I haven’t traveled outside of the United States since the summer of 2019. At one point in my life, I swore to myself that I would live abroad one day. I constantly dreamed about all the places I wanted to visit. Every trip I went on, I decided I needed to stay and live there for a while. But eventually, after finding my people and my routine here in the US, I sort of drifted away from that idea and found myself feeling more content with just staying put.

This summer I had the opportunity to travel to England and France on an educational trip with some coworkers and students from my school. To be honest with you, there were a few moments leading up to the trip where I wanted to back out. I had never been to Europe before, and I would be traveling with a big group of people I barely knew. In hindsight it sounds ridiculous, but I was allowing my anxious thoughts to spiral and take over.

During those last few weeks leading up to our trip, I prayed that all the stress and anxiety would just disappear once I got to the airport. I asked God to fill me with peace and joy during the trip so that I could simply be present with the people around me and enjoy each moment.

I would love to recount every detail of the trip for you, but that may take more time than you have to give me today. Instead, I will tell you that God did so much more than just answer my prayer. This trip was a huge reminder for me. I was reminded who I am at the core, what I care about most, and why I absolutely love to travel.

Yes, I was able to see all the beautiful architecture and history in London and Paris. I was able to ride through the countryside and along the Normandy coast of France and take in all the sights. I was able to tour monasteries and cathedrals and art museums. But the most memorable parts of the trip – for me – were the small moments in between:

• Walking into the National Gallery in London and seeing the words “REST AND BE THANKFUL” right at my feet.
• Standing in line at a bakery in Winchester, frantically trying to count out enough pounds to pay for my apple danish, and looking up to see the employee smiling from ear to ear and offering to help as if I were the only customer in line.
• Trying to order in French for the first time and learning the proper way to ask for a bottle of water. (Je voudrais une bouteille d’eau.)
• Eating quiche and chocolate croissants while strolling through the streets of Arromanches with my friend Christy.
• Discovering that our French bus driver spoke Spanish 💃 (10/10 recommend being friends with your bus drivers, but that’s a whole separate blog post).
• Getting sunburned while sharing life stories on the beach with our tour director and other new friends from the group.
• Singing and dancing and laughing in front of the Eiffel Tower on our last night.

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I may not remember every detail of the art I saw or the castles I toured, but I will never forget the people I met. I will never forget the feeling of speaking a new language for the first time and being understood. I will never forget those little moments, where I was able to connect with new people and learn more about the world around me.

The experience of traveling to a new place, hearing a new language, learning about a new culture, and connecting with new people helps remind us who we are at the core.

When we step outside of our comfort zones and remove ourselves from the monotony of everyday life, we gain clarity. We are able to see the world as it truly is. We discover (or rediscover) what matters most in life. We are able to let go of the expectations we place on ourselves, and we begin to live authentically, without the pressure to conform or impress.

When we travel, we are coming home to ourselves.