#2 The Never Ending Study Abroad Trip Debriefing

There’s nothing a 20 something loves more than reminiscing about the “good old days.” Because of course, everything the 20 something likes is irrelevant, outdated, and in other words, too cool for you. And of course, this includes the 20 something’s Study Abroad trip.

And that’s how he happened upon his favorite bar in the neighborhood last night.

Why? Because it reminded him of all those winter nights during his backpacking days through Western Europe where he traveled on foot to hang out in pubs with native strangers and fellow wanderers. Occasionally he would go to an internet cafe, but mostly pubs–this was his life, his destiny, and in simpler terms,

His study abroad trip.

And he was so cool then. His wallet had 5 currencies in it. He was approached once by a man speaking fluent Czech and then by a woman speaking fluent Italian when he’s about as American as they can possibly come. The soles of his shoes were warped. Why? Because he had been walking up and down the cobblestone streets of Prague and around the outskirts of Athens, Greece with a mission to find just the right view of the Acropolis to pull out his new Canon DSLR so that he could properly record some of the best moments of

His study abroad trip,

Which is all over now, as he writes from his cubicle in his swivel chair. Which is okay, because even though there’s not enough vacation time or money in his checking account to relive the moment for real, he can always go to that. pub. With his fellow American 20 somethings friends who also had a study abroad trip once upon a time, as he drinks the beer that reminds of the beer he used to drink in the pub that somehow collectively reminds him of the pubs he used to go to. And it’s also okay because he knows that while the rest of you may not be able to afford it, he will be returning to Europe very soon (most likely for the 2012 Olympics in London–he should be able to get vacation time for that, right?)…

And that’s how the 20 Something debriefs from his study abroad trip. He doesn’t. Instead, the 20 something relives the moment until he either A, gets married, has kids, and enters a permanent state of nostalgia, or B, gets to live it again.

- T.S.

#1 Running into High School Friends = Awkwardness

When it comes to your hometown, 20 Somethings are typically divided into 2 Categories. You are either:

Category A: One of the Ones that Stayed

Category B: One of the Few that Left

Category A: You’ve been in the same town most of your life. Your friends are here, your family is here, everything you know is here, and every Taylor Swift song ever written is pretty much about this town so obviously there’s something here worth sticking around for, right?

Category B: You’re the guy that left (and in some circles, the one that escaped). As soon as you got that high school diploma, you were headed off to some unheard-of college a few thousand miles away where you joined a fraternity, met a girl, got a job up there, and now occasionally come home for the holidays.

And Oh, the Holidays. Every Category B’s favorite time of the year.

Say you’re driving home to see your parents and you stop at the Starbucks on the way to in.  Just as you open your mouth to place your order, you realize the guy making the drinks is one of your friends from high school. You met because you both worked at Starbucks at the same time—four Christmases ago. And awesome, he’s still working here. As soon as he hears your voice he spins around and mouths the famous phrase:

“Wow, long time no see!”

Followed by the famous question:

“So, what’s new with you?”

For Category A’s, this is a perfectly normal question to ask. But for Category B’s, hearing that question is more like having his tooth drilled into and everything he hears is entirely in slow motion. Why? Because Category B does not want to talk about his cubicle job in the city. Nor does he want to talk about how much he makes, nor why he doesn’t come to any of the get-togethers. And it seems like a kind gesture, but Category B would rather not hear who his ex-girlfriend is dating now. Let’s just not talk about that. It’s just plain awkward.

And the awkwardness is not all Category A’s fault.. It’s also Category B, who smiles and pretends to be excited to hear that his ex is happily dating her baby’s father, who you used to hang out with. Therefore, Category A person doesn’t even know how awkward he is making this.

So to  the Category A people: Let’s not make this awkward this holiday season. Spread Christmas cheer without all the questions and inside “scoops.” That’s what Facebook stalking is for. And to the Category B people, smile sarcastically (raising you eyebrows, tilting your head slightly sideways, and press your lips into a crease) and make a mental memo not to go to the five year reunion, no matter how many Facebook groups try to recruit you for it.

-T.S.