I'm not sure if it was the high stakes of planning the perfect itinerary or the looming idea of feeling like an outsider in a new place, but growing up, travel always felt daunting to me. In the hopes of conquering that fear, I applied to my university's summer study abroad program and soon found myself thousands of miles from my home in California to complete a two-month internship in London.
Traveling with my grandparents in Paris taught me to embrace a balance of structure and spontaneity, enhancing my appreciation for the city and our shared experiences.
In the United Kingdom, most students are now barred from bringing family members. Canada has enforced a cap on study permits, restricted work eligibility after graduation and doubled the financial threshold for students to prove self-sufficiency.