It is not uncommon for young adults to want to travel and to experience "the real world" without the restraints of academic advisers and parents.

"When you actually live abroad, you get to understand the culture," Chris Brennan, spokesperson for www.roughandlonelygoing.com, a travel humor Web site, said. "It expands your horizons and opens your mind. It's cliché, but it's true."

There are a number of ways to see the world, both for the conventional and unconventional traveler.

"If you want to travel, there are ways to do it. You can find opportunities for whatever major you're in," Brennan said. "There are great programs out there designed for the poor college student."

One way to travel the globe while still earning money is to work abroad, said Brennan, who worked abroad in a China teaching program through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE).

CIEE continues to offer teaching programs in China and Thailand and is planning to expand to Spanish-speaking countries in late 2006-07, said Russell Wright, former admissions officer for Experiential Program to Work, Teach or Volunteer at CIEE.

CIEE had to cut volunteer and work abroad programs to center its attention on its study abroad programs. The program will soon be offering service learning in South Africa and Europe, Wright said.

John Keller, director of Education Abroad, suggested that students look into exchange programs. Exchange programs, where there is a reciprocal exchange agreement with another college, tend to be less expensive than the more common study abroad programs through CIEE, IES, and Arcadia, Keller said.

In addition to the Education Abroad office's resources, many opportunities can be found by simply searching the Internet, as Penn State student and current au pair in Finland, Amanda Powell found out.

Powell had previously spent time and made friends in the northern part of the country, she said.

"I wanted to be in Finland to be with my friends and boyfriend and being an au pair was an easy way to get permission into the country," Powell said in an email message. "I searched on Google for an au pair placement Web site."

Another travel idea is to volunteer abroad. Although it does cost money to volunteer, for some students, it is worth the price. Wright said Volunteers for Peace offers short-term programs and presents a number of programs, from social services to agricultural projects.

Wright said where a student decides to go depends on what the volunteer is looking for. These programs are about getting your hands dirty ... they are intricately involved international volunteerism, he said.

STA Travel, a student travel agency, also has volunteer opportunities.

STA work closely with i-to-I, an organization that offers volunteer sites all over the world, said Alaina Scalercio, branch manager of STA Travel in the HUB-Robeson Center.

"Volunteering and traveling speaks well of you [on a resume]; shows you are not afraid to be on your own," Scalercio said. "It's really good if you want to take a year traveling after graduation. It's fly by the seat of your pants traveling."

Traveling can also open people's eyes to other viewpoints of America, Brennan said.

"You get a great perspective on the way the U.S. is perceived in other countries. I think everyone should travel," Brennan said.