We all need a break from our own town or school every once in a while and sometimes may not want to wait until we actually go home. It can get a tad boring when you go to a school that isn’t inside of a big city and rather in the middle of nowhere. People toss around this term a lot for most small liberal arts colleges and yes it’s probably true most of the time, but wherever you are there has to be something interesting near, even if it’s two hours away.

Being in upstate New York, my friend and I decided to go to Canada to celebrate my birthday. And it was fun, really fun. We didn't have much of a plan, but we figured we'd drive to Canada, go into bars and clubs throughout the night and look at Niagara Falls. We did all of those things but we also met some great people along the way.

The trip would’ve been different if we didn’t meet eight Canadian guys who showed us around the downtown area of Niagara Falls. But that’s the beauty of the trip right? To be spontaneous. Go to a place you’ve never been before and see the sights. Who knows, you might get a free shot at a bar. You might meet people from a different country who make fun of your “accent.” Maybe you’ll go to a casino at 3:30 a.m., or drink a pitcher of beer in an arcade. How bout dancing with strangers or seeing a great landmark?

It was so refreshing to be in another place, especially another country. Where no one knows you, and where the drinking age happens to be 19. Getting away from your small school and small town or even your big city and seeing something new is an experience that everyone should have. We shouldn’t be limited to the experiences we have at school. Even if you’re just visiting a friend who goes to a different college, or driving 30 minutes away, there are things out there. And now’s the time to see them!