"Are you American?"  My first interview happened by accident.  One of the requirements of our study abroad was to interview residents in many of the places we visited, and include them in our final report.  At first, I was reluctant as this assignment seemed inconvenient and uncomfortable. But a couple of friends and I had been stopped by our neighbors who asked us the question while we were eating at a pub.  This inquiry introduced us to Rod and Francis.  They were classical singers who had studied at prestigious universities like Cambridge, Oxford, and the Royal Academy of Arts, and gone on to sing around the world.  When asked how he liked the US and Americans, Francis calmly replied that Obama had made a good impression when they shook hands after a performance the President had attended. This conversation put my assignment in a new perspective, as I realized that our faculty not only wanted us to learn from the history but also from the people surrounding us.  

The unexpected conversation in London made me excited for the rest of my interviews.  While my Paris interview was more intentional, Anais shared her experiences of working and studying in different countries.  She also explained a lot about the French government and gave me a lot of insight into the political atmosphere.  But I didn't stop there.  As I was paying my bill for dinner one night, I started talking to our French waitress.  Though she had seemed surly and annoyed during our meal, she was very friendly and I found that she was learning English.  With every interaction, I was gaining confidence and becoming more comfortable approaching new people.  

My trip proved to be full of interesting individuals from tour guides to shopkeepers.  I met an aspiring radio DJ in Versailles, an Israeli-British rock singer in Salzburg, a couple of university students in Munich, a Swedish circus acrobat on a mountain in Innsbruck, and the owner of the oldest souvenir shop in Lucerne.  Sometimes our conversations became emotional.  In Nice, I interviewed our professor's friend, Julian, who ran a convenience stall near the Mediterranean beach.  Throughout our conversation, I was struck by his joy and optimism despite having to work long hours on his feet without relief.  As we talked about our families, he shared that he and his wife were refugees who had fled Cambodia decades ago.  I could sense the painful memories, and he paused several times while recounting.  After our conversation, I could only feel gratitude that this man had shared such a personal part of his life with me, and admiration at his perseverance and positivity.  

This four-week study abroad allowed me to visit seven European countries, experience thousands of years of history, and see some of the world's most successful businesses.  But as the weeks went by, some of my most unique memories were made while conversing with strangers in these foreign lands.  Not only was it interesting to understand their perspectives on current events, but it was amazing to hear these people's stories.  By talking to the people I encountered, I was able to learn more about these individuals, their culture, and the world.  I grew so much during this trip, but my most significant take-away was the realization that everyone has a story to tell.