About the OP - I can see how moving to another country is appealing, but moving just because you hate your town is a bit silly. The midwest IS boring and I think just about everyone knows that, but is will be far less of a hassle for you if you move to one of the coasts. First, you're already a citizen, so you don't have to worry about anything but state residency, which is MUCH easier. This also includes the fact that you're already in the country, so you don't have to save money to fly and you don't have to go through customs and whatnot. Secondly, it is soooooooooooooooooooo expensive over there because our exchange rate is le crap, as other people have mentioned. If you want to live some place more interesting, move closer to a larger city (on a coast, obviously, since you're already near Chicago). Living IN a city will be more expensive, which is why I suggest this. On the east coast you have Philly, Boston, NY, and Washington D.C. and on the west coast you have LA, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland. Even some of the larger cities in the south, like Atlanta and some of the cities in Texas that I've been to are "interesting". But the novelty will wear off, because then you realize most cities are exactly the same, except the weather and landscape will be a bit different depending on where you go. And I know you're thinking about going to school there, but considering how much of a price difference there is between in state and out of state tuition (which at my school is basically double the amount), imagine how much more it is going to be out of country, especially with the exchange rate. Also, getting a job while you're not even in the country sounds pretty scary.
Basically, I think you really need to try something in the U.S. first. I know it sucks, I live here too, but deal with it. I personally am considering a move out of country, but this probably won't happen in the next 10 years, because, well, I need a real job first to actually have money to save. And this is a large country! You've got a shot at being happier somewhere that isn't Illinois!