Hey guys, I’m Paul Kolodziej, a 21-year-old student from Hamburg (Germany), and I’m thrilled to finally start this blog and share my story with you. Traveling has always been a huge part of my life, and now I’m about to embark on one of my biggest adventures yet: a semester abroad at UCLA.
But before we dive into that, let me take you back to where this love for travel all started.
Where It All Began
Growing up near Hamburg, with roots in Lübeck, I always had this curiosity about the world beyond. That curiosity turned into a full-blown passion when I finished high school and decided to take a gap year. For nine months, I lived in some of the most incredible cities in the world — San Francisco, New York, and Rome — spending three months in each. It was an unforgettable experience that opened my eyes to different cultures, languages, and ways of life.
But it didn’t stop there. After my gap year, I found a way to combine my love for travel with work. I spent three weeks in Malta and four weeks in Oxford as a course leader for a student language trip. It was one of those experiences that let me see travel from a new angle — helping others explore the world and grow while doing it myself. The joy of being in new places and guiding students through their journeys only deepened my passion for exploring.
My Next Big Adventure: Semester Abroad at UCLA
Now, the next chapter of my travel story begins in Los Angeles. I’ll be studying business-related courses at UCLA for the fall semester. As exciting as that sounds, the process of getting here wasn’t as simple as packing a bag and hopping on a plane. The visa process, apartment hunting, and preparing for life in a completely new city had their challenges, but I’ll get into that in more detail in future posts.
I’m absolutely thrilled to see what Los Angeles has to offer — whether it’s exploring the city, making new friends, or experiencing life on the West Coast. I’ve been to the U.S. before, but this time is different. Living and studying in LA is going to be a whole new experience, and I can already feel this experience will be unforgettable. I can’t wait to share every step of the journey with you.
From Stage to Street: Music & More Than Just Travel
While travel is a huge part of my life, there’s something else that’s equally important to me — music. It’s a passion that’s always been with me, and honestly, traveling just fuels that fire even more. There’s something about being in new places, hearing different sounds, and meeting people from all over the world that really inspires my music.
And here’s a little teaser — I’m working on something music-related that I’m really excited about, but I’ll keep the details under wraps for now. Stay tuned!
Looking Forward
This blog will be where I share the highs and lows of my semester in LA, along with tips for anyone considering studying abroad or exploring new places. Whether you’re dreaming of a semester abroad, just love to travel, or are looking for inspiration to follow your own path, I hope my stories can inspire you to get out there and see the world.
There’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to take you along for the ride!
Thanks for reading, and I’m excited to share this journey with all of you!
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