As I wait excitedly for my vacation to begin on Wednesday, I reflect on a trip that I ventured on three years ago. It is amazing how fast time seems to pass. It does not feel as long as three years since I went to France. They say that certain trips are once in a lifetime, but I think that all trips are once in a lifetime. At the least, they are only going to happen exactly how they happen once in your life. You may be fortunate enough to return to countries and cities you visit, but your experience will be different every time. For example, I plan to return to France one day, but the trip I embarked on three years ago will never happen again, hence, once in a lifetime.

The people you go with and the people you meet make it once in a lifetime; the places you go and the memories you take with you make it once in a lifetime.

You can go to the same city or country over and over again and never have the same experience. Traveling is about the experiences, the people and the memories, that’s why it is so important.

Vacations are one of my most favorite things in the world. Nothing feels better than finally getting time to relax after months of working and tiredness. Vacations are about friends and family and going on adventures.

I am currently anticipating a two-week vacation to Minnesota and Chicago. I am looking forward to doing things I have never done, like riding horses, cliff jumping, lake swimming, eating tater tot hot dish, and exploring the great city of Chicago.

My trip to France was truly a once in a lifetime experience. My school joined with three others, so there were many people on the trip I did not know. Like I said, the people you go with are also a big part of the experience. The same group that I went with will never be back together, so they really made the trip unique.

There are also things that we did that I may never do in France again. For instance, I will probably never roll into the Loire River off a boat to prove that I am adventurous. I will never leisurely walk through the streets of Paris while it is pouring rain, trying to find food again. I will not watch a scary movie in French then have to sleep in the middle of my two friends because I am scared. I will not go swimming in freezing water with my friends when no one else is swimming. These are only a few of the fun things I did that I will never get to do again. Traveling is about making memories that you will never forget.

I can’t believe how fast time seems to pass by. I can’t imagine how I will feel in another three years.

Vacations are so important. These are the times that you will remember forever. These are the memories you will never forget. Go on as many vacations, trips, and adventures as possible. Spend time with loved ones and make memories to last a lifetime, because these trips are going to be once in a lifetime. Love the people you are with, the people you meet, and the places you go.