Europe. This simple word evokes so many senses within me. We each have a way to recall memories and for me, smell is what draws me back to my travels throughout Europe. From the wafting smell of freshly picked fruit and the fresh breeze of the sea waking me each morning in Greece to the staunch smell of hard work and potatoes in Poland, each country has its own smell. I have had the privilege to travel to Paris, France; Korkow, Poland; Rome, Italy; Dublin, Ireland and Athens, Greece. I carry with me in my mind and heart from each location has a unique smell that is reminiscent of the culture and history. France was sweet like their macaroons and wine. Italy had smells of drying pasta noodles and herbs and Ireland had a purity in the air that matched its historic landscapes. I will never forget these places because of pictures I took mentally but more importantly because of how the countries changed my life.

There are so many great things about traveling abroad. The first, I would say, are the drastically different cultural norms. Poland was the biggest culture shock. From the moment I stepped off the plane, my grandparents and I were being carted off to our hotel. Soon after we were walking to our Welcome dinner. We were served a perfectly prepared pork loin the size of a large dinner plate and each of us were encouraged to take a shot of bison grass vodka. It came as a surprise to me that even I was encouraged to partake in this Polish tradition of having a shot for good health and a blessed trip to Poland. The Polish pay no regard to the time of day when drinking, nor do they view drinking alcohol as an age-defined activity. My grandparents allowed me to take in the full European experience. One of those experiences was mountain tea, which is a little bit of water, a lot of vodka and a tea bag served hot. I would say that a drink of mountain tea is a sure way to cure a head cold! Besides being a country where alcoholism is prevalent, the Polish people take pride in their deep faith and conservative views. I learned that the normal, trendy fashion of the United States may not be the most appropriate attire in Poland. But one of my most profound memories was my time at the concentration camps. During World War II, Poland was home to darkness and sadness with many ghettos, concentration, and death camps. During the war, those who were not put up in ghettos or taken to the camps turned to drinking or religion to escape their problems. Traveling to Poland made me realize how hard it is to overcome devastation because 70 years later they are still rebuilding.

In stark contrast to the culture of Poland, I think Ireland was one of the happiest places I have visited. There is something to be said about how easy it is to be happy when everything around you is so green and alive! No matter where I was in Ireland, the landscape was just so breath-taking. Words give little justice of how beautiful the countryside and cliffs are. I was only in Ireland for four days, but my sister made sure I soaked up every bit of the Irish culture! From the Guinness and Jamison factories to the Irish dancers, the church steeples and the colorful doors, every Irishman I met was chipper. Ireland gave me a sense of renewed hope that life doesn’t have to be stressful.

The second great thing about Europe is the distinct smells. Paris, France—my favorite place—smelled of fresh baguettes and sweet macaroons. Thinking about those sweet scents takes me back to the city walks and the fresh morning air on my skin. I paint the most vivid pictures of my walk to the Eiffel Tower just by those smells. France is spontaneous just like the aromas that followed me with every passing café.

Similar pictures are etched in my memory from my trip to Italy. Though my trip to Italy was nearly 5 years ago, it seems just like yesterday I was there! I will not forget how the streets were filled with whiffs of fresh bread baking and mozzarella, Parmesan and herbs melting into deliciousness. The mouth-watering scent of warm waffle cones as I passed numerous gelato shops brings back the memory of throwing my coin into the Trevi Fountain wishing to return to Italy. And since I threw my coin with my right hand over my left shoulder, I am insured a return trip to Italy. I hope to experience even more of the freshness of Italian culture.

The thing I remember most about Greece is being so high in altitude that we didn’t have to shut our windows to prevent bugs from coming in. Imagine waking up to perfect smell combination of sweet cantaloupe and pineapple and the sea’s breeze. I traveled to Greece right after coming from Italy so the new smell of Greek food was intoxicating. Much like the comfort of grandma’s handmade blanket, the smells of Greece wrapped me in warmth. I have never been so relaxed in my life.

Five years ago, I could only dream of experiencing the smells of Europe. I thought traveling was going to be to that one thing at the top of my bucket list that would never be crossed off. One person deserves the credit for filling my memory bank with so many fragrances. My stepdad turned the never's into possibilities and allowed this nineteen year-old to see the world through my many senses. He is the most amazing parent a single human could ask for. I am an old soul searching for an outlet to express my true colors. He gave me that outlet in world-travel. I hope one day I can provide the same euphoric experiences to my children and allow them to color their world with fresh baguettes, warm waffle cones, and pure ocean air.