TOP 10 REASONS ESP ROCKS Pineda Ma. Lourdes 彭夢錦 經濟 99 Personal experiences from doing an Exchange Student Program at Johannes Kepler Universität, Linz, Austria

You will learn how to cook Most international students are curious to know how food from different countries taste. Exchange students usually talk about each others’ food cultures. Won’t it be nice to have something to share and show?

You will take a lot of pictures Get your camera ready for you will be taking a lot of memorable pictures of places, food, people you will see for the first time.

You are special, and you will realize it No matter which country you come from, how big or small your eyes are, how dark or pale your skin is, how tall or short you are; in fact those characteristics which make you who you are will make you special. How soon or late you find out, ESP will make it happen.

Eat exotic, special food Horse meat, rabbit meat, kangaroo meat, goat cheese, etc., Do you like trying new, exotic, different kinds of food? Going abroad is the right choice for you.

Lose or gain weight. Choose one. For reasons many exchange students try to find, or care to admit, living in a different country for 6 months will make you either lose or gain weight. And it can only be one of those (at least for most of us).

Learn foreign languages You’re in a foreign country, people speak in a different language. How do you make the most out of it?

Learn how to socialize What are you waiting for? Party, celebrate, make friends!

Learn how to budget When you live independently from your parents, that’s when you learn, “every cent counts”.

Say “CHEERS!” Can you think of other reason why they call it ‘exchange student program’? When socializing with other international exchange students, not only you exchange your cell numbers, and Facebook accounts, you also exchange how you say “Cheers” in your language.

Gain confidence! We don’t know the scientific explanation to this. Exchange student programs make us feel more proud and confident of ourselves.