Growing up in Minnesota, I always dreamed of traveling the world, but for a long time, this felt like an impossible goal (or at least an expensive one). Coming from a first-gen. background, my life was mostly shaped by my family’s routines and responsibilities. I didn’t leave the Midwest much, and the idea of living in another country seemed out of reach. But everything changed when I had the opportunity to study abroad in London, through my school, Macalester College. Now, I’m experiencing life in a major international city, making new friends, and exploring different cultures in a way I never imagined. Through this journey, I’ve realized how big the world truly is—and how much I want to learn about it all.
One of the most exciting parts of being in Europe is how easy it is to travel between countries. Recently, I visited Amsterdam, a city that feels like something straight out of a painting. The first thing I noticed was how beautiful the canals were, they would stretch through the city like a network of shimmering blue streets, and they would reflect the cloudy sky. The houses were beautiful, tall and narrow. Walking through the Jordaan district and visiting the Anne Frank House reminded me of how much history and culture can be packed into a single city.
