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An American in Paris

Name: Brian Cleveland
Age: 23
What he did: Traveled Europe after graduating from college
Brian’s story: I have yet to meet a person who studied abroad who didn’t have a great time. But for those of you who, like me, don’t manage to work it into your college schedule, fear not. You can still travel abroad. That means all the fun, none of the classes. I had always wanted to travel to Europe for a month after I graduated from college, before I had a job, a family or any other serious commitments. But a summer internship forced me to postpone the trip until this past September, after my internship was over. This actually worked better, because I missed the summer crowds and was able to travel with a few friends who had also had summer internships. Waiting to go also allowed me to save money for the trip. (Trust me, this is a vital part of the planning process.) We bought the plane tickets, a Europass to ride the rails and stayed in hostels as we trekked around six countries in one month.
We had a great time, and I saw and experienced things I had only seen in textbooks or heard about. And while I’m not sure that I’m a forever-changed person, I do have some really great memories. But it wasn’t always easy. There were frustrations, and it’s difficult to put yourself into a completely different culture, especially in countries in which English is not widely spoken. I was incredibly grateful when I returned to the United States to be able to do something as simple as read and understand a menu at a restaurant. Studying or being abroad is about more than just learning, though. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s easy for people to never challenge themselves, to only do things they’re good at or with which they’re comfortable. These people stick with what they know and never try new things or meet new people. These are also the people who never really grow to fully realize what they’re capable of doing.

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