University of Florida (UF)

I had the best time of my life. If you ever get the chance to go, do it!! And don't worry about the money too much. The US is expensive, but you can better enjoy the money you spend than think about it all day. Travel tip: Miami!! And of course Orlando with all its parks.

Be careful when you take your plane ticket to go to Florida. If you need to stop over in Washington or Chicago, plan to spend at least two hours at the checking (nobody cares if you miss your plane to Jacksonville or Miami) . I have seen people forced to sleep at Washington airport because they had missed their plane and that the next one was in the morning!

Les États-Unis étaient, lors de mon séjour et toujours actuellement, dans un période anti-terrorisme. Il n'a pas donc pas été facile d'entrer au pays même en temps que canadienne. Il faut donc préparer son séjour bien à l'avance pour être sûr d'avoir le bon type de VISA.

To travel in the state, it is better to rent a car (if you don't have one). Otherwise, there is a travel agency in the university where you can have good price for flight tickets... Gainesville is well located bacause you can esely go to Miami and south Florida, to Louisiana... A good tip: in January, the weather is not as warm as in Miami!! So don't forget warm clothes!!

The International Center is a great place to get all the information you need. People there are very nice and helpful. Use your time off to travel around the city and accross the State. Florida has so many unique places to visit that it would be too sad to miss the opportunity to take full advantage of being there. Finally, University of Florida is among the best campuses in the US in terms of college sports: go to the Swamp (UF football stadium) or to the O'Connell Center (basketball, volleyball...) to watch the Gators playing for the national title every years! Go Gators!

My experience at UF was extremely fulfilling. I improved my English skills, I travelled around Florida and some other parts of the US (even though getting a cheap flight from Gainesville is quite difficult and you might have to go to Jacksonville or Orlando to get the best deals).The courses were very interesting and exciting.