On Februray 14th, 2003, I attended the largest peace rally ever held in Melbourne, Australia. Surrounded by over 100,000 Australians, I felt like more than just a tourist, but a part of the community. I spent six months in Australia this past winter on a study abroad exchange program between the University of Michigan and the University of Melbourne. My experience went well beyond just attending classes in another country; it opened my eyes to the world outside U.S. borders and gave me a true sense of life halfway around the globe.

Melbourne is just one of over 80 locations offered for studying abroad though the University's Office of International Programs. Each year more and more students are taking the opportunity to spend a semester or more studying abroad. OIP Director Carol Dickerman says that while sophomore and junior years are the most popular times to head off, students are eligible to go abroad as soon as they've completed freshman year. "I'd love students to begin to think about studying abroad the minute they hit campus," Dickerman says. If like many incoming freshman, you had other concerns racking your brain your first couple of years on campus - majors, football games and happy hours, surely - you can still explore your options and most likely find a program that fits your schedule.

While Florence, Italy and London are the most popular study abroad destinations for University students, many, more obscure, locations are also alternative options. LSA junior Matt Groves is planning on studying in Aix, France, because he's "heard good things" about the small French town, while fellow LSA junior R.J. DeLong will be going to Cape Town, South Africa, in the winter, the hometown of one of his friends who told him it was "unbelievable."

The OIP's variety of programs cater to different goals and abilities unique to different students. Language intensive programs are available in countries like France and Spain where classes are taught in the native language. LSA senior Frannie Laks, who spent last winter in Prague, Czech Republic, found her classes were easier than here at Michigan but that she "learned different things outside the classroom."

Adam Rosenwasser, an LSA senior, spent this past school year split between Florence, Italy and Budapest, Hungary. An Ann Arbor native, Rosenwasser says he enjoyed getting into a new routine and joining a new community in a foreign city: "Getting up every morning and taking the bus through Budapest was an incredible experience."

Rosenwasser's experience is just one example of how a study abroad experience extends beyond the classroom. As a member of a new community, both academically and geographically, you're given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to live and study abroad for an extended period of time and become more than just your average tourist. Your new home can also become your base for setting off and exploring other nearby countries. Laks said one aspect she liked about living in Europe was "having easy access to so many countries and cultures in such a small geographical area."

Of course, not everyone can take off for a semester at the drop of a hat. While studying abroad takes a lot of planning for any student, those with particularly demanding schedules or obligations outside of school might find it hard to leave Ann Arbor during the school year. Summer programs are a good alternative to spending an entire semester abroad and are a way to still experience life overseas without missing a semester at Michigan.

Besides time, money is another factor that influences students' decision to study abroad. If you go through a Michigan sponsored program, you will either pay normal Michigan tuition, or pay your host university directly (which in some cases can actually be cheaper for those out-of staters). Financial Aid recipients can use their assistance for any Michigan program and scholarships are available. According to Dickerman, the OIP office awarded over $400,000 last year in scholarships for students studying abroad.

For those who are willing to do the planning and are ready to discover a new part of the world, studying abroad can be an invaluable experience. Students can gain both personal and life skills while adjusting to life in a new country. Upon returning to Ann Arbor, some students have a new outlook on the world. Laks said she returned to Michigan having developed some skills that changed her perspective on life. "Studying abroad made me more independent. You get yourself stuck in some sticky situations that you have to figure your way out of."

Rosenwasser says his college experience would not have been complete if he hadn't spent his time abroad and encourages everyone who can, to go for it. "If you're not planning on studying abroad, you're doing the wrong thing."