The Friendliest Cities to Study Abroad In

Collected from over 16,000 reviews on Abroad101, we looked at how many local friends our reviewers said they made in their time abroad, and if they intended to stay in touch once they returned home. Based on that, the following are what we deemed the friendliest cities!

#1)  Seoul, South Korea

Night skyline of Seoul, South Korea, the top-ranked city for making local friends while studying abroad, known for its dynamic culture and warm hospitality.

With 80,000 fans at this country’s K-Pop mega-star’s concert, chances are you’d likely gain a new friend or two…or hundreds. As a former ESL teacher in Korea, I was not surprised when Seoul topped our list of the most friendliest cities to study abroad. Korea is known for both their warm hospitality…and their love of foreigners. This bodes well for the increasing number of students venturing to this dynamic and innovative country looking to befriend the locals for their up-to-date style trends and spicy taste buds, allowing them to truly get to know this Seoul-ful city. Continue reading

The Top 10 Most Livable Cities of 2012

Want to live like a local where ever you go?  16,000 students on Abroad101 ranked destinations based on how easily they could integrate into daily life.  Will Cox gives us the run down on the list below for the world’s most welcoming study abroad cities of 2012; you’ll be sure to get acclimated in no time!

1. Melbourne, Australia


With a mix of big city culture and small town pleasantries, the second largest city in Australia provides easily accessible routes into all things uniquely Australian. From Australian rules football to Aboriginal music and dance, there are constant opportunities to live the life down-under.

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The London School of Economics- Rich & Rigorous!

Want to study abroad in an academically rigorous and culturally rich program?  The London School of Economics is for you!  Receiving high marks in both academics and culture, with a 4.3/5 star rating overall on Abroad101, this reputable program is not to be missed!

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Going Undercover While Studying Abroad

Brought to you by Abroad101’s fashion aficionado, Will Cox.

They see you. You can’t hide. They know who you are.  You are a sophomore in high school traveling Europe with your family and everyone around you knows… you are a TOURIST.  First there is your mother, power walking along in her Goretex pants, swishing more than Michael Jordan in the finals.  Then there is your little brother, who insisted on arriving upon European soil stomping in Air Force Ones.  Finally there is your father, strapped with his ultra-practical fanny pack synched just loose enough not to separate his legs from his torso.  For you, the travel-lover in training who just wanted to pass for a local, it was pure torture.

Fanny packs are retro, but not rad.

Fear not however.  Today, five years later, you are returning to Europe alone; a college Junior studying abroad.  Equipped with the following fashion tips, you can get a head start on your transformation, allowing an entire semester to look the part and play out your fantasy of life as a true European.

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Where to Study Abroad if You’re a Vegetarian

Vagabonding vegetarians beware: maintaining your veg-centric lifestyle while Studying Abroad will be a challenge.  But not to fear, you got this.  No one ever said using your diet to save the planet was easy!  To help you stay on course, we’ve compiled a list of study abroad destinations that we think are very vegetarian friendly.

India

Untitled by Pierre Turtaut (pierreturtaut) on 500px.com

With the world’s largest vegetarian population, this South Asian nation is a no brainer for students looking to chomp on veggies and paneer all semester.  In fact, we’d go so far as to say that if you enjoy meat, India might not be the destination for you.   I mean c’mon, their cows are holy!

 

Denmark

Nyhaven Canal Copenhagen by Chase Lindberg (chaselindberg) on 500px.com

Danes are known for their progressive thinking, so it’s no surprise that vegetarian options abound in this place that once held the title for “Happiest Country in World.”  We even hear their vegetable stands run on the honor system!  So don’t worry, be “Hygge,” and refer to this excellent resource from DIS on Danish vegetarian vocab.

 

Israel

Falafel today! by Laurence Penne (lovelyday3) on 500px.com

In keeping Kosher, it seems Israel would be a solid choice for students with diverse dietary needs.  You don’t have to worry about pork or shellfish, and many establishments won’t combine milk and meat.  Besides that, hummus and cucumbers are served with virtually every meal, and Falafels grow on trees.  Now that’s Israeli nice!

 

Taiwan

Spirited Away by Andy Beirne (DirectPositive) on 500px.com

Once you know what to look for, this subtropical land can be a Taiwan-derful place for vegetarians.  The majority of the country is Taoist or Buddhist, which means meat-free meals are understood and available.  Visit restaurants with the red and yellow Chinese characters 素食 (sùshí) which means vegetarian, and eat your herbivore heart out.

 

The United Kingdom

Tate Couple by Matthew Dartford (Mushroomgodmat) on 500px.com

Hold the Bangers & Mash and bring on the Bhindi Masala!  Perhaps not appreciated for it’s native food, the UK has some excellent ethnic entrees for vegetarians.  What’s more, the food labels are in English and the pubs serve veggie burgers!  What more can a tree-hugging globe trotter ask for?!

The act of studying abroad and being a vegetarian can sometimes feel like they are competing opposites- to be a great study abroad student takes flexibility and adaptability.  To be a great vegetarian takes determination and diligence.  But the two can coexist, you can still be respectful towards your host country’s culture, while also staying true to your own veggie values system.  To make your life easier, consider studying in one of the above countries and check out Happy Cow for an online directory of vegetarian restaurants around the world.  The International Vegetarian Union is another great resource that all traveling vegetarians can utilize.

Bon voyage veg-heads!