December 2, 2024
As I walked along the cobblestone street, the morning sun warmed my face. The quaint buildings, each with their own charm, filled the space beside me, making the area feel like a storybook setting brought to life. How lucky was I to experience this at the ripe age of 19.
But as I strolled past the crowded cafes and lively shops, a wave of anxiety washed over me. Reality finally set in. Aside from the company of my older brother Paulie, I was completely alone in a foreign country.
I paused for a moment to take a deep breath, trying to soak in the scenery around me. The street was alive with sounds from the chatter among tourists to the songs of local musicians. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I tried to savor the moment and immerse myself in the culture, but I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling of uncertainty.
Up until this point, I had only ever traveled to tropical destinations with my family. The safety and security of the all-inclusive resorts gave my dad some peace of mind. He liked lounging by the beach, drinking frozen daiquiris, knowing that wherever I was in the hotel, I was out of harm’s way.
But I wanted more. I wanted to go beyond the bounds of what I had previously known. I wanted to escape the sheltered environment I grew all too familiar with. I wanted to feel independent.
That burning desire for freedom led me to Italy and Spain, where I spent two weeks checking off everything on my travel bucket list. At first, the adjustment was hard. I wondered if this was how independence was supposed to feel – lonely, scary and nerve-wrecking – but I soon learned to embrace the unfamiliarity.
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Overcoming my uneasiness about the trip wasn’t easy, but Paulie’s relentless encouragement to explore and discover new things was a welcome distraction, especially since we began our trip in Rome. There was so much to see in so little time, so I had to put on a smile and keep moving forward until, gradually, that smile became genuine.
The driving factor in this sudden change of heart was experiencing the beauty of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel firsthand. I’ve never been one to really appreciate art or architecture. There’s always been a disconnect in my mind between the vision and the outcome; however, standing beneath such ornate and intricate statues, I felt a shift in my perspective.
How could so much depth and expression be captured in stone?
Each statue told a different story through an array of complex human emotions. I saw their fear, hope and despair, but what stood out most was their humanity. Even though in the grand scheme of things, these statues were just slabs of stone, they actually represented so much more. They highlighted the intricacies of the human experience: triumph and defeat, love and loss, greed and sacrifice.
I never thought blocks of chiseled marble would make me feel seen, but there I was, captivated by their silent presence. There was something so comforting and fulfilling about the experience.
Pictures do not do it justice; you have to be there to feel it.
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Just as I was beginning to embrace the Italian way of life, I was whisked away to Spain. While much of the trip revolved around tapas plates and cava glasses, it was the colorful atmosphere that really drew me in. Madrid and Barcelona are two very different places, yet they share one common thread: a vibrant, rich culture.
Madrid showed me passion and pride. I felt this energy when I attended a flamenco show at Corral de la Moreria. From the ornate costumes to the fierce movements to the lively music, the entire production served as a celebration of the city’s deep cultural roots. The ambiance was unlike anything I had ever experienced.
Barcelona showed me conviction and creativity. This idea was illustrated during my visit to La Sagrada Familia, where the kaleidoscope of colors from the stained glass danced along the smooth columns. The amount of detail and thought that went into the design and architecture of the basilica showed genuine faith.
I left Spain with a greater understanding of myself and the world around me. I never had much of a connection to my own culture so getting to see what could have been was very eye-opening. The unmatched display of pride and dignity for their customs and traditions made me reflect on who I was as a person and what I was lacking for not taking an interest in it sooner. The admiration I felt sparked a deeper sense of belonging within me.
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When I first arrived in Italy, I felt stuck, as I watched the world pass me by. But when I opened myself up to the experience, everything changed.
This transformation allowed me to embrace the unknown and fully immerse myself in the beauty and unpredictability of each moment. I would have never expected that a trip would change my outlook or reshape identity. I always assumed that when people said those things, they were just being cliche or over-the-top, but I’ve come to realize that it’s genuinely true.
I think the beauty of the experience comes from what you don’t see coming. It’s in those unexpected moments that you truly discover what you’ve been searching for.
Growth lies beyond the comfort zone.