There are many things that I miss in life. I miss my family when I’m away from them, I miss Chipotle when I’m at school (because it is seemingly elusive in the south) and I miss sleeping in until 12:00 and not worrying about a single thing. My heart belongs to all of these, and they will always have a separate, special place in my heart, but one place that has been pounding loudly lately is the place reserved for Europe. There are so many wonderful qualities about Europe that listing one would just not suffice. So, without further ado, here are the things I miss most about the beloved continent.

1. TRAINS

They are everywhere, and so convenient. Trains provide transportation with a simple ticket wherever you wish to go in Europe, practically. They are a breezy, mostly stress-free way to get from point A to B. Aside from a few mishaps where the back half of the train literally disconnected from the front half, and left us stranded in Germany, trains are great. They provide an economically friendly, trustworthy way of enjoying your day, wherever you are going, without worrying about parking a car, or catching various buses to your destination. the only problem is they are not nearly as prevalent in America, and they should be.

2. NATURE

There is so much to see and explore in Europe. There are rich, Tuscan hills, beautiful Austrian waterfalls, green luscious land in England. Yes, I know there is nature in America, but there is something special about knowing you are experiencing God's wonderful creation differently, in a new place you have never been before. The most beautiful beaches, or the peaceful mountains may be a few hours from the nearest city, which is a wonderful blessing that is not always available in America.

3. CULTURE

Every time I went to a new country, even just a new city, I experienced a new culture. From the fashion forward, gorgeous city of Paris, to the laid back, small town of Freilassing, Germany, to the gorgeous canals of Venice, Italy, there was so much culture to experience. Walking the streets and immersing myself in the town was definitely a highlight of my time in Europe. There's something so special and wonderful about waking up and knowing you have some place new and beautiful to explore. It's like the feeling you get after a long winter that is turning into spring. You are joyful and light and ready to try something new.

4. FOOD

The opportunity to try new food was an everyday occurrence, and a great excuse to eat food even when it wasn't a designated time to eat, which, as a lover of food, was a really great time, let me tell you. There was German schnitzel. Duck in France. Kebabs in Belgium (which are like sandwiches made with Pita). Pasta in Italy. the opportunities were endless. Each place we visited had a new culinary experience. Picking my favorite is nearly impossible, but I can narrow it down to two. Cinnamon Gelato in Rome was my favorite gelato I have ever had. This experience was like reaching up and grabbing a spoonful of heaven. It was that good. It melted in your mouth and had the perfect amount of sweetness, cream, and cinnamon. My favorite meal is also from Italy, but Italy is on point concerning everything, but especially food, so I have no qualms about my choices. In Italy we traveled to this little island called Cinque Terre. On this island are five small villages to explore. On one of these islands, we stopped and ate in one of the rustic like restaurants they have set up near the water. Almost all of these islands are directly near a body of water, so I naturally chose to get seafood,which was the best decision ever. My dish was pasta with huge crawfish in a white cream sauce, and it was the best seafood I have ever had. I will never look at Red Lobster the same way again. (I'm from Ohio, there aren't a lot of seafood options, okay?) A word of advice: Don't let your fear of different or unique food keep you from trying it, you may end up actually liking it, and if nothing else, you can say that you tried it.

5. SIGHTSEEING

I love sightseeing. We saw so much, and it was the greatest experience of my life. This is a tourist thing to do, but sometimes it's nice to be new, and to be unapologetically in awe of the buildings, architecture and museums that make the country or city so worthwhile and wonderful to visit. England was definitely at the top of my list of places to visit because there are so many streets to wander down and so many places to experience. A close second was Paris, solely for the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel is so grand and tall and beautiful, especially at night when it glitters with what seems like millions of lights. Sightseeing may be cheesy, and typical, but it is so worth it, and there will be plenty of time to go on less ordinary adventures as well.

I hope these humble words of mine gave you a bit of wanderlust and a new appreciation for the wonder and beauty God has bestowed upon us through the ability to travel and to learn as we do. These cities, these countries, hold such a special place in my heart. Every place I visited, I left my heart somewhere that I grew to love. Every part of my heart that got left behind in these places is waiting for me to return, and every new place is calling for my heart to leave a piece of it there so it can, in turn, fill the space that is empty with its own culture, and way of life.