7 flights, 2 ferries, 5 trains, and handful of taxis, metro rides, and buses later...

Well, here's my final post! I know, you're probably sick of me so it's for the best :)

I'm just sitting in the Paris airport waiting for my next flight to the ATL...so ready to be back, even if it is for only 5 days. At least Gretchen and I survived the two weeks! No (major) injuries, illnesses, or (too) stressful moments involved!

Our feet are torn up and sore, our sunburn (literally just from yesterday) hurts a bit (the backpack doesn't help), and we're exhausted, but so worth it! There are only a few minor things we would have changed about our trip. If you're looking to do a backpacking trip, hit me up for some tips. :)

I have so much to reflect on about my time in Europe. I feel like a new person, but I think I'll feel the effects even more when i'm at home. When I think back on what we accomplished in the last two weeks, I feel so independent and competent! Traveling takes planning, energy, and a good attitude, and everything went so smoothly for us! (knock on wood, i'm not home yet). We met so many cool people at our hostels and out and about and learned so much about the places we went to. I feel like my understanding of the world around me has broadened so much. You can only learn so much in school from professors and textbooks, kids! There is no better way to learn than to experience (thanks, Hendy and Odyssey haha).

One thing I want to talk about is karma and the way one treats others. In Budapest I was reminded of the good that there is in the world- Gretchen and I looked sadly lost more on more than one occasion, and without even asking, someone would come up to us and ask us if we needed help. It's such a small gesture, but it can really make someone's day! I urge you to reach out to someone that looks lost, whether it's at your university or in your city, it only takes a couple minutes and it can mean the world. I know I will next time someone's looking for Mills or Ellis at Hendrix!

Another big thing is the idea of being in the moment (ULS people, the Time is Now is so huge. I know you've heard about it a million times, so, sorry :) ) Traveling is a perfect time to live in the moment and appreciate what's going on right in front of you, whether it be bad or good. Gretchen and I had multiple situations in which we got off at the wrong metro stop, etc and it turned out we found somewhere really cool and exciting! Appreciate everything that happens to you, and even the things that seem seriously bad at the time you will be able to laugh about later. Like how I got nailed by a bike going full speed in Amsterdam and proceeded to get cussed at by the girl who hit me. I had a massive bruise on my leg and it's just now going away...it was terrifying at the time but now I think it's hilarious. And lots of people talked to me by asking about it, which was cool. Lol. You can see it in the picture Gretchen tagged of me on Facebook from Amsterdam.

I can't continue enough to talk about the value of travel, so if you get the chance to, do it! Maybe you can't do the double major you wanted to, or have to take a Maymester class to finish, but study abroad. The worth is incredible! And I haven't even done my semester yet!

Speaking of that, I probably won't be writing until i'm abroad for my semester (next Spring) in (hopefully) Buenos Aires, Argentina! If you have any recommendations at all about that city in particular or South America in general, hit me up. (Amigos latinoamericanos- ya sé quienes son :P)

Well, I should probably go pee before my flight and also actually go to my gate... if you ever want to talk to me about my travels, your travels, hosteling, Europe, backpacks, flying, or ANYTHING travel related, I'd love it!

Final hugs!
-Anna

Berlin: A New City of Old Events

Soooooo we just arrived in Prague a few hours ago! What a beautiful city! It's a very large contrast to Berlin, where all of the historic buildings were destroyed in the wars and so they're working on rebuilding everything (to look as old as they should be). So there is a lot of construction, and buildings that look old but actually are very new. Prague is so old and beautiful, one of my favorite parts about traveling (in Europe) is the historic, gorgeous architecture! 

Learning about the history of Berlin was definitely my favorite but also the most saddening part of the trip there. On our guided tour of the city we got to see part of the Berlin wall that is still standing, a model checkpoint between East and West Berlin, and also got to stand above Hitler's bunker where him and his wife killed themselves many years ago. To realize that you are in a city where there existed so much unfairness is so fascinating. The people in East Berlin (living there by chance), basically woke up one day and were told they weren't allowed to visit their family or friends, go to school or their job if it was in the West side of the city. Families were separated for years. People had to quit their jobs and find new ones in this new area that they weren't allowed to leave. Westerners were allowed to visit, but there was an extremely long process to get a permit to do so, and you were only allowed to go across the border 2-3 days per year.

Everywhere I travel now I am reminded of the concepts that I learned in Cultures of US/Mexico Borderlands and the border. This concept is most definitely universal, although there is some variation depending on the types of governments involved. But with strict borders such as the one between the US/Mexico and West/East Berlin, there is so much prejudice involved. It is also by chance that you were born and live on one side, and are blamed for something you have no control over by limiting your rights.

We are exhausted so just resting for the rest of the night but tomorrow are going on a guided tour to a concentration camp outside of Prague. Should be a sobering but educational day.

One week until we come home! :( Sad but we are excited for American food and pedicures: our two priorities upon arrival. You should see our feet from walking. Disgusting.

Much love!

-Anna

A bit late...my bad

4 August 2014 11:30 am

the train from Amsterdam to Berlin

The first leg of our journey is over! We are currently on the train (about a 6 hour ride) to Berlin where we have 2.5 days. The travel from Madrid to Amsterdam was not the best for me- I had some disappointments and frustrations and a bit of crying in the middle of the airport, but overall, I made it! Traveling may appear to be glamorous and all full of fun, but there’s a lot of work and stress that go into it in the background. I had the opportunity to stay with my friend Bastienne in the town of Schagen about an hour by train from Amsterdam. I met her randomly on my family’s trip to Thailand and fortunately we’ve stayed in touch- thank you Bastienne and Stefan if you’re reading this! :) Their hospitality was so appreciated! Meet people on your travels because you never know how they can help you out in the future (saving me a day and a half on my own without Gretchen).

Amsterdam is such an interesting city I think because of how it is perceived by Americans compared to how it actually is. Everyone in the US thinks, “oh, let’s go to Amsterdam, full of drugs and prostitutes and partying!” It is so much more than that- a city built around beautiful canals with beautiful architecture. Gretchen and I took a while to find our hostel (we didn’t really plan in advance where to go) but then we finally got to put our backpacks down and explore the city. Walking is such a good way to get around, even if you get lost, you just get to see more! This trip is an experiment for Gretchen and I because we are both really huge planners- like we’re scarily organized when it comes to school and most other things in our lives. Yes, we know exactly what cities we’re visiting and when, and we have lists of what we want to see in each place, but we haven’t planned out what we’re doing day by day. SHOCKING! Luckily we also have adventurous spirits that allow us to do this. As long as we confirm that we have somewhere to sleep and a way to get there, I don’t think either of us will be full of too much stress.

The culture in Amsterdam is so fascinating; you can especially notice the difference when walking through the Red Light District on a Saturday night. The sex workers line the streets in red-lit windows, scantily dressed and looking for work. They are completely legally working- they pay taxes and rent out the spaces they use. It isn’t taboo like it is in the US. Also, no matter 10 am or 10 pm Monday through Sunday, you will smell weed everywhere you go. It is not actually legal, but the government supports it because it brings in money for the country and the city. I don’t remember the exact figure but it’s like hundreds of millions of Euros each year.

Finally, I would encourage anyone who’s reading, especially young people, to do a trip like this! It’s so fun to not live glamorously, in a room with 20 other people, out of a single backpack. We’re eating street food and living as cheaply as possible by walking and it’s so exciting. I’ll try to write after each place, I’ll probably have time on the trains!

See ya later!

-Anna