King for a day

While travelling abroad on a university exchange program, American Matt Dysart explores the north-western coast of Europe and shares how found he himself along the way.

It wasn’t until halfway through my abroad experience in Europe that I realised this particular year would be the first Spring Break experience away from the tropical coastlines of the US. Being that I was in Maastricht, Netherlands, the usual scenery of beaches and babes was now replaced with the unusual costumes of Carnival.

For most students from my fraternity in Texas, this would be somewhat of a tragedy. But for me it was a dream come true, because I knew exactly where I wanted to go. Ever since I learned my family is partly descended from Scottish origin – and that my last name is the name of a small town on the Fife Coast – Scotland has always been a place at the forefront of my heart’s greatest anticipations.

Coasting through Southern Europe

Travelling through Europe, American Matt Dysart uncovers the delightful intricacies of the Mediterranean during the spring.

After I discovered the study abroad program offered by my school, I told my parents how the world outside Texas (and the rest of the United States) needed to be captured through my writing, and especially how I would pay them back in full no later than a year after my return. Once they bought my pitch, I left my home in the South in search for the best stories this world could offer.

The specific program offered by Baylor University sent me to Maastricht, Netherlands for three months, but I was only enrolled in class for two of them. The last three and a half weeks were given to me to travel anywhere my heart desired… as long as I didn’t leave the continent.

An American in Europe

American Matt Dysart explored Europe as part of a university exchange program. He shares his wide range of experiences from Amsterdam to Berlin and his unique approach to travel.

In the spring of 2011, I left Texas and spent three months in a study abroad program. My parents never thought this was something their middle child would ever consider doing, because being a middle child I am supposed to be an introvert who believes the rest of the world is my enemy, or something like that. But, after I convinced them that seeing and recording the wonders of the world beyond the four walls of my bedroom was my true calling – and after I further convinced them that a semester abroad was the same price as one at home – they let me go to the Center of European Studies at Maastricht University in The Netherlands.