Guten tag!

Today I'm writing to you from a very overheated and noisy German cafe, surrounded by über-hip and ultra-thin twenty-somethings who are all dressed like models right out of a Vogue or whatever fashion magazine it is that trendy people read.   I should add, I am not one of the trendy nor one of the hip nor anywhere even close to anything resembling skinny, so if you were to meet me here today, it would be pretty easy to figure out which one is me:  the old, bald American guy by the window.

I'm in Munich this week to talk to kids about studying in the US.  It's a city I love, and I wish I could visit here more often.  Not because of this particular cafe, mind you.  No, I'm happy to leave these venues to the kids.  I love Munich for other reasons, mostly though because it's really different from home, and thus forces me to think about things I normally might not think about.  And that's the point of this post this week.

I don't like to use the word should often, but there is certainly plenty of reasons for our kids to spend some time abroad during their college years.  Being plunked into an environment where thought and language are different is good for the brain and the soul.  There is no better way for kids to learn about point of view than to surround them with people who have a decidedly distinct point of view from what they're used to.  Granted, they don't have to study overseas for that, but being in a foreign culture is a terrific way to experience life from a new perspective.

Overseas, kids will quickly learn to negotiate the day-to-day intricacies of life in a different culture. They'll also learn new language skills and that will eventually lead to an expanded way of seeing things.  They'll test their values, maybe even their limits, and they'll come home changed.  They'll have more to offer in general and they'll be able to add "a semester in Shangai," for example, to their resume.  But more importantly, I think, is that living abroad gives kids a broader context of what the real world is.

Sure, sipping lattes among the cool people doesn't necessarily guarantee any added wisdom by itself, but waking up each day to a new language and a new set of challenges that can range from observing legal systems to business ventures or being asked to explain political issues or literary technique creates a wealth of opportunity for kids to grow, to learn, to become more equipped with dealing with current world issues once they come home.

So, a short piece today, inspired by this loud cafe on Odeonsplatz--if it were a little quieter in here, perhaps I would write more!  Talk to your kids about a semester or year abroad.  International study is a remarkable opportunity.

Let me know what you think.