Traveling abroad is an experience you will never forget. Some of you may be familiar, some may not (your day will come) But traveling to a whole other country is everything. I've been traveling abroad since I was six months old so I know the ropes. My family and I would travel to Italy to visit my other family members. I can literally show you around Venice -- that's how familiar I am with Northern Italy. But the one trip that I will never forget was Hannover, Germany. I'm sure I'll be studying abroad during college since I am only a sophomore and another trip will come that I'll never forget but as of now Germany has to be the one.
During my sophomore year of high school, my dad met this family who had horses in Hannover, Germany. He stayed in the family's B&B hotel that's literally their backyard. He was staying there for a business trip. Eventually he got to know the family and it turned out that they had a daughter who is my age and also rides horses. My dad made an arrangement for the girl to stay with us for two weeks and then I would go back with her and stay at her place for two weeks. Since we practiced different riding styles, she got to know how I ride and I got to know how she rides. She met my friends and I met her friends and we ended up becoming best friends. I haven't been back yet and she hasn't been back to the U.S but we still keep in contact through Facebook. Hopefully we'll be reunited!
It is a bit awkward for the first few days of being in a different country but that just means you're slowly growing accustomed. I recommend for everyone to at least once in their lives to go somewhere out of the country. Whether it be Europe, Africa or Asia, you will have the experience of a lifetime. The flights are a bit long and at times expensive but it's all worth the travel. Traveling abroad is an eye-opening experience but it comes with a price: heartache. You will have major heartache to the point where you feel "homesick" even though your home is your home. You go through this state of sadness because you're able to connect with the culture and meet different people along the way. I even miss the food because that's always a highlight of the trip. Even though I haven't studied abroad yet, I know that it's an opportunity that I can't miss and no one should miss. Heartache plays a big role when you go abroad but the excitement is also a plus. You don't know who you'll meet or what's in store. You just go day by day. I always miss Italy and Germany but I always know that I'm welcomed back. You should know that too. Wherever you go, your stay is always welcomed.
