If you have ever asked yourself if you want to travel or study abroad, my advice for you is to just DO IT. I believe that if you ever get the chance to travel someplace out of the country that you should take that opportunity. It allows you to experience different cultures and explore different customs, and you learn so much more than you would ever expect.

One of my all-time favorite memories was my trip to France the summer of 2016. It was the summer after my senior year and I had never been out of the country before. The excitement built quickly as I saved money and prepared for the trip of a lifetime in June. Finally, graduation had come and gone and it was time to take on France.

After a 14-hour flight, we arrived at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France. Over the course of two weeks, we traveled to northern and southern France. We visited the Eiffel Tower, Mont-Saint-Michel, a parfumerie, Notre Dame, a few farmers markets, the ocean, and so much more. I ate at many different restaurants, toured many beautiful buildings, and even got to climb a huge sand dune (which I thought I was going to die on because it was so hot).

Eiffel Tower: AnnaHagen

I learned so much about French culture, French food (YUM) and the French people while I was there. It was wonderful to catch a break from my busy schedule, especially preparing for college before the trip. I created so many memories with my friends and new friends that I made along the way. I learned about people, cultures, traditions, food, architecture, music, and history that I never would've learned to stay home.

You can take as many photos and videos as you want but you can't save the feelings you felt on any type of disk. This trip was an experience I will never forget. The food, the smell, the sounds, the architecture, the people are all things you have to experience for yourself.

Traveling gives us breathing space that is often lost in our usual day-to-day existence. Having a moment to take advantage of the peace and quiet and to simply ‘be’ allows us to let go of stress and tension and just enjoy being in the moment — a key focus of meditation and a practice you can take home with you.

Nice, France: AnnaHagen

When you travel to other countries and see the beauty of sunsets overseas, the tall horizons of mountains, historic buildings created with incredible detail, or oceans as blue as the sky, you realize the world is full of more beauty than you are capable of seeing in a lifetime. But, you still have the intense passion to find more.

It also helped me learn more about myself. Traveling sometimes puts you in tough situations and sometimes you run into challenges and opportunities that help you discover who you are in a way that’s only possible by being somewhere away from home. You learn to see that the world is so much bigger than your perspective on it.

Mont-Saint-Michel: AnnaHagen

I know sometimes it can be scary and sometimes you might believe it won't work out because trips can be a lot of money, but when you travel it is totally worth it. The risks you take will leave you with unforgettable memories.