Bordeaux, France

There are so many misconceptions and clichés regarding the study abroad experience that it was difficult to know what to expect. For my study abroad experience, a couple months before the application deadlines, I had my choices narrowed down to three different locations: France, China, or Prague. China had to be ruled out due to logistical problems; however, deciding between the remaining two was extremely difficult for me - in the end I applied to both so that I could delay my decision a couple months. Ultimately I chose Bordeaux, France. At the beginning of orientation, the first day we were together, we signed a language pledge – a pledge that everyone traveling on a Middlebury Study Abroad Program is expected to sign and uphold. In signing this, we promise to speak the language that we came here to study, using as little English as possible. This pledge includes interactions in the city, during our courses at the university (all of which are in French), with our host families, and of course with the other people on the program. Although annoying and frustrating at times, especially at the beginning, I believe that this pledge is what has helped me the most in improving my French and making me feel comfortable here. The language barriers are still there and we still Anglicize phrases; however, being forced to speak the language has helped everyone in the group improve their ability to express their thoughts and feelings in French. It has helped us feel more comfortable speaking and interacting with people here and adapting to the environment, essential steps in truly experiencing the culture and feeling like part of the society. The people who I interact with are always patient and genuinely happy that I am trying to speak their language. Their friendliness and openness is always a rewarding experience.

Mary, 20, Bordeaux

Perugia, Italia

Applying to study abroad, for me, was a no-brainer. Even picking my country, Italy, wasn’t too difficult. However, when the time came to choose between spending the semester in Rome or Perugia, I had a difficult decision to make. On the one hand, in Roma, I could choose to surround myself comfortably with English-speaking people in one of the most tourist-populated areas of Italy. Otherwise, I could dive right in and immerse myself into the Italian language and culture in Perugia, a city somewhat off the beaten track. Now, a month-and-a-half into my study abroad experience, I am certain that opting for the latter was absolutely the best choice I could’ve made.
I came to Italy despite not knowing any of the language beforehand, which was simultaneously terrifying and gratifying. Learning Italian, thanks to the intensive instruction provided by my host institution, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my time here thus far. In a matter of days I was able to complete simple exchanges with waiters and store employees and even pick up on bits and pieces of casual conversation. Adjusting to the culture thus became an easier process than I nauseously anticipated.
Here, in Perugia, I’ve been able to live in an authentic Italian city with ample time (guaranteed three-day weekends) to see the popular attractions in Pompeii, Firenze, Cinque Terre, and even other countries in Europe somewhat cheaply. My opportunities here are essentially boundless. Should anyone ask my opinion, I would say to not let language be a deterrent in choosing where to study abroad. Look at the language (and any other trying experience abroad) as an opportunity to learn, and not as a chore.


Photo&writing by Connor, 20, Perugia

A Bit of Perspective

     One of the major goals of a collegiate education is to introduce students to themselves and who they want to become. However, so many American students who attend college, whether it is a small school or a large scale university, only learn to recognize themselves in one context. It is easy to determine personal identity in a location where the social structure is rigid and predictable, and you can play the same part for your entire education. The challenge comes when you are forced out of your comfort zone and thrown into an entirely new environment. It is in that moment, when you are forced to truly become the version of yourself that you want others to see.

     In my personal experience, there is no more dramatic way to experience this than by traveling abroad. You are forced to recognize that you are malleable, that you will not play the same part your entire life, and the way that people treat you is entirely subjective to your location. For example, I am inherently invisible at my American college. I travelled abroad last semester, and suddenly it was as though I really and truly existed for the first time. I drew attention and was forced to decide how to conduct myself. In a new location, you are compelled to consider your moral standards and your place in society. Essentially, when you are faced with a different structure, you have to decide how much of the act that you put on every day is truly a reflection of who you are, and how much of it is just to fit in. With this knowledge, you introduce yourself to who you are underneath it all. There is no pressure to be anyone in particular, no pressure to play your role, simply space and time to decide who you want to become. I honestly believe that in today's society this is an essential part of becoming a functional adult.  American young people are so often stuck in the collegiate world of cliques and popularity contests. Once you realize that it is all trivial and entirely subjective, you will be able to focus on the things that really matter without worrying. With a cemented knowledge of who you are and how to conduct yourself across a wide range of circumstances, you will be of inestimable value in the business world, as well as your personal relationships.

Warsaw, Poland

Every Day in Poland Brings More Adventures

Summer at home, working, flew by faster than I could handle - I went to work, came home, went out locally or maybe for a nearby hike, then went to bed, work, and repeated this daily. Summer turned to fall, fall to winter, winter to spring, and then it was summer again. Yet, mentally, I still felt as though I was stuck in the previous summer, and I hard a hard time comprehending that it was already one year later. I was saving money this whole time because I knew I needed to leave, to travel, to experience more of what the world had to offer once again.. as my last journey was three years ago. My company closed, and it was the perfect opportunity to once again follow my dreams, and I did. I bought a ticket to Poland... and left. Everyday here is the most amazing adventure that I could ask for. I feel as though time is no longer flying, nor that I am stuck, but that I am slowly, gracefully, and spontaneously moving forward - living on the edge, living one day at a time with no idea what the next day will bring, living life the only way it should be experienced - doing the things we tell ourselves we cannot. Forgetting routine, leaving worries and stress and problems behind. Going and doing whatever I feel like, whenever I want to. No boundaries. Nothing stopping you. No fears. I spend my mornings in different cafes, sipping on different coffees and teas, with my best friend Ewa Klemencja. I spend my afternoons in ancient towns and cities, not only being lucky enough to observe different cultures, but to be emerged as a part of the cultures - French, Polish, German, etc. making many new and exciting friendships. To not know where tomorrow will bring me - to the south of Poland? To my family's home village? To Prague? Hungary? Germany? Croatia? Paris? Finland? Everyday is a new adventure, a new life lesson, new discoveries, a new surprise. This is the life I am living, and that I will continue to live. Nothing beats traveling. No, nothing beats exploring different countries, which encourages you to grow, learn, and explore within yourself So travel! Find yourself!

