From Six Travelers to One

This past Christmas was no typical Christmas. Rather than waking up and opening presents with my beloved family, we slung our suitcases into the car and took a nine hour drive down to Miami where we hopped on our flight to Budapest. Since arriving in Europe on the 26th, I have traveled to Budapest, Vienna, Innsbruck, Munich, Palermo and Tunis.

It has been a wild ride traveling with my family- family trips are never without hiccups considering everyone in a 6 person group, no matter how easy going and accommodating, has slightly different priorities. However, I cherish those hiccups more than anything because they have led to endless laughter, the kind of laughter that makes you feel like you're in the gym working towards a six pack. Needless to say, the experiences we had were breathtaking, thought-provoking, one-of-a-kind and exploratory, both extrinsically and intrinsically. 

Intrinsically, I have been able to self-assess. I am more than eager to begin my journey studying abroad, but it is a big transition to travel alone rather than travel with my favorite people. Traveling has been a part of me since I was brought into this world, but this moment, the moment of stepping away and exploring on my own, is a big step. But definitely a step I am ready to take. The best part of it all is that I know I will be able to find another family within my program that will make me laugh and love every moment the same way. When I embarked on this journey, I was one of six. Now, I have only myself to continue exploring the continent of Europe and myself.