Should I go on this 5-month trip to Canada?

[Lukas WJ]

Hey, I am currently 19 years old and finished school this year in Germany.

My wish for a long time was to go to high school in Canada and live with a host family.
Now I got a possibility for it. But the costs are extremely high (15000€ for 5 months stay).

I work full time myself, but my parents would still have to give me money (which they would do) and I would have to give all my money.
So really, if I come back next year in July I would have a few hundred yours, no more.
For my parents this is also a big burden, but they would like to make it possible for me. But I would always have the thought that it would damage them financially a lot.

Means so this is all very tight and financially for us a big challenge.

Alternatives would be for example Work and Travel, because I really want to do something. This would be just financially much more favorable. There you dive of course but not so into the culture of Canada.
I'm worried about regretting it for the rest of my life if I don't do it, but I also think that I can regret putting such a burden on my parents.

How would you decide? Does anyone have any tips?

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Stargazer]

It's your life but surely you can't go to school in Canada just based on your being 19?

So what do you mean by going to school? And doing what?

Dan

 

[Fox]

Hey, I am currently 19 years old and finished school this year in Germany.

My wish for a long time was to go to high school in Canada and live with a host family.
Now I got a possibility for it. But the costs are extremely high (15000€ for 5 months stay).

I work full time myself, but my parents would still have to give me money (which they would do) and I would have to give all my money.
So really, if I come back next year in July I would have a few hundred yours, no more.
For my parents this is also a big burden, but they would like to make it possible for me. But I would always have the thought that it would damage them financially a lot.

Means so this is all very tight and financially for us a big challenge.

Alternatives would be for example Work and Travel, because I really want to do something. This would be just financially much more favorable. There you dive of course but not so into the culture of Canada.
I'm worried about regretting it for the rest of my life if I don't do it, but I also think that I can regret putting such a burden on my parents.

How would you decide? Does anyone have any tips?

I tried to go study in Vancouver for a semester when I was at University, but I was denied - so I get the feeling.

Maybe look at a cheaper alternative since the main objection here seems to be financial.

What about places like Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Poland, Hungary, Portugal, and Spain?

They will be a lot more affordable, you can learn a new language, and they are all fun locations with lots of cool locals and online entrepreneurs around.

 

[Lukas WJ]

It's your life but surely you can't go to school in Canada just based on your being 19?

So what do you mean by going to school? And doing what?

Dan

I am able and already have an offer from an organisation.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Mikkel]

If money is tight, you should have a very strong why for going to Canada. Is this just an experiance or will you be learning something very specific here? Is this the only place where you can learn this topic?

I did something something similar. I went to IB school in Denmark for a year, as im from the US. It was incredibly fun. Best time of my life. This made a lot of sense for me. I got paid to go to school, boarding was covered by my stipend, and I got my dual citizenship.

Even though it was the best time of my life, I don't think I would have gone if this costs me to much money.

 

[Antifragile]

How would you decide? Does anyone have any tips?

What a great question! How would I decide?

1. Expand your view from "should I go or should I not go" to widen your options. Like @Fox suggested, there are other countries that cost less. But more than that, what else could you be doing with the time and money instead? List as many ideas as possible, even silly ones like "buying something I like" to "reading 10 books while sitting at home".
2. Zoom in on the actual opportunity. Where in Canada are you visiting? I live here, it is a vast country and Vancouver is very different from Calgary and even more different from PEI. Zoom in on the location, what do you know about the family hosting you, what will you do for the full 5 months. How much do you expect to love every aspect of this? How life changing will this be for you at 19 years old? How will it shape you as a person going forward? Write it all out.
3. Prepare to be wrong. What if you land and turns out the "nice family" are doing this just for the money. How will that experience change you position? What if the school you are supposed to attend is full of people who don't welcome strangers and you have to slog it for this time period? What if you hate it?

Only you can make this decision. And there is no wrong choice at 19. Best of luck!

 

[Lukas WJ]

What a great question! How would I decide?

1. Expand your view from "should I go or should I not go" to widen your options. Like @Fox suggested, there are other countries that cost less. But more than that, what else could you be doing with the time and money instead? List as many ideas as possible, even silly ones like "buying something I like" to "reading 10 books while sitting at home".
2. Zoom in on the actual opportunity. Where in Canada are you visiting? I live here, it is a vast country and Vancouver is very different from Calgary and even more different from PEI. Zoom in on the location, what do you know about the family hosting you, what will you do for the full 5 months. How much do you expect to love every aspect of this? How life changing will this be for you at 19 years old? How will it shape you as a person going forward? Write it all out.
3. Prepare to be wrong. What if you land and turns out the "nice family" are doing this just for the money. How will that experience change you position? What if the school you are supposed to attend is full of people who don't welcome strangers and you have to slog it for this time period? What if you hate it?

