I’ll freely admit that one of the biggest, most enduring goals of my life has been to see as much of the world as possible. I feel so lucky that I’ve been privileged enough to do this: I studied abroad in Peru, spent two months backpacking through Southeast Asia, had an internship in China, spent New Year’s Eve in Mexico, lived for a year in Prague, honeymooned in Central America. Although there is still SO MUCH to see (right?!?), one region keeps me coming back for more:
Europe!
I like to think I’ve loved (or at least liked) every place I’ve visited, but Europe is the place I want to keep living–for now!–and here are a few reasons why:
The variety
From the moonscape of Iceland to the canals of Venice, from the sun-baked coast of Croatia to the stormy seas of Ireland, Europe encompasses an amazing section of the globe. I like that I will never run out of new places to see, just in this little corner of the planet!
The food
Some of the best meals in my life have been in Europe, and some of the most interesting, variable cuisine can be found here. French croissants, Hungarian goulash, Belgian fries, Scottish whisky, Czech beer, Croatian wine, Irish cheese…the list could go on! There are so many unknown, delicious elements of cuisine to discover here.
The history
You can practically feel history when you take a breath here–and the history is packed full. Hungary alone has about 2000 years of history beneath its belt–from the Ottomans to Communism and beyond.
The architecture
I don’t know enough about architecture to discuss what’s Gothic or Neo-Gothic and so on, but I love the gorgeous buildings in Europe, from tiny cottages in remote villages to ornate palaces and government seats. I also love that every country/city tends to have its own architectural style.
The beauty
The cities are beautiful, the countryside is beautiful, I can’t get enough!
The culture
There are certainly similarities between many of the countries in Europe, yet every one has somehow managed to stay distinct. Whether it be language, their own twist on ancient ceremonies, food preferences, beer and wine regions, and so much more…I love staying for a while and learning about the unique customs.
The unpredictability
I think Bill Bryson said it best: “I loved the idea that you could never be sure of anything in Europe. I still enjoy that sense of never knowing quite what’s going on.” It’s true–I hardly ever know what’s happening, but a lot of time, that’s what keeps things interesting. It’s not always the best when your bus (that has ALWAYS taken you to where you need to go in the past) suddenly ends five stops early, leaving you to make a run for it–and of course, no one else seems fazed by this–but still. It’s usually exciting and adventurous and keeps me quick!
The possibilities
I absolutely adore the feeling of being able to hop on a SHORT flight or a (longer) bus ride and be in a brand-new country, with a new language, a new culture, new cities to explore and new sights to see–all within a day’s trip. My home in the United States is Montana, which is a huge Western state, where it can take a day’s travel just to visit a new state–much less to visit a new COUNTRY! I love the possibilities of travel that are at my fingertips in Europe.
The English teaching
I would likely enjoy teaching English anywhere, and I hope to try teaching elsewhere someday, but I really love teaching English in Eastern Europe. I love learning the culture from locals, spending time with kids, learning about and celebrating the country holidays at the schools and with my students. The approach to languages is (mostly) wonderful–everyone is excited to learn English, but also excited to share their native language with you, too.
So, do you think you could fall in love with a region, too? Or have you already?
Joining Angie, Emma, Jessi and Kaelene for a travel-themed LOVE link-up! It is the month of February, after all!