I told myself I would post yesterday, but life got busy. Anyways, I am now forcing myself to blog before going to bed tonight. For this blog, I want to focus on world travel. I have been very very very fortunate (I cannot stress that enough) to have visited almost 10 different countries over the past 10ish years. I have been to more places than my own father. This would probably lead you to believe I am either rich or frequently volunteer in foreign countries, but the truth of the matter is neither. The first time I went abroad I was a mere 11 years old and went to Rochester, England with my church choir to sing at the Rochester Cathedral in England. I think the fact that I was so fortunate to have this experience at such a young age began my lifelong 'wanderlust.' I am always researching and wishing I could just jump on a plane and travel the world. Unfortunately I do not have the money and some people think that's running from your problems so its not socially acceptable. But anyways, the next trip I took was my biggest to date. I went with a program called People to People Student Ambassadors to Europe the summer before my freshman year of high school. We went to Switzerland, Germany, France, The Netherlands, England, and Belgium over the course of three weeks. It was possibly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I got to meet so may people and experience so many cultures. I saw places people twice my age have yet to see. I am forever grateful for the experience and wouldn't trade it for the world.
Now when you start high school after spending the summer in Europe, NH can seem pretty bland in comparison. I think this gave me a new outlook on life and allowed me to start to really define who I was. I became very independent and began setting goals of what I wanted in life. These goals and working for success were met even farther my junior year, when I paid for myself to go on a trip through my school to Italy. I saved every penny from birthdays, babysitting, and working my part time job at the local grocery store to spend a week in April traveling through Italy. And it was worth every penny. There's also nothing better than that knowing of self accomplishment that you paid for something and deserved it.
After my trip to Italy, I couldn't get enough of Europe. I am so fascinated with the food, the clothing, the people, landscapes, architecture, and social structures. Any time I feel down I immediately see how much it would cost to fly to a new country. It's a little weird, but it's me. Now it's been almost three years since I've been to Europe, and my plans begin again.
I am currently in the process of applying to spend a semester in Ireland next year. I could not be more ecstatic and excited about this amazing opportunity. I will get to spend MONTHS in Europe and live there and travel and live the life I have imagined. I highly encourage everyone in college to take the opportunity to go abroad if you get it. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you never truly understand yourself or where your from until you go somewhere else.
Anyways, I end this with some final words on travel. DO IT. Save for a big trip, or splurge on a weekend getaway with friends. The world is such a big place and there is so much to see and experience. Take any chance you can get and if you don't think you can, think again. Where there is a will, there is a way.
And now for an ending quote, one of my favorites on travel:
"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." St.Augustine
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