To all the college students around the world: we know and understand each other’s struggles by mid-semester. The library is flooded with overwhelmed peers and you can’t believe how much work you need to accomplish in such a short period of time. 

Before studying abroad, I believed travel consisted of resorts, guided tours, and pre-packaged experiences. I now realize that travel is about making connections, gaining new perspectives, and overcoming challenges.

When you first arrive in a new country, you may initially feel overwhelmed being in a new environment.  When I first arrived in Lima, I did not know what to expect, but I knew that I was not alone. EdOdyssey’s one month orientation program served as an amazing starting point to get adjusted to the city, gain more knowledge about Peru, and improve my level of Spanish.  

My name is Liam Grady and I as I prepare to graduate from Saint Rose in New York this May, I’d like to give you an idea about how my summer immersion trip to Peru changed my perspective, challenged beliefs/possible biases, and just opened my mind to the beauty that is present throughout the world.