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The AIST Experience

I am writing this to talk about the AIST Experience. What it is, What it means and Why it is a chance of a lifetime. My own experience traveling abroad has been with AIST and other organizations. It not only changed my life but it gave me the opportunity to play in Europe for a Professional Club team.

My first experience abroad was Antwerp, Belgium and some parts of Germany. I will never forget getting off of the plane in Germany and wondering what did I just do. It was the coolest experience at the age of 22. I am now 32 and I remember it like it was yesterday. We played a tournament first in this small town in Germany. All of the residence in the town came to the games to watch the Americans play. I felt like a superstar. They where really excited not only to watch us play but meet with us as well. When the tournament was over they had a party for the players. I will never forget that night mingling with all of the locals and drinking their beer. It was like a movie. It gives me chills just thinking about it today.

Next we traveled to Antwerp, Belgium. This is my favorite European town because this is where I latter played ball professionally. The Flemish are the nicest people you will ever meet. They will give you the shirt off their backs. We played a week long tournament and this is when I was offered the chance to come back and play for the local club. I took the offer and lived in Antwerp for 5 months. The family I lived with I just revisited them this past summer. We are very close and I feel so lucky to have close friends in another part of the world.

I have continued to travel with AIST during the summers to support AIST in bringing this life changing experience to college athletes. I want to take this time to tell whomever has received an invitation to play with AIST, please do not let this opportunity pass. I understand times may be tough with the economy, or traveling makes you nervous, or you are worried that it may not be worth the money. These are good excuses but not even close enough to convince me, to tell you, to stay home. If I would have not taken this amazing opportunity, I was offered when I was 22, my life would not have been so colorful. I am now a man who has the confidence to meet any challenge because of my past experiences and the most significant of those experiences was representing America in another country.

If you have any questions, please go to the contact form and address it to me.

Written by Brent Pourciau.

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