<p>My son wants a career at the state department and his first summer abroad program was spent with kids “on vacation”. He, however, was determined to gain his fluency in the language and ultimately ended up with a scholarship for a fall semester abroad. Although, his college made the initial arrangements, he still had to get each ‘abroad’ class approved by this home professors (in order to obtain credit), he took the classes in the language he was studying, and then had to navigate the real world in the other country by obtaining a local bank account, pay for his rent, then to learn how to cook his meals, etc. The entire study abroad was a major life learning experience. He traveled every weekend. And had 3 opportunities for an internship before he returned home. He made the most out of the opportunity.</p>