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Thousands of Miles Away
- By: Megan Hanson
- Created on: 09/19/2009
- Rated By 0 Users
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As I look through every journal entry detailing my extraordinary trip to Europe, I realized that it wasn’t the amazing sights that defined my trip, but how the amazing sights changed and defined me. Every moment I spent touring museums, walking through the cramped and busy streets, and interacting with the locals not only gave me rich stories to tell once I got back home, but furthered my development into the person that I have become.
All the way back in 8th grade, when I was just starting to put on make-up and like boys, is where I heard of People to People Student Ambassadors. I had been nominated as a potential ambassador, but completely dismissed it until sophomore year where my dreams of going to Europe were in full bloom. After a year of mental preparation, meetings, tests, team activities, work, and volunteering, I had become fast friends with the group of teenagers that I would be traveling to France, Italy, Sicily, and Malta with.
After an 18-hour flight, my fellow student ambassadors and I rushed to get off the plane to finally see how our hard work had paid off. My moment in Paris was exactly how I experienced my first visit to Hollywood. You imagine clean, shiny buildings, expensive cars, beautiful and well-dressed people, but once you get there you realize that it was the media creating this dream for you. In reality the streets are filthy, everyone smokes, traffic is a nightmare, and no one likes Americans. But, there were shining moments, which included touring the Louvre and seeing the Winged Victory and the Venus statue. Also, we visited a little village known as the Taize Community where they promote religious harmony and bring forth an outstanding diversity of people every year to set aside their differences and be together spiritually. That’s the most amazing quality about People to People, your experiences internationally never makes you feel like a tourist, but apart of the real culture.
I absolutely loved going to Italy and Sicily. The natural beauty and cities are exactly how you envision them, and I was lucky enough to be able to go and see Rome, the Leaning Tower, Pompeii, the Coliseum, and most importantly the Statue of David. This statue had the largest effect on me because there no matter how long I stared at it, there was no way I could fully understand how beautiful and perfect he was. I described him in my journal as “the most beautiful thing I will ever see before I have children or see heaven”. I also had the most fun in Italy because that is where I became the closest with my friends. The long bus rides, rooming together, team activities like talents shows and making pizza made it impossible to form cliques or exclude other people. We were all sharing the same experience together, which caused us to put al our differences aside and become friends.
Although I am leaving a ton of events and experiences out, the most important part of this trip was how it changed me. Before, I was shy, isolated, impatient, naïve, and definitely going through the worst awkward stage that adolescence provides. Now, I’m more grown up, have more confidence, and have an idea about what I want in life. This program forced me to do things I didn’t want to do, but for my own good and I will forever be grateful because People to People sped up the process of me turning into the person I have always wanted to become.
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