Ge.

If you decide that you want to go O/S to get your PPL done, don't forget that there's an island down-under where the dollar is worth 50c US and the weather is great for GA flying.
I fly out of Bankstown (Sydney), the busiest airport in AUS and where there are many schools and strict procedures (radio/airspace).
There are also some great schools on the west coast of the island (Perth) as well as in the south-east (Melbourne area) and although you may have to do some extra flying / exams when you get home to convert, many AUS schools specialise in training o/s students, so you wouldn't be "looked down on" at all.
I know of a few blokes & girls that have done their PPL at the school I train at, and then flown home to England & Ireland with some quality training.

Cheers,
Scotty :)