FRESHMAN JOURNAL
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Overseas Study Eases Transition to College

By Christopher Lee, Harvard

"Vives para trabajar o trabajas para vivir?" was a response I received while drinking cafe con leche with a local at a public terrace in Alicante. It's meaning: "Do you live life for work, or do you work to live life?"

Spaniards find it strange that taking time off from school is gaining popularity in the States. I explain how America has a competitive culture, which causes some students to burn out after going through a rigorous phase in education. As a response, some universities such as Harvard encourage taking time off and experiencing something new.

By January of my senior year of high school, I already was loafing around. I put just enough effort to get by. In late April I realized I'd rather spend my summer traveling abroad than wasting it away in the Los Angeles suburb where I was raised. Sure, I would miss outings with my friends, but I yearned to absorb new cultures, leave everything American and get refreshed before transitioning into college.

So I went to Spain. I spent eight weeks studying Spanish at the University of Alicante and three weeks backpacking to the big cities in Spain, its northern Basque Region and through its Mediterranean coast. I even ventured out to Avignon (just in time to catch their film festival), bathed in the lake of Anncey, and topped Mont Blanc. My adventures continued from the French Alps into the Swiss ones, where I landed in Gruyere (home of the Gruyere cheese), Luzern (where I accidentally found their annual Jodlerfest) and Zurich (the host city for Eurocup 2008, which Spain won). I managed to squeeze in Tangier before I ran out of free days to travel. I suppose it was my modern version of the Grand Tour of Europe.

Living in a foreign country is extremely rewarding. Traveling as a tourist is completely different from living as an inhabitant. Instead of snapping pictures, I started to do what locals do. I go to this terrace daily either to do homework with a friend, to write or to satisfy my caffeine craze. Spain is a more conversational society, and many times small talk turns into long talks.

Interestingly, during any of these chats, I've never been asked which college I'll be attending. I wasn't even asked when I was interviewed for a job at Katagorri, a restaurant near the terrace where I make pintxos, which are a gourmet form of tapas from the Basque Country. The head chef just glanced at the resume that I put so much effort translating and just asked me questions. All of us, including the other chefs, waiters and lingering patrons, soon joined the conversation which lasted an hour.

Colleges and rankings don't interest them. Other things matter: where I'm from, culture comparisons and my opinion and understanding of everything Spanish.

Personality and character of each person really shows through with hand gestures and expressions. Quite honestly, I don't think much about college here in Spain unless I get emails for registration deadlines.

Now that I'm going back, I think I've become a different person. I genuinely recommend everyone to do something abroad if ever given the chance. You appreciate what it means to be an American, gain perspective of the world and yourself and come home with more memories and growth than I'm able to share within the limits of a column. I can only part to tell you that I am now stoked for school.

Advice on traveling abroad right after high school:

1. Europe is not expensive. Even with the harsh exchange, everything cost me a little more than $6,000: airfare was $1,300; tuition was $1,500; one month stay with a host family was $500; two months stay at an apartment was $700; and food, traveling and expenses made up for the rest.

2. If you plan to backpack, get a Eurorail pass (I bought 10 trips for three countries) and a good guidebook (I love Rick Steve's because he includes history, culture, and neat facts with the traditional guide). The cost of backpacking depends on your traveling habits and duration. My job helped cover the costs.

3. It's never too late to find a program. I registered and bought my plane tickets in the first week of May and left in June. Although, contacting your (potential) colleges' study abroad programs earlier would be very helpful. You can find information on language programs (should cost something) or volunteering programs (should cost nothing), and most of their web pages link to many other private programs.

4. Use third party study-abroad programs, such as CIEE, CEA, or CCCS, as a last resort because they charge you a premium. I found that CCCS merely registers its students at the University of Alicante, so I googled UA, and registered directly to the university's program at a quarter of the price. These companies are only useful to find universities or institutes with language programs.

5. Don't live in big cities unless you love metropolitan life. Don't worry, all European cities feel very different from American suburban-cities. My friends who studied in Barcelona paid proportionally more.