I'm just curious because I'm 20 years old and I've never traveled outside of the country. I'm in my third year of college right now and I feel like I need a break. I'm getting burned out from my classes and there's been a lot of construction concentrated in my area. I know construction is a part of driving and a part of life but it's been going on for like the year and a half. I've thought about taking some time off school and going alone to Italy. I've brought this up with my mom and she said "You can't just take your money and go to Europe now adays, it's not safe." I realize that traveling isn't always safe, especially after seeing the movie Taken with Liam Neeson. But it's like, I'm getting so burned out, tired of school, and tired of the world around me. I've been researching Italy's culture lately because of an assignment we have to do for our language and culture class. I wish my college had a travel abroad program but they don't. I think reading about their culture has made me more interested in Italy too. Plus I've been single for most of my life. It's like a dream of mine to go to Europe and hook up with some beautiful European woman. Lol at me being a fan of the mafia. Mafia II is like my favorite video game. But that's not why I would go there. Me being single isn't the only reason why I would go to Europe. You ignored my whole post prior to me mentioning I'm single. I get good grades bro.
Higher Education (University +) - 3 Answers
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1 :
well you seem to be afan of the mafia, so danger should be a problem, you'll love Italy! jkjk. You can do a travel abroad program thourgh a seperate orgaization, with a little googling and such, you'll find one. I know peopel who have done so. It isnt usually through the school.
2 :
Your mom has obviously never been out of the country either. Safety is a concern for travellers for the following reasons: -Tourists stand out, and are easy targets for pick pockets. If you mull around tourist sites and subways without securing your wallet, you run the risk of losing it. This applies in every country around the world. -If you go out clubbing at night, or go "exploring" without knowing what neighbourhoods you might be walking into, or get drunk and hit on a local guy's girlfriend or something, then you run the risk of being stabbed. You have nothing to blame but your own carelessness and stupidity in this case, since even locals can be stabbed for doing those things. They just know better. Once again, this applies in every country around the world. Movies like Hostel are fiction, plain and simple. Foreign cities aren't full of blood thirsty maniacs, rapists and robbers any more than your hometown is. If you're capable of using common sense to stay safe (which includes not dressing like a tourist, and living the way locals live--since you're planning on being there for a long period of time) the same way you do in your home city, then you will be fine. The real concern is financial. If you don't have tens of thousands of dollars saved up for this, then you'll probably have to try to get a job while you're living there to be able to keep going. It's important to always, always, always keep enough money for a plane ticket set aside. It's also important to never, ever, ever lose your passport because then you'll have a hell of a time dealing with the embassy to get back home. As far as your academics go, I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a break per se, but remember that the vast majority of people who leave school early never return. They get sucked into working, and don't want to spend the money to go back, and lose their motivation to undertake intense academics. You can overcome those obstacles if you set your mind to it, but just keep in mind that you will undoubtedly be confronted with the desire to say "screw school" once you get home from your adventure.
3 :
I was all for your plan until the last sentence. Unless you're going to Afghanistan or Iran, safety is a relative issue. Comparing traveling anywhere to a movie instead of real life is flat-out stupid Which makes me wonder about your grades. You don't mention them. Everyone gets "burned out" from classes. Get used to it. Real life awaits you, and it doesn't care if you want to take a break. I'm going to guess that "your money" is not money you've actually earned. If you have to ask others what to do with your life, you're sadly ill-equipped to deal with adulthood. If all you want to do is look for an excuse to quit studying because you can't handle pressure and feel that a horny stud like you who can't get laid in this country but fantasizes that a European woman would find you fascinating, then just take your inheritance and go. You're useless anyway. EDIT: I'm not your "bro", frat boy. And I understood your post perfectly.