Only you can make this decision. And there is no wrong choice at 19. Best of luck!

Hey, thanks for your answer it really helped me!

I would be in Mission, BC and i think its great because of the landscape and it is near to Vancouver.

But your right, its very expensive and im paying 15k just to visit a school.

Im still not sure about my decision, but i maybe have a solution.

There is also a possibity to go on a "short trip" that means that i would visit the school for like 4-6 weeks. Im not sure if it works but i think that would be a good middle way. Its cheaper and im more flexibel with my time. And i would see the day at a high school but also can make some other things in that time that bring me more.

What do you think about it? (I know that nobody can make this decision for me but it feels nice to talk with someon about my thoughts )

Edit: I now wrote about 4 pages in handwriting full of my thoughts. So thanks for that tip it really helped me clean my mind!)

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[BizyDad]

I'm worried about regretting it for the rest of my life if I don't do it

This is a ridiculous worry. You have the rest of your life to make a trip to Canada happen. You can build a business that supports yourself, maybe helps your parents if you wish to, and allows you to travel the world.

Decisions you make in life can make achieving dreams more difficult, but I can think of very little that would inhibit a successful person from being able to travel the world.

Maybe you go now, maybe you put it off. That's up to you. But this particular worry is "easily" overcome.

 

[Antifragile]

What do you think about it? (I know that nobody can make this decision for me but it feels nice to talk with someon about my thoughts )

I know for a fact that at 19 having opportunity to live in another country, being exposed to a different culture, language and lifestyle is a great asset. I left my family home at 17 and never came back. Who I am is defined by my experiences, more is better.

Yet based on what you described, it sounds like a serious financial hit to your parents. I don't like that. I think you can get 80% of the "experience" through other means (or at another time) without losing anything significant. There is value in having a good start in life. That money may be a ticket to a lifetime of achievements if invested in you vs spent on an experience of living in Mission.

What would I do? I'd focus on personal growth (learn more, do more, earn more). And as soon as I have some way to build my dreams without harming anyone (especially my family, financially), that is when I'd travel and experience what the world has to offer.

Lastly, I am older. I've travelled on a budget as a young adult and later travelled without a budget. I love being free to stay in any hotel anywhere in the world at any time and knowing it has no impact on my financial well being. The fastest way to get there is to build a business (and create wealth). You are 19, go after wealth then travel on your own terms That's what I think.

 

[Choate]

I am from the US and when I was 20, I studied abroad in Germany (Universitat Kassel) for 2 months during winter semester. I was behind on courses and wasn't going to graduate on time so this was a way to catch up and study abroad. It was 100% worth it.

I didn't have any money. Besides working part time on weekends for $10/hour, I funded it by going to the casino with my gambler cousin who would throw me notes to play. Walked away with a few hundred a few times and it started to add up.

Money is not an issue at your age. You work full time, you have supportive parents. This trip would be an investment in yourself.

But take it or not, there will be more opportunities to travel. If it doesn't feel right for you right now, it is ok to hold off.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Lukas WJ]

I know for a fact that at 19 having opportunity to live in another country, being exposed to a different culture, language and lifestyle is a great asset. I left my family home at 17 and never came back. Who I am is defined by my experiences, more is better.

Yet based on what you described, it sounds like a serious financial hit to your parents. I don't like that. I think you can get 80% of the "experience" through other means (or at another time) without losing anything significant. There is value in having a good start in life. That money may be a ticket to a lifetime of achievements if invested in you vs spent on an experience of living in Mission.

What would I do? I'd focus on personal growth (learn more, do more, earn more). And as soon as I have some way to build my dreams without harming anyone (especially my family, financially), that is when I'd travel and experience what the world has to offer.

Lastly, I am older. I've travelled on a budget as a young adult and later travelled without a budget. I love being free to stay in any hotel anywhere in the world at any time and knowing it has no impact on my financial well being. The fastest way to get there is to build a business (and create wealth). You are 19, go after wealth then travel on your own terms That's what I think.

Wow thank you! It really helped me!
I think i will make a shorter travel on a budget (Like Work And Travel) or going to the USA as an Au Pair for a few months instead of the High School Thing in Canada.
Its more in my budget and i have more time to focus on my ecommerce stores.

Thanks again for sharing your experience