My life-changing European summer with the People to People program

by 2007 Student Ambassador Amanda Choo

This past summer, I went on a People to People program in Italy, France and Spain. The three weeks I spent on this program were easily one of the most educational experiences I've ever had. The trip offered exposure that was unlike a "normal" summer program. Although I was initially hesitant, I decided to take the risk and go anyway. It was a decision that I wouldn't regret!

Going on the program was a new experience for me, because it was be the first time I would be away from my parents for a long period and would have to be independent. Traveling with people I'd never seen or met before seemed unimaginable. It scared me; I didn't how they would react and how they would treat me but, once the trip started, I realized that everyone was just as nervous. When I first met my delegation, it seemed like everyone else already knew each other but the reality was that we barely knew each other.
My experience changed me. The exposure I got was remarkable. Interacting with the locals and learning about the history of the nations we visited in interesting ways was just one of the many highlights of the trip. The exhilarating feeling of abseiling off a castle in Assisi isn't an everyday opportunity.
Another highlight of my trip as a student ambassador was the home stay. My home-stay family, living in a town called PierreLatte in southern France, spoke almost no English. The communication barrier was something I thought would have made the home stay challenging, but it turned out to be a unique adventure－a way to be creative. We found ways to communicate, as my fellow student ambassador Melanie and I experienced daily life in France.
On this trip I made 34 awesome new friends. I learned a lot from them and I'll always remember the memories we shared. The trip helped me grow socially and mentally. I became more responsible during the trip as I realized that my parents won't always be with me and that I will have to take care of myself. I also learned tons of remarkable facts about European history. And, trust me, learning about the history of a place while you're actually there isn't the same as reading it from a textbook!

By the time this trip ended, school was just around the corner. When school started, the life-lessons I learnt from my exposure in Europe helped me easily make new friends at Taipei American School, as I realized that being exposed to new situations isn't always overwhelming, and that sometimes it can be for the better. If I had the opportunity to go on another People to People program, I would grasp it in an instant. There truly isn't another program where you explore the world, make lifelong friends and learn lots of new lessons and skills, all at once. The three weeks I spent with my delegation in Europe was certainly an empowering experience!

Jeff Aden, Program Director with People to People, will be in Taiwan to hold informational meetings in December. If you are interested in learning more about our student or sports programs, reserve your spot for the informational meeting at http://reserve.studentambassadors.org/international/. All nationalities are welcome.

http://www.studentambassadors.org/
http://www.sportsambassadors.org/
For more information, contact Jeff Aden at:
Jeff.Aden@ptpprograms.org