July 16th, 2016. 7 a.m. Even that early, the airport was buzzing with the noise and bustle of countless other people, but I was too much of a bundle of feelings to register it. I told myself I wouldn’t cry, but one look at my mother’s glossy eyes set the waterworks into motion. My suitcase felt heavier once the tears started to fall, almost as if the heaviness in my heart from saying goodbye somehow transformed from emotional baggage into the physical kind. It’s a strange and heartwrenching feeling to miss your home and its people before you’ve even left them. Despite the crying, this was not a sad day. For every ounce of sadness I felt, I was equally excited. That day marked the first time I left the country, and also marked the beginning of a passion.

Twenty-four hours later, we were in Madrid, the gorgeous capital of Spain. As hard as it was to leave home, and as harrowing as the (seemingly) neverending layover we had had was, being immersed in the antique beauty of a rich, historic city felt uniquely liberating. We had our first experience on a european subway here, and the routine and unspoken rules were intimidating at first, but we learned quite quickly. In between delicious food and breathtaking scenery, we also learned to keep our friends close and our backpacks closer (and away from pickpockets). Trips to the Prado Museum of Art and the unbelievably beautiful Spanish Royal Palace filled the rest of our stay in Madrid, and then we were off to the city of my Cheetah Girls dreams: Barcelona.

Easily the most important and mindblowing part of the entire trip is obviously the fact that our hotel in Barcelona had a rooftop pool with a fantastic view of the most breathtaking fountain I’d ever seen. Don’t think the opulence and magic ended there, though--the world’s most famous architectural project, La Sagrada Familia, is just as amazing and awe-inspiring as it seems. Park Güell, the home-turned-attraction of Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudí, is a place whose whimsicality and uniqueness inspires an indescribable sense of awe. Barcelona in general is a city of magnificent architectural beauty, and being surrounded by such is an amazing experience within itself. Be it shopping or simply just walking down the street, you feel it everywhere. If I had to describe this fantastic city in just one word, I would choose “effervescent.”

Our trip ended in the illustrious City of Love: Paris, France. There, I discovered real chocolate, tried my first macaroon, and fell in love with a city. The Palace of Versailles looks like something you couldn't ever be able to dream of, let alone visit. The Louvre is actually as astounding as it appears, and a million times more confusing to navigate. Notre Dame Cathedral makes you feel like the world is the sun and you are just an ant in comparison, and Sacre Coeur makes art feel alive. Being able to go onto the Eiffel Tower is an unforgettable moment in my mind, culminated by the most delicious crepe I've ever had the pleasure of eating. Paris is a place that words do not do justice--you have to experience it to know.

I've always been interested in the world, but I didn't really know what I wanted until I got a taste of it. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity I was given to have this experience, and I deeply appreciate everyone who made it possible. That trip struck a chord in me; traveling is in my heart now, and I hope to pursue this passion in my future ahead.