STEPping Up

STEP, or my college's Student Exchange Programme, is the best thing that has happened to me till date. It was like treating myself to an all-round liberal education. It didn't have so much to do with the foreign university I was attending as much as all the travelling I did- I used to have classes only on Mondays and Tuesdays, so for the remaining 5 days of the week I was free to travel anywhere. I explored 11 countries in the two and a half months I was in Europe, and it was the most enriching experience I had.

I learnt so much about history, art, literature, music and local gastronomy. One of the best things about being a student in Europe is that entry to museums are often free, and that's the least expensive way of educating yourself. I heard Game of Thrones worthy stories of Roman emperors when I went to the Colosseum, experienced life as a citizen of East Germany during the Cold War years, and visited the sites of the French Revolution (incidentally, I happened to be holding a slice of cake when I walked past the place Marie Antoinette was beheaded- the irony).

Art could be found everywhere- right from museums and galleries like the Uffizi Gallery, Louvre and Musee d'Orsay to the street art in Montmartre. I have walked past regular buildings on which Salvador Dali and Banksy painted. Seeing Vincent Van Gogh's house or walking past the school in which Picasso studied art (I'm not a fan of cubism though) brought art alive in a different way- by learning about the stories of artists, you can understand their paintings better.

In terms of literature, my reading list grew longer and longer. Kafka Museum in Prague was a delightful way of experiencing Franz Kafka's works- for example, going through mirrored tunnels that illustrated his work The Mole. The legendary bookstore Shakespeare and Co. in Paris invoked in me a desire to be a Tumbleweed- a Tumbleweed is a guest who stays in the bookstore for free, and in exchange has to read a book a day, help out with the shop for a few hours, and write a one- page autobiography (doesn't that sound like every book-lover's dream?)

I explored different genres of music- from attending a Mozart concert in Vienna to a jazz festival in Salzburg to a harp concert in Bruges, I've done it all. I discovered new upcoming bands and artists that have yet to be featured in mainstream media. More importantly, it led me to learn about the technicalities of music that I was previously unaware of. I started appreciating music more, once I understood the nuances better.

As for gastronomy, my choices were somewhat limited, owing to the fact that I am a vegetarian. But the desserts were divine! I enjoyed Brussels waffles, Liege waffles, creme brulee, and a number of German pastries whose names I can't recall. Belgian fries (French fries is an incorrect term to use for them, it seems) tasted better than I ever ate in India, and the chocolates came in every variety imaginable and some more.

But all of this was more in terms of the knowledge I acquired. I feel I have changed as a person since I went on STEP. I realised that I'm stronger and braver than I give myself credit for (after climbing up and down the rocks at Marseille or walking the 45 degree incline steps in the Werfen Ice Caves or carrying 12 kgs of chocolate over multiple train changes, I was ready to collapse but I was amazed at my own physical feats, given the sedentary lifestyle I lead). Solo travelling taught me to be independent, cautious, and how to read maps. I also found out what really matters to me, what I will never compromise on, and how I want to live my life. As cheesy as this sounds, a journey outward led to a journey inward.

Last but not the least, STEP gave me amazing experiences and memories that I'll cherish for a lifetime. Getting lost in Harry Potter-esque Labyrinths in Vienna, singing "O Gujaria" on a tram in Amsterdam, dressing up like a spy in Berlin and chilling in the thermal baths at Budapest are but a few exhilarating and fun moments. I met amazing people- warm, generous, kind and helpful, who made my time in Europe so unforgettable. I sometimes wish I could relive all of it.

Like Rich Ridgeway said, "The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask."