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Don't be afraid to branch out. At Maryland, you know where people similar to yourself tend to hang out so many people surround themselves with like-minded individuals. That absolutely wasn't the case for me in Hong Kong so I ended up spending time with people I had little to nothing in common with other than we liked to explore and have fun.

"Studying abroad is an experience you will never forget, one that is unique to you and how you decide to live it. It's learning outside the classroom, where class is probably the only normal thing you experience on a regular basis."

"My teachers treated me like old friends, my host family treated me like family, and I made friends that I still connect with and would love to see in the future."

"I became more independent and self reliant and learned how to adapt to different cultures and different people. It gave me a different perspective on how others may view my own culture as well."

"There are so many chances to make friends and get connected with the programs the school offers. I constantly have a friend to travel around Sydney with, and honestly, it makes me feel so much safer knowing I have a buddy with me - plus you make such great memories to reminisce on later!"

"After you spend six weeks not speaking English hardly at all, it's actually hard to adjust back! But more than just the basics of language, because of being disabled I really had to learn to communicate in a more nuanced way in Spanish so I could communicate what I needed to do and not do."