I recently took a trip to Europe with my concert choir. We spent a total of 10 days in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to go on such a trip. Not only did I have an amazing time, but I learned a lot as well.
1. Do not let people walk on you. After being with the people in my choir all year at school, there were times that the last thing I wanted to do was spend 10 days with them in confined areas with no place to hide. Tensions ran high toward the end of the trip, and we ended up snapping at each other and making rude remarks. I learned that it’s okay to joke around, but there comes a time when you have to stand up and say, “Hey, that’s enough. I’m tired and not in the mood to be made fun of.” Because we were all so close, we were just too comfortable with each other and thought we knew what the others could handle. That tolerance changes when you are tired, hungry and ready to go home. Also, don’t let the shop owners or restaurant staff take advantage of you just because of a language barrier. Often times, they spoke more English than they let on, and we had a waiter walk away without giving us change just because he pretended to not speak English. Be aware of customs of other countries, but don’t let them treat you poorly.
2. I can be away from my family for a little while. I was very worried about being homesick. I am an only child and very close to my dad, so going away is always a little nerve-wracking. I honestly wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it without getting homesick. I was so focused on trying new foods, exploring new cities, talking to new people, and just getting the full experience of my trip that I forgot to call my dad. I began getting frantic text messages asking if I was okay, and I realized I hadn’t talked to him in two days. It’s not that I didn’t miss him: I just knew that he would still be there when I got home, and I wanted to have as many exciting things to tell him as possible.
3. Try new things and keep an open mind. Most of our dinners were planned for us, so there weren’t many surprises. We had schnitzel and potatoes several times, and although it was very delicious, I wanted to try new things. It was an adventure ordering lunches on our own. Sometimes the waiter or waitress spoke little to no English, and the menus were not always in English. I tried some new foods and was never disappointed. German pizza is delicious, lamb steak is more tender and juicy than beef, and whatever that white fluffy desert was, it was unbeatable.
4. Don’t forget to look up. Or down. We sang in several gorgeous cathedrals, all of which were at least three hundred years old. Those old churches and halls are adorned from floor to ceiling with statues, oil paintings and frescoes, sculptures, and art of any kind. Often times, the most amazing part of these buildings were the ceilings. They were taller than two of my houses stacked on top of each other, and inside these tall domes and arches were amazing artworks depicting myths, Bible stories, or historical background of the country. It was stunning, and nothing like I had ever seen before. If I had been too focused on what was in front of me, I would have never stopped to look at what was above me. That would have been really missing out.
5. History is important. I always liked history, but there are somethings you have to experience to understand. We visited the Dachau concentration camp in Germany. In high school, we learned, read, and watched about the Holocaust until we thought we were experts. It wasn’t until I walked the same ground, touched the same walls, and saw the crematoriums and mass graves of those prisoners that I realized how important history is. Knowing and understanding what happened in the past is the best way to ensure that this kind of history does not repeat itself.
6. You can have a great time, no matter who you are with or what the weather. I have always been kind of a loner, seeing as I am an only child. It got annoying to me that we were always in groups and always with the same people. On top of that, there were several days where it was either cold and rainy or hot and humid. Despite being stuck with the same people and being cold or sunburnt, I kept a positive attitude and had an amazing time.
7. Don’t compare yourself to others. We visited a university in Austria to sit in on a choir and orchestra rehearsal. I was sure that they would all be better musicians than me, with more experience and better resources. I sat there for a few minutes humbled by their huge concert halls adorned with centuries-old frescoes, listening to students around my age playing pieces I couldn’t. Then I heard someone make a mistake. A choir member came in early, an oboist missed a cue, a cellist botched a run… these were people just like me. Although I never seek out mistakes or build myself up by the shortcomings of others, it was nice to know that musicians all over the world learn the same way. The conductor stops and fixes something. The students mark things in their music so they don’t miss it again. These were people just like me, all with the same goals and aspirations. Despite language barriers, I felt some sort of common connection with them; music is a universal language.
8. I have the entire world ahead of me. I never considered myself as someone who would be interested in traveling the world until I got a taste. I saw millions of people, heard several languages, ate many new foods, experienced new cultures and customs… and that was only three countries in the world. There are nearly 200 countries in the world just waiting to be explored.
I sincerely hope that everyone who wants to gets the opportunity to travel the world. Take lots of pictures, try new things, explore, and learn along the way. I know I did.
