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.
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