Hey OP…I think you are gone, but if you come back…
no one can really answer your original question, if parents know better. Sure, we parents have more life experience and perspective. But you are you. You are different than your parents. Then the entire college choice is complicated by the fact the parents pay, so, for many/most parents, that means they want a say in the choice, so that they feel good about what they are paying for. It’s complex. Communication between students and parents is key. Hopefully rather than each of you saying “I know better”, you can talk to each other and communicate your needs and desires, and they can communicate theirs.
It kind of sounds like the plan has been made to go abroad the first year and then reconsider, which sounds good. You can experience all of those benefits your family is talking about, but aren’t locked in. It sounds from your original message as if some of your doubts are coming from that you know no one else doing this. That’s totally understandable. Or maybe you’re even getting negative opinions from your peers, because this option isn’t open to them, or never even crossed their mind. or maybe they are even jealous! What you are doing is different. It can be hard to do something different. That’s OK. It can also be incredibly rewarding. It sounds like you will have support from your parents for that part of it (the new experience of being abroad); I hope that you in time get support from your friends too.