Studying abroad is something students dream about doing, but rarely get the change to do. Even fewer are the students that get to travel to these exotic places just to visit. Some are lucky to get their internships in other countries, going to the places they dream of working full time one day.

Students at Auburn University can have the chance to do some of these things if their parents have deep pockets or if the student has the foresight to start saving themselves. Although the cost of a semester abroad is almost the same as a semester at Auburn, the cost of the round-trip flight, living expenses, extra weekend field trips and spending money add up.

Becky Mercer, a student at Auburn University who studied abroad last summer, said, “The cost is high, but it’s worth it. I wouldn’t trade my experience in Italy for anything.”

Mercer also said that it was one of the highlights of her college career. She loves Italy and wants to go back as soon as she gets the opportunity.

Although it is a great experience for the students who study abroad, the students who are getting work experience are gaining invaluable knowledge to take with them into the work force.

But the cost of living in another country for these students can add up as well. And for those students going abroad to work, they have to find a place to live which will make up almost half of their bill.

Emma Keller, a student at Auburn University going to work in Rome this summer, said, “I am looking for a place to live, but I haven’t found anything yet.

“I would love to find a cute studio apartment that I could decorate, but there is nothing within my price range available.”

Keller also says the price of living is very high in Rome. She hopes she can find a host family she can stay with while she is there. That would cut out most of her housing expenses and help out a lot with her bank account balance.

Regardless of the costs students will go to these exotic or historic places. There is something that draws them to the unknown, something mysterious and romantic they cannot resist.

People fall in love with a lot of things. They fall in love with people they will spend the rest of their life with. They fall in love with a sweater at a store and spend an absurd amount of money to own it.

But people also fall in love with places in a way like nothing else. Once they fall for this place they leave a piece of their heart there, only to be complete again when they return.