During the summer before my junior year of high school, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to France with my family. I was overwhelmed with excitement and could not wait to see the culture and art I had studied in school for so long. From the Mediteranean beaches and ivy-covered villas in Eze to the bustling streets and museums of Paris, France was such a unique and beautiful country to experience. The French people were generally kind and welcoming. Their lifestyle was sophisticated and simple. From the food portions to the living arrangements, everything was styled with simplicity. At first, it was strange to be in a place so different from home, so different from what I imagined. Traveling challenges you to step outside your comfort zone and view people and places with a new perspective. As humans, we have preconceptions and create stereotypes, but everything is always different when you are there, seeing things in person.

One evening, I ventured to the top of the Eiffel tower. One by one, glowing lights began to flicker from cars, buildings, and street lamps. Paris truly is the City of Lights. While I was standing there, watching the sun sink below the horizon, I felt so small, so insignificant in the vast expanse before me. Then, I thought of all of the people in that country and all of the people living in the world. Sometimes, we can get so wrapped up in ourselves and our own story. There are so many others, living out their lives and their own stories. This moment in my travels really opened my eyes to the size of this world and how amazing it is.

The following summer, my family took another trip to Europe. This time we went to Germany, where my dad is from. I was not only able to experience another culture, but was also able to learn more about my heritage. I took it all in. The rolling vineyards, medieval castles on the Rhine, and soft sunsets in Heidelberg fueled my imagination. At restaurants nearby, people's voices erupted in German song and laughter as they danced around the tables. One of my favorite moments of the trip was the rainy drive to Lake Plansee in Austria. With wildflowers in my raincoat pocket, I stood before crystal blue water. The snow-dusted mountains of the Alps revealed themselves through a curtain of mist. It felt surreal. I will always treasure this moment. It made me realize how beautiful and refreshing it is to be in nature and to explore. It was a reminder to enjoy the little things in life.

All I have left from my travels are photographs and memories to last a lifetime. I learned so much about the world, my family, and myself as a person.

Always keep your mind wide open…

M