This summer has been truly a once in a lifetime experience – no one will ever have this same trip and neither will I. As someone who first travelled only this year, I was really jumping into a new experience without much of an idea of what to expect. I am so glad I made the choice to do this huge trip. That being said, it is a tiring activity. After I got home I had to really relax and get myself used to being on a schedule in the US again. It is quite shocking for one’s mind to jump around so quickly and have so much new information overloading your brain in such a short amount of time.
I was very lucky to experience having both familiar faces and unfamiliar faces on this trip as well. They are two totally different experiences. Traveling not only allows you to meet locals, but people from all over the world. I really enjoy meeting new people and have become a much more open person because of it, which I am grateful for.
I really want to stress to other students and people interested in traveling to other countries that it is so important to go and put yourself out there to try new things. It wouldn’t have been such a great experience if I weren’t willing to try an activity, food, place, etc. that I had never heard of. It is so important to be open-minded and keep in mind that things will not always be on your schedule and that’s okay.
The three countries I visited all taught me uniquely important lessons. It has made me more antsy to visit more places and I’m sure that I will also be back to China, Germany, and Finland. I want to thank the Department of Landscape Architecture, SEBS International Programs, and other faculty, staff, my family, friends, and people I have met abroad for helping, supporting, and allowing me to partake on this crazy three-month trip. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you all!
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