that. i will heard them.. even now i'm 22, i always ask my father about my decision.

well lone moon, maybe u can ask ur father why he isn't let u go to taiwan. that's really a rare chance to study in abroad.. u can tell him that 5-6 months just only a short time.. n like u said u already 21, n i think u can make ur own decision, what's the best for u. u can explain to ur father about ur decision, n tell him the positif way if u get that chance...

i wish u all the best, gudluck!! jia you!!
u can do that, n overall i hope u never regret with ur decision ^^