Traveling has always been an important aspect in mine and my family's life. My grandpa always traveled with my dad and his siblings when they were younger, and my dad has now passed on the tradition to my sister and I. Ever since I can remember, every summer we always had our family vacation, and we always take the occasional trips throughout the year. We would always wake up bright and early and head to our destination. My parents have brought us to so many new places and exposed us to so many new experiences. I am so blessed that my parents were always so adamant about traveling and seeing new places. It has opened my eyes to the world. My parents have taken me and my sister all over, whether it was just a simple drive to Florida or a plane ride to Canada, we were always doing something new.
In the summer of 2013 I had the greatest pleasure of traveling to Europe with the UAB Concert Choir. It was an experience that I will never forget and always cherish. I went to the Czech Republic, Latvia, Italy, Germany, and Austria. Traveling abroad was always a dream of mine, and with the help of my parents, it finally came true. My experience in Europe was very grounding, and it made me more respectful of other ethnicities and backgrounds. The best part of my whole trip was when I got to stay a week with a German host family. They were the most welcoming people I had ever met. They made sure I felt at home and part of the family. It was so amazing to see how they live their everyday lives and how they function as a family. And of course Germany was where I had some of the best food, and it was even better that it was home cooked meals. When I left for Europe, I was very nervous and not knowing what to expect, and even though the trip had its moments it is something I will never forget. I definitely plan on going back.
Now that I briefly shared a travel story I want to explain why I believe traveling is so important, and why it has a special place in my heart.
Traveling is so much more than just spending a ton of money to go to sleep in a hotel and doing typical tourist attractions. I believe when you travel you should try to not do those typical tourist things. Instead of eating at a big fancy restaurant in Tie Square, go off and find some locally popular 'hole in the wall' restaurant. The fun in traveling is when you get to experience things that you can not do at home. Instead of visiting the big art museum in Nashville, go find a local art fair, and believe me, I know they are there. Being in Europe I did so much more than I would ever get to do at home. From trying new food to living with a family I just met. But those experiences gave me a new understanding of different cultures. I even have some friends in Germany now. The most rewarding thing any person can do is to get out and see the world. Even if you are just going to a neighboring state or to another country, just go out and do or see something new.
The reason traveling is so special to me, is because it is something I share with my family. All my summer and spring break trips are always with my family. I do not care that I am a senior in college and I spend spring break with my parents, but its really the only time I get to spend with them when we're not all concerned about work or school. I strongly believe that the reason we are all close as a family is because of all the great experiences we have together. We still bring up funny memories from trips that happened over five years ago. My family and I cherish our vacations we take together. This spring break we are going to Orlando and even though we have been more than enough times, it is the fact that we are spending time together and we always manage to find new things to do. Another reason traveling is so important is because I love the feeling of exploring new places and escaping reality to enjoy life.
My advice to anyone who loves to travel is to never stop. Always widen your experiences and never lose the excitement of adventure. My advice to someone who has not traveled as much is to start. I know it can get expensive but start saving now and you will make the money to get yourself out somewhere. Instead of spending money on tangible items, save and spend the money on experiences and memories. I promise they will last much longer.
