To go aboard or not to go aboard, that is the question...

So I've just submitted my application to do an Erasmus study exchange in Spain next year (my 3rd at uni). It's always been an ambition of mine to travel and see more of the world and I thought a study exchange would be the ideal start. It's actually one of the reasons I chose Kingston, as every student has the opportunity to study part of their degree aboard, whether it be computing in California, geography in Greece or law in Lithuania. I've chosen Spain, where if I do go, I will be studying at the University of Deusto in Bilbao. The thought of being somewhere as sundrenched and fun as Spain is appealing for obvious reasons, but part of me can't help thinking of the things I'll miss whilst I'm gone for the year. The first, and most important, being my family and friends. I know I'll be coming back to visit, after all, Spain isn't that far away and with all the wonders of modern technology (Skype, Facebook etc) keeping in contact with everyone should be easy. But it's not that that's worrying me. It's the thought that if I get homesick, I can't just hop on a bus/train and be home-sweet-home within an hour. It's the thought of all my friends graduating without me and me coming back to do my final year without them. I'm sure each and every person who has done a study exchange before had the same worries as I do and somehow they were brave enough to go and grab hold of this incredible opportunity...

Anyway, for those of you who are interested, here's my answer to "why do you want to do a study exchange?" (Part of the application):  "The experience will enhance me in many ways, not only in terms of personal development, but also my job opportunities, confidence and enjoyment of life. Being able to live within another culture will help develop my maturity, confidence and self reliance - great life skills. By demonstrating that I have lived, studied and worked in another environment, using another language, will enable me to compete more effectively in the job market. Any Erasmus students I have spoken to say it is the best part of their time at university. It will be a fantastic opportunity to make new friends and gain an international network of contacts and some fantastic memories. I believe I will return highly motivated, with more life experience and language skills. I will have acquired a broader range of skills to offer a future employer, whilst also having fun doing it.

Stand out in the job market: In today's competitive world, studying abroad would be a great addition to my CV and help me stand out from the crowd. Erasmus students achieve better degrees and earn higher salaries.

Language Skills: I enjoy learning new languages and would love the opportunity to immerse myself in the language and culture of a European country. There is also considerable current interest in the employability of graduates with language skills and so would be a great addition on my CV. Students with language skills are seen by businesses as being more flexible and adaptable, more likely to appreciate the need for intercultural communication skills and more able to build relationships with counterparts or clients in other countries".

And there you have it, the application that could drastically change my life next year. All I can do now is wait and see what happens. Whether I get a place or whether I change my mind before, I'll keep you all posted!