Okay, I guess you can say that as a 19-year-old college student I'm pretty blessed and lucky to be able to already experience visiting four different countries. Some students, unlike me, have traveled all of their lives, while there are also students who have never had the chance to travel away from their hometowns.
I used to be one those students. It's not that I'd never been out of my hometown, it's just I've always traveled within the United States on summer and spring vacations.
Until the summer of 2011, I never knew what it felt like to really be out of the United States. In a way, the idea of traveling outside of the country was more of a dream than anything else because it was always something I saw as a future goal.
In July 2011, I, Laurie Cuttino, got the greatest gift of all by being asked to represent Central New Jersey in the People to People Organization Student Ambassador program. This meant that I would get to travel with a group of other New Jersey students to travel to France, Italy, and Greece for three weeks.
When you find out that you're traveling outside of the country as a 15-year-old, your mind is just blown away by so much happiness. There are no words to describe it. It's kind of like being on cloud nine but a million times better.
Anyway, it was a long year process we as the students representing New Jersey had to all go through before July.
There were interviews, meetings, bonding sessions, safety guidelines, and presentations on learning about all of the cultures and lifestyles we were going to encounter.
This was a massive deal! We had to be extremely aware of our surroundings because back in 2011, the start of the now recent issues involving terrorism were arising.
We had program leaders when I traveled, so I technically was not quote-on-quote "by myself." However, I learned that as a traveler, one must to rely and fully depend on yourself. Never forget that ever!
When July came, as a first-time traveler, I seriously did not know how much your surroundings and mindset changes when you are around new places and people.
First thing I had to learn was how to tell military time! I should have listened to my dad before I left to board the plane; enough said.
Second, the time change and whole time zone craziness kicked in because I was either six or seven hours ahead of the United States. So sleeping and calling home became a process in itself.
Third, Europeans love to walk everywhere! Seriously, they really love to walk every single place you can think of! So always bring comfortable shoes and sneakers whenever traveling outside of the country. I lost about 20 pounds just from being in Greece, but I gained it all back by the time I went to Italy.
Then, in Greece, I learned I could not flush toilet paper in the toilets! Since their irrigation systems are completely different from America, I think our hotel got just a little mad at us because we honestly couldn't adapt.
I also learned to be very careful where you drink and where you buy water from while in Europe, because they filter their water completely differently than the United States. Plus, London Heathrow Airport is the strictest airport ever!
As a future traveler, make sure to always take direct flights and never stop for layovers. I know it may be extra money but seriously, you'll thank me. They took my toothpaste away because it was too big. Only certain fluid ounces are only allowed in Europe due to their metric system being very different from America.
Besides me traveling around Europe with stank breath until we got a chance to stop at a gift store, there were plenty of positive and memorable moments during my trip.
For example, even though security confiscated my toothpaste in London, it worked out to my and my group's advantage. We got to see some landmarks in London for just a while since our flight to Greece was delayed.
Throughout our time in Greece, we got to learn how to dance Greek, visit the Acropolis, go see the many museums of ancient artifacts, spend a day on a private Greek Beach, and shop in Aegina, Greece.
In Italy, I got to eat tons of real pasta, gelato, actual pizza, shop in Rome, climb Mount Vesuvius, and visit the Colosseum. My team stayed with an amazing host family in Porto Viro, Italy. I also got to go clubbing in Italy, ride in a gondola in Venice and take an overnight train to Paris, France.
Paris was the best city of all! I went inside the Palace of Versailles, up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, shop in a Parisian mall, visit the Louvre, dined in at a restaurant called the Monte Carlo, and added my Love Lock to their famous fence.
Okay so why am I telling you this five-year-old story? Hello, because it's majorly important!
Traveling, especially as college students is vital! It will make you well-rounded, diverse, culturally aware, and help you stand out in the real world. Traveling, in general, helps you morally and intellectually, and develops more independence, confidence, and self-expression. It will also help you gain perspective, and alter your view and perception of the world globally.
Even though my story may be five years old, it truly feels like it was just yesterday that I left the United States for the first time. I want to emphasize to college students the importance of taking on this opportunity. Even if you have to take out a loan, wait until you graduate, save up money for the rest of your college years, and work a few extra jobs just to be able to travel, do it!
Do not wait because life waits for no one and you as a hard-working college student deserve this kind of breathtaking freedom.
Overall, I only wish that those of you reading this article have an exceptional experience one day, as I did back in July 2011. I can only hope that you'll be able to really recognize just how important traveling around the world genuinely is for your lives. I know for some of you out there reading this article may say that "it's impossible, I can never be able to get that kind of a chance" but honestly, if you never try, then you may just miss out .
Have faith and believe in yourself to know that one day you will reach your dreams and be able to go anywhere your heart desires.
Remember to always keep in mind that traveling is a process, and there are lots of things you should definitely consider when preparing. Be aware of the safety precautions, and apply for a passport and get the country's own currency at your local bank. Most of all, have fun, and never give up. Don't let anyone stop you.
