Studying abroad is something that not everyone gets the opportunity to do, and when this opportunity was presented to me, my parents practically insisted that I take it. I've traveled abroad before, but those were mostly for tourism; studying abroad is a whole other animal.

My parents firmly believe in being a global citizen and not just an American who is ignorant to the rest of the world. They believe that by actually traveling and seeing the world will lead to one becoming more open-minded, and I know that's true. I've traveled overseas to Europe twice before, and each time was a valuable experience I cherish. Those trips, however, were mainly walking tours and sight-seeing for a couple weeks whereas my next traveling adventure is a five-week study where I will actually be attending classes and working on assignments for school credit. This aspect changes the atmosphere of the travel, and it also changes my expectations.

The difference is that I don't expect to simply be a tourist who is only there to see the sights and then go home. I expect to actually participate in the way of life in another country and to learn about its culture and society in a much for intimate way by being fully immersed in it. A guided tour through a city or museum only teaches you so much, but actually being immersed in another way of life not only teaches you a lot about yourself and other people, but it forces you to really adapt and become a part of a whole different mindset.

It's one thing to pass through and simply tour the area and snap pictures, and it's another thing entirely to fall into step with the other citizens and view the world from their perspective. I feel that this experience will be vastly different from my sight-seeing tours- not that sight-seeing is totally off the itinerary. Seeing sights has its own benefits to offer. Sometimes, you can be gazing at world history set in stone such as the remnants of a war or architecture of a bygone era. Seeing a place like that with your own eyes makes it all feel a lot more real than it does from simply reading about it. It makes the world feel smaller and more intimate, and it can open your mind to being more empathetic to your fellow man even if they're from a much different walk of life than you.

I believe that if anyone has an opportunity to study abroad, they should absolutely take it if they can. Seeing the world is such a valuable life experience. Nothing can teach you compassion more than stepping outside your own comfort zone and interacting with new people in new places, and I truly believe that. I expect that my experiences while abroad will change me in some way- most likely for the better- and I want to bring back my passion for learning and all my newfound knowledge to share with my family, friends, classmates and community.