Travel Is The Only Thing You Buy That Makes You Richer

This has long been one of my favorite quotes and has resounded more forcefully with me throughout this semester. One of the best things about living abroad this semester was the ease with which I could travel to any number of countries, even if just for a long weekend. That was made even easier by the fact that school gave us a two-week Spring Break- I was able to spend a week in Italy seeing Florence and relaxing in Cinque Terre, spend the weekend back in London and then do a whirlwind tour of Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, and Luxembourg. I even got to take my boyfriend to Dublin as surprise for his birthday and spend a weekend in Deauville, France.

After finals ended on Thursday, my boyfriend and I were able to catch a Eurostar train to Paris for the long weekend. Apart from getting to go to one of my favorite cities, it was so exciting to have the new experience of taking a train through the Chunnel. Even though it was so stressful to plan a trip while I was still taking exams, it was the best possible final trip for the semester. Paris is always beautiful; Paris in the Spring is even better. More so than just that, it’s wonderful to immerse yourself in the language and the culture for a few days. From the farmers markets to the très delicious croissants, and the gorgeous sites, France makes for a great trip. The experience of being able to go to countries with a cultural history stretching back so much earlier than America’s founding is truly an education in itself, and one that everyone should experience!

While this semester has undoubtedly been an expensive experience, I'm so grateful for the worldly education it has provided me. I could easily have stayed home and spent the money on new clothes or shoes or something. The memories I've acquired while I've been here will last much longer than any of those material things. Learning from other people, learning new languages, (poorly, mind you!) trying new foods and seeing new things is a growing experience. Spending time in so many countries has definitely widened my worldview, exposed me to different cultures, and yes, made me richer in the most important ways.