Hi!
Last year I studied abroad in California and it was absolutely incredible. You meet so many amazing people, you experience what it's like to live somewhere else, you can try new things, see different cultures. It's one of the most unique opportunities you'll ever get and definitely the best decision I made through university.
I've never talked to anyone who hasn't enjoyed studying abroad, but you still need to be sensible about it. Will you have enough money, does the country/university appeal to you, do you speak the language, and even small things like will you like the local food/cuisine can all affect you. As alcibiade said, many people experience culture shock, it's a pretty common thing but it's natural, you're living somewhere completely different so it just takes time to get used to it.
If you decide to study abroad, really look into it and pick a place you really want to visit, there are so many places to choose from. As for me, California offered it all: Great university, beautiful weather, amazing opportunities, lots of places to see and visit, lots to do outdoors, etc.
I've got quite a lot of experience about studying abroad, so please let me know if we can help in any way!
Scott
Undergraduate Rep
Aeronautical Engineering - School of Engineering