Dear Readers,

It has officially been one year since I started writing for Odyssey.

I have kept up with my weekly articles in hopes of inspiring, educating and sharing in my life stories with you. Thank you for being such positive contributors and supporters. I never anticipated how some of my articles would impact people, and I really appreciate those who reached out to tell me a specific article that spoke to them, their friends or one of their family members.

I have been passionate about writing since I first learned how to scribble out letters with some crayons and construction paper. As that evolved into the keys on my computer, I have had the ability to completely reveal myself. Being apart of Odyssey thus far has given me the ability to open myself up to a community of writers and readers who I can share my passion with. There is a difference between doing something to build your resume and doing something because you genuinely enjoy it. A single sheet of paper can only hold so much. Your character is just as important.

As some of you may know and for those of you who don’t, I will be leaving for a three-month abroad trip to Florence, Italy. I have given a lot of thought about how I could continue writing while abroad. I was going to do weekly articles about my experiences abroad and what I did day to day with pictures, but then doubted that anyone really reads or cares about someone’s daily routine that so many people share abroad anyway.

That is what has developed my new idea that I hope all of you will take part in. I am not doing this to get followers, but I’m doing this because I was to learn and truly live my time abroad to the fullest by pushing myself outside normal abroad student’s experiences.

Everyone tends to fall for staying with what feels comfortable because why take chances when you can face rejection? Why take chances when you can just live behind screens? Why go places by yourself when you always have friends with you? These are all questions I plan to escape while I go abroad.

Do any of you recognize the name Brandon Stanton? How about Humans of New York? If you answered no to both of those questions you should really go check out his website that has expanded and the video about his original project.

I always had liked his Facebook page because I liked reading about the stories of other people. Everyone is curious about what is behind the physical appearance of someone, but how many of us really take the time to find out? Our insecurities hold us back from taking the time and effort to get to know someone. I have realized this for a while and actually asked my mom when I was about 12-years-old what she thought that man working at the gas station’s life was like. We are usually too busy with our daily commitments to find out…it’s so sad.

Even if you’re a friendly person, then you aren’t likely to have more meaningful conversations unless you build a relationship or connection with someone. However, Stanton has inspired me that a camera can be the key to your deeper connection.

I will pursue this idea in Europe and fill my camera with photos of strangers who will no longer be strangers. I want to share the people of Europe with you because that is something you can’t just Google image search or Facebook browse.

I plan to photograph all different types of people throughout Europe; shop owners, vendors, people walking on the street, a student or even other abroad students. Then I will ask them questions and get to know them, in their primary language. Each post will feature a new person and the place and timing of the post will depend on where I am in the moment. This website will be a compilation of people all over Europe, the experiences they have gone through in life and the advice they have for us as American college students.

People all over the world have such unique perspectives and each individual offers us new ways of looking at life. That is something I truly appreciate. That is why I have been writing for Odyssey and hopefully plan to write again when I return. Human interactions are there to help us grow as a person. I have never really pushed myself outside my comfort zone to this extent, but no great story or adventure started with, “I backed out because I feared the result.”

Follow this link to my blog and subscribe on the contact page if you are interested in seeing where this idea goes. No matter where you are in the world, live these next three months facing fears and letting go of the things that hold you back.

Ciao for now,

Emily