Study Abroad

From Bagpipes to Baguettes to Bratwurst – ESCP Europe and International Co-op
By Miroslav (Mirko) Suzara

I was a third year SFU Business student in the Spring of 2009: a young lad with minimal professional experience, a travel record safely consisting of travel to the US, and perhaps too much experience with comfort in the conveniences of home-life.

I realized, that as a student with a minimal number of real commitments, this would be the best time for me to pack my bags and experience firsthand what all this global fuss was about. So I applied and got accepted for two back-to-back international activities: a co-op position with the EDGE Programme in Glasgow (Summer 2009) followed up with an exchange to ESCP Europe in Paris (Fall 2009). The experience was an unforgettable ride of breathtaking sights, delicious tastes, and fascinating cultures. And by the end of December, my once-empty passport was filled with stamps from the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, and Czech Republic!

But, if you didn’t figure it out from the title, my experience didn’t end in Paris. As I write this entry for
SFU International, I’m sitting on an outdoor patio a couple days after Starkbierfest in Munich, Germany. Thanks to the ESCP Europe database, I was able to secure a marketing internship out here with an international high-tech firm. I can only partially blame the travel bug for all this continued globe-trotting.

The larger reason derives from a profound realization that we, as Simon Fraser University students, have multiple international opportunities within our reach. I assure you, going from bagpipes to baguettes
to bratwurst is a lot more realistic than you may think!