Stefan Gradinaru

Stefan participated in the 2022 Study Abroad program in Germany and France.

A Conversation with Stefan

Why did I choose to go on this experience?

There are three main reasons why I chose to participate in this program and experience. The first is to fuel my desire to explore the world and learn more about places I've only heard about. The second reason was to create memories with those around me and memories for the future. Lastly I wanted to get into the habit of taking photos of key moments in my life. I felt that being put in the scenario with many wonders around would force me to start building the habit.

What surprised me most about my experience?

Two of the most surprising things about my experience in both France and Germany was how common walking is and how used public transportation is. These may seem surprising to me because of growing up in more rural areas but not surprising to others. It was pleasant to see the use of walking and public transportation because I feel like it prompts a far healthier lifestyle than what I've seen in the US. Though to be completely fair on the US' side it is a far larger country than most.

What was your favorite part of your time overseas?

My favorite part was seeing all the monumental structures and buildings. All the buildings looked absolutely stunning with their architectural designs. Seeing the lights of Paris at night really was a jaw dropping experience. The city of Paris seems to come to life at night, and the best way to witness this life is from the Eiffel Tower.

How do you intend to use this experience in the future?

Besides the trip being a great conversational topic to spice up a discussion, I want to use this experience to inspire myself in future endeavors. Anytime I feel like backing out of something or not going out to explore I want to recall these memories and the feelings that I had when those experiences were made. I want to use this as a tool to inspire others, who have the same desire to explore, to go explore the world to their heart's content. Experiences like these are something I wish that most people could experience at least once.

What is your advice on students who want to study abroad and go on this program in the future?

There are two pieces of advice I would really stress you to take to heart. One is checking up on your phone plan and making sure that it supports international travel (T-Mobile is extremely popular abroad). The second is if you wish to stay within a budget I would limit yourself with either a prepaid Visa card or simply hard cash. I would also plan your spending budget each day. To jump off that I also suggest that whatever you think you're going to spend, add 20-30% on top of that amount.