What do you wish someone had told you before you went abroad?
Trevor: I wish someone had told me to dull my expectations about life AFTER the trip. I went into it with a frame of mind of, "this will be a good distraction - a fun opportunity before I settle into a routine back home." Boy was I wrong. You have to be prepared for just how hard the wanderlust is going to grip you and not let go. Now that I'm into that routine that I was looking forward to last summer, all I want is to be back out there.
What was the hardest part about going abroad?
Trevor: Coming from a time in my life when I'd begun to forget what gave me confidence, I was afraid that I would have a hard time finding my place in the dynamic of the group. Even at first, I fell back on humor to hide my insecurities about expressing myself. It was only when I realized that I didn't have to always put on this high-energy, goofy face all the time that I regained the confidence I had lost. Your traveling buddies are like family, they'll forgive you for acting angry or scared or sad.
What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?
Trevor: People are surprised when I tell them that Laos was my favorite country we visited, but the truth is it's not even close. It's a beautiful gem of a country, overshadowed by the more ""glamorous"" countries surrounding it. Luang Prabang is one of the most incredible cities I've ever visited, with traditional Buddhist temples sprinkled between colonial french hotels and and paved brick paths leading down to the Mekong river. Visit the night market when you're there, and seek out the single middle-aged Laotian man who serves some of the best dumplings you'll ever taste.
My favorite part of Laos, however, was a tiny village in the northern part of the country. Completely inaccessible by roads, the village continues to sustain itself almost entirely despite the development of the country around it. We trekked in through the jungle (stopping on the way to eat some incredible sticky rice wrapped in a banana leaf) before coming to the village, situated on a river beside a grassy knoll. Upon arrival we collectively jumped in the river, a powerful current carrying us on a ride far more fun than any you'll find at Disneyland. A group of little boys from the river ran down and jumped in with us, splashing us and showing us their favorite rocks and branches to leap from. Another group of children played frisbee and threw leaves at us on the riverbank. Despite not speaking a word in common, we found we had a ton in common with these kids, all of us overjoyed to be exposed to a world we'd never experienced before. Many of my traveling companions will tell you that they've never seen me so happy as I was that day, before or since.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Trevor: You're not in Kansas anymore, so don't be afraid to keep an open mind. In such a highly developmental time in your life, it can be so, so rewarding to let your insecurities go. In a setting like this, when you're surrounded 24/7 by a small group of individuals, you have absolutely no choice but to be entirely true to yourself. You need to feel comfortable getting angry, depressed, or overjoyed when the mood strikes, or else you're going to be miserable. If you let your worries go about "impressing" your peers or being someone that you aren't, you'll find that you're more comfortable than you've ever been (despite the unfamiliar setting).
What made this trip meaningful to you, or how did this trip change your perceptions or future path?
Trevor: I'll remember this trip as one which changed the direction of my life entirely by helping me recognize aspects of myself which I had forgotten. In imagining my future, I'd always looked toward home, toward returning to San Francisco and finding my path there, but now that I'm back, I'm realizing that I don't feel nearly as comfortable as I did in those 10 weeks I spent abroad. I want to make that my life, to help other people who are struggling to find their way (as I was) come to similar realizations. It's one thing to travel, being only responsible for yourself - it's a whole other game to take responsibility for others and lead. I'd like to give that a try.