• Erika Roberts moved to Germany to study, partly because she didn't enjoy college in the US. • She attends medical school in Munich and plans to become a doctor. • The 27-year-old pays the equivalent of $100 per semester for tuition.

This story is based on a conversation with Erika Roberts, a 27-year-old medical student from Philadelphia who is studying in Munich. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I was 16, I took part in a high school exchange program to Munich.

I loved everything about the city, especially the freedom that it gave to kids my age. Public transportation was safe and easily accessible, and I attended any cultural events that interested me.

I never expected to be living here a decade later.

Simple things in Munich were exciting for a teen

When I was

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