"Dave Letterman's Top Ten Reasons to Study Abroad" By: Audie

10. 3 months living in Europe. Um... Hello? When else in your life can you drop everything and go live in a thousand year old building with people your age?

9. See everything you've ever dreamed about. Think of all those things you've seen in textbooks. Go see the Mona Lisa in Paris. Take a funny picture by the Leaning Tower in Pisa. See all those famous people in Westminster Abbey. Go see the Pyramids in Cairo!

8. You learn about yourself, without the help of your family and friends. Discover what you really do or don't like. Will you develop a passion that will stay with you for the rest of your life?

7. It is GREAT for your school and professional resume. Tons of workplaces these days need people who understand diversity and opportunity and who aren't afraid to see places on their own.

6. New friends. Sounds corny, but true. Very few people on this earth can relate to your on your experiences. Chances are "abbey-ians" went through the same thing, or something similar.

5. The Food. It's nothing like American cuisine. Taste a real pizza in Italy. Try a German beer. Try something on the menu that you can't even pronounce. The experiences with the dishes makes your trip memorable.

4. Gain self-confidence. You learn to ask for help. You trust your gut instincts. After 21 days of backpacking, you come back to the abbey with a "what can't I not do" attitude. It's an exhilarating feeling.

3. Connecting with your professors. They ALL have a passion for their jobs and for traveling. No teacher here won't go for a walk with you or have a glass of wine over dinner. You get to know your teachers and your teachers get to know you. Can you tell me right now what your Physics teacher's favorite movie is? Probably not.

2. Your parents will have a new respect for you. They'll see you as independent, dependable, courageous and see you as an adult when you step off that plane, if they haven't before. Showing your parents that you can do anything you set your mind to is a great feeling.

1. Terence Netter. (You'll understand when you get here).