Over the course of the past two weeks, I spent my time visiting France, Monaco and Amsterdam. Given the lack of time left abroad, I’ve thrown out any life lesson of slowing down I’ve acquired thus far in favor of making the most of my time.
We arrived in Nice, France, late Friday night. Early that next morning, we were already boarding a brief 30-minute train to Monaco. The relaxed nature of traveling between countries is an experience I haven’t had until now, and one I’m going to miss when back in the United States.
Surrounded by race cars, luxury stores and yachts, we explored Monaco over the course of a few hours. We spent much of our time camped out at the Fairmont Hairpin, a prime viewing point for the nicest cars I’ve ever seen. I’m not necessarily a huge car fan, but I could have spent all day there.
I was glued to the window the entirety of the coastal train ride back to Nice. Upon arriving, we explored Old Town and made our way towards the beach. My mom studied abroad for sometime in France, and every corner we turned helped me understand why she loved it so much. I can still distinctly recall her teaching me how to say “Hello, my name is Emma,” in our Church parking lot on an early Sunday morning when I was younger. This weekend, I put that French lesson to the test, and entirely butchered it somehow.
The next week, I made my way to Amsterdam along with some of my friends from Villanova. There truly is no travel experience that even begins to surprise me anymore, and that includes the first night of this trip. Running from a delayed plane to a random port along the Amstel to make a wine and cheese night cruise my friend had booked was hardly out of the ordinary. After the tour guide made me jump from the dock on deck with my travel bag strapped to my back, I was ready to go.
Following that hectic beginning, we made our way down the canal. Amsterdam’s “dancing houses,” were illuminated by the warm streetlight overhead, allowing for us to take in the best views of the architecture.
Seeing the tulips in full bloom this season has been on my travel bucket list for quite some time, and the trip lived up to every expectation I had. Immediately after getting off the bus that Saturday morning, we were transported into what felt like a Disney movie.
We took our time coursing through the expansive garden paths, only stopping to take in views of the meticulously well-kept fields. I honestly could have spent the entire day there.
There’s many ways I’ve come to recognize I’m nearing the end of my time abroad. A “check in is right around the corner,” email on my phone, a dwindling bank account and the finalization of my summer plans have all served as reminders that time is inevitably running out.
However, in the whirlwind of the past three weeks this bleak reality hit me hardest in a park in Amsterdam over our grocery store picnic dinner. One of my friends who is also studying abroad in Italy shared that she had a mere two weeks left in her program. Looking down at the date, probably for the first time in weeks, I realized I wasn’t too far behind.
As I embark on my last few trips of the semester, I’ll be writing from Malta next.
Until then,
Emma
