Quinn’s final thoughts

 Trip summary

These seven months have been an amazing experience. I have learned so much about the world and about America.  

I learned how almost none of the outside world is like my community. It seemed like a lot of people lived in apartments where we went.

I learned how European people think of us. Some people thought of us as annoying tourists and others really liked us! I learned how they thought the election went. Some people thought that we would have a great 4 years with Trump as our president and some said that he seemed like a horrible choice. I also learned how much newer and better developed American is. Europe has a lot of old towns and roads where as American is all new and nice.

My perspective changed on the world because I saw how most people are as fortunate as us. I saw collapsing buildings, bullets in walls, and all together really old homes.

The thing I liked the most about this trip was how we bonded over the 7 mounths. I feel like without the distraction of friends, we really started to connect with each other.

The thing that I disliked was the excessive amount of castles and waterfalls. Ever since Iceland, every waterfall we went to wasn’t even close to the first. And when we went to the Disney castle, every castle after that just seemed ok.

The thing that surprised me was the lack of feeling homesick. At the beginning of this trip, I thought I would miss my home and friends way more than I thought. 

I learned that I really like to travel. Before this trip I didn’t really enjoy going to new places, but now I really like to find new cool places.

This trip was very good for my family. It taught us about the world and it gave us an experience we will never forget.

On the trip home, I was feeling a lot of emotions. I was very excited to see my friends again, to see my home, and so much more. I was also feeling sad because I didn’t want our once in a lifetime experience to end. I can’t believe it is already over.

What food will I miss?

◦ Chicken shnitsal 

◦ Pizza

◦ Bread

Simone’s final thoughts

 One part of our trip that was surprising to me was Bosnia Herzegovina. We were never planning on going there, and I am super glad that we did! It was very interesting to learn about the war, especially because I just read a book about it in school! It is crazy to me that a war so impactful isn’t taught to kids in the USA. 

I have also really enjoyed the places we have gone to. I especially loved spending time with my Aunt and Uncle on Aäland. It was super fun to get sweaty in the sauna only to then jump in the sea, and stay up till 2 every night because the sunset lasted all night! I also absolutely loved Germany and Austria. Mainly to food! In Germany, the pork knuckle and schnitzel were AWESOME, and in Austria, I had the best pretzels of my life (and I eat a lot of pretzels)! We even had pretzel bread, that we put fresh ham and cheese on!

I also think that this trip made me realize how advanced and developed the USA is. For example, in the USA hospitals are everywhere! In Europe, we drove through towns that didn’t have a hospitals within at least 50 miles! 

I have really loved this trip, and the impact that it has had on my family and I. We have all gotten really comfortable with each other, and the bond that we now share is unlike anything else. I am super excited to go back to our home. Before we left, I always loved everything about it, but this trip has made me love it even more!