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Saturday, September 21, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
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
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
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.
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.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
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/
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/
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