~ Sylvia Marie (25) 
Poland

Europe Re-Imagined

     When you picture Europe, what do you see? If you're like most people, you probably see the same few cities, a bit of London, some Rome, a dash of Paris.. but what about the rest of the continent? What about the breathtaking beauty of the cities to which no one thinks to travel? Why not take a chance on Wroclaw, Poland, voted the European Capital of Culture for 2016? Or gaze on the architectural wonder of Brno in the Czech Republic? Why not take a chance, be unique, and have the experience of a lifetime traveling Central Europe's hidden gems? Don't follow someone else's footsteps when you have the chance to make your own.

     Spearheaded by a few revolutionary Study Abroad leaders including TravelnStudy, this outward movement away from the traditional European exploration of a few select cities is transforming the way students travel. No longer are we limited to tourist hotspots where the streets are clogged and every other person is a foreigner. As students seeking to immerse ourselves in a different culture, we now have the opportunity to forge our own paths in less-traveled cities around the world. 

     An excellent and unique example of this expansion is Wroclaw, Poland. The often ignored sibling of Krakow, Wroclaw boasts a more intimate culture than that of the crowded Krakow in which tourism is less prevalent, and the chance of meeting locals is much higher. While I do not intend to knock the merits of Krakow, the benefits to be reaped from immersion in an entirely Polish society are inestimable. As a student, the primary goal is to learn, and what better way to learn than from the locals? Programs like TravelnStudy, which offers engagement in Wroclaw's intimate society through volunteering at festivals and events, and even posts teaching English, allow us to connect on an intimate level with a city of great undiscovered beauty. There is something to be said for exploring a city's historical sights without a thousand other people at your back, pushing you along to get their thirty second view. I would argue that a less popular city offers a perfect alternative for students as it allows a deep engagement with language and culture, while still offering the opportunity of a visit to the hustle and bustle of the major sites. 

     Once you open up to the prospect of forging a new path, a host of new possibilities becomes apparent. For instance, we all know of the legendary beauty of Prague, but have you even heard of Brno? This lesser known, second largest Czech city is an architectural marvel largely that has been overlooked in the shadow of Prague. Equally vibrant in culture and attractions, Brno is an exquisite opportunity to engage with the Czech people on a level that is largely impossible for a tourist in Prague. TravelnStudy and other programs allow us this precious opportunity to engage in, and become a part of a foreign society, instead of existing on the surface of a city. 

     The same applies with Dresden, one of Germany's lesser travelled cities, whose popularity pales in comparison to that of Berlin. However, once again, as in so many cases around the world, the greatest treasures are those that remain largely undiscovered. As it is not a major tourist attraction, Dresden has retained some of its rural charms in both affordability and culture. As Berlin's prices have sky rocketed, Dresden has remained a fascinating and manageable alternative. With its chaotic history, this Eastern German city is perfect for historians and those seeking to explore German culture with a new level of familiarity and intimacy. As with many other cities in Central Europe, TravelnStudy provides programs through Dresden, giving students this essential opportunity to connect with their destination. 

When it really comes down to it, when you are a student abroad, you can either exist as a foreigner and a tourist in a booming city upon which you will have little impact, or you can delve into the culture of a more intimate setting and become a part of the landscape, molding and changing yourself as you impact your surroundings. In the end, the choice is always yours. 
~Cathryn

*All of this has been written with a nod to this article,< http://travel.cnn.com/bored-london-and-paris-try-new-london-and-paris-589101 > The New London, Paris and Rome, by the talented Barry Neild for CNN Travel. 

Inspiration for the Future

"Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage, and I promise you something great will come of it"

After returning from studying abroad, the one thing that everyone seems to agree upon is that you view your home through an entirely new lens. The same may happen with your entire future. Have you ever felt that your future has been predetermined? That you have set out on a certain course from childhood, and by now there is little you can do to change it? I would argue that the one thing you are guaranteed to gain from studying abroad is a new perspective. You are not trapped in one course of life. All you need is a little bravery, and maybe a nudge in the right direction. By studying abroad, you will see a world that you maybe never knew was really out there. Maybe you don't have to graduate college and go straight into a 9-5 job for the next twenty years. Maybe you have options. Maybe you could travel the world for a few years, working where you can and living off of what you can carry with you. Does that sound crazy? Out of the ordinary? Well, maybe it is. But wouldn't life be boring if we all chose to be ordinary? I say that once you strike out on your own and blaze a new trail in your life, a thousand others will suddenly open up. There is no perfect solution to life, no perfect path you have to follow. If you follow your heart to wherever the spirit of adventure leads you, maybe true happiness will follow.

Have a look at this website if you've already been abroad and are looking for more ways to make your life mobile. It gave me some hope and a smile. http://twenty-somethingtravel.com/2012/01/travel-twenties-worrying-money/