<p>Hi! I just joined this looking up information for study abroad. I am considering doing it this coming Spring semester, and my initial choice was London. This is specifically because of the West End Theatre, where I would try and get a small internship or something (I am trying very hard to make a career in the arts, and gain all the experience I can). I have spoken to friends who have studied abroad in other places and told me I should have other options because of the weather conditions and the expenses of living in London. A friend of mine brought up Edinburgh, saying that it is a small city and that she has heard wonderful things about it. I looked up a little bit about Edinburgh, and did find that it is a wonderful city, but also found things saying that it's mostly Americans, that they call it "America-burgh," etc. etc. I really just want to have an amazing experience, so I'm pretty tied up on what to do or where to go. I also thought about going to Ireland, but don't know much about there either. A semester is a long time to be in a completely different environment, so it's very hard for me to make a decision because of course I want to make the "right" one. I will admit I overthink and overstress about these things, but I can't help it! I'm VERY nervous about doing this, but I am also very very excited. I just want to make sure that I will leave the city wishing I could stay. So if anyone has any input on any cities that I named, or other ones that I could look into that would be absolutely amazing. Please be completely honest, detailed, and don't hold back! Any advice/tips/info will be VERY appreciated. Thank you so much!!</p>
<p>You don’t want to go to London because of the weather so you picked Ireland and Edinburgh instead! You might want to google the climate of Britain and Ireland in general. It’s wet, and the further north you go, the colder it is. I suggest you get some travel guide books out of your local library to help you decide about where to go. But if climate is a deal breaker, you should not go to any of the choices discussed above. To me it looks like you main criteria is to go somewhere English-speaking. If so, consider Australia because it’s mostly very warm (maybe not Melbourne or Tasmania in the winter, but anywhere else).</p>
<p>Are you looking at doing to specific study abroad program through your school? If so, the first thing you should do is go to your study abroad office and find out the details of the specific programs. I get a lot of PMs from people who say study abroad has ruined their GPA. This is usually because they did no research beforehand.</p>
<p>As to finding and internship, this may raise visa issues which you will need to check out with the British or Irish embassy. Possibly you will need some kind of work visa (even if it is unpaid).</p>
<p>The bad weather in England is drizzle, so you would need thin skin to deterred by this.
I was under the impression Edinburgh, being in Scotland, had worse weather than London.</p>
<p>We do get more rain in Edinburgh than they do in London. Our winters are also colder and more unpleasant. </p>
<p>However, I have never heard of anyone refer to Edinburgh as “America-burgh”. Yes, there are Americans (including me) studying at Edinburgh, but we’re not a majority by any means. Edinburgh is a multicultural city with people from all over the world. I think whoever you spoke to probably has no actual experience of the city themselves.</p>
<p>Edinburgh is a lovely place to study, and everyone I know who came here for a semester/year loved their time here. </p>
<p>Do whatever interests you and makes you happy, not what other people want.</p>