I had the best time ever when I went to Germany with one of my best friends. My advise is to everyone who has the interest, money and the time for it: Go abroad and have some fun! Go on a 'språkresor' with some friends or alone or attend a 'séjour linguistique en Equateur'. You will meet new friends, learn another language and become more independent.
I went to Germany for 6 months and speak German a lot better than before I went. It was not good for my German that my best friend was with me, but we made a lot of German friends who helped us with improving our German. I'm back from the 'sprachreise' now for a month and I still miss it. I want to go back!!!