Traveling to Europe may come with a hefty price tag, but the experiences and cultural engagement traveling offers are truly invaluable.
Having personally experienced the breathtaking views and differing cultures of Greece, I can confidently say that despite the high costs of planning a trip abroad, actually getting over there is the issue due to international travel costs being the highest factor in planning your trip, the experience is truly amazing. During my time in Greece, I got to experience the unique culture and how people do things differently from how they do in the US.
Mrs. Hennemen, a history teacher at SPASH and a huge adventure seeker, shared her experiences on the affordability and uniqueness of her European journey. Her first time exploring places like Rome, Mykonos, Florence, and Dublin provides crucial evidence of Europe’s enriching experiences. From the affordable travel expenses to the captivating cultural differences, Mrs. Hennemen’s experiences support how the value of traveling to Europe surpasses the cost of a plane ticket.
During our interview, Mrs. Hennemen highlighted how amazed she was by the affordability of all the travel expenses that came along with her deciding to travel abroad. For instance, she explained how “The hotel costs were relatively low.”. She also pointed out that using public transportation, such as a tram service, was not only cost-effective but also provided a unique perspective on the fast-paced European lifestyle. Hennemen’s first-hand experience of navigating through the “Hectic streets of Europe.”. Sheds light on the practicality and ease of getting around, further reinforcing the value of not just her European travel experience but anyone else willing to step outside of their comfort zone and travel abroad.
Mrs. Manternach, another SPASH educator, shines more light on Mrs. Hennemen’s statements about the memorable experiences Europe had to offer. During our interview, she shared her many jaw-dropping moments while staying at a villa on an island in Greece, really emphasizing the breathtaking beauty of the European landscape. Similar to Hennemen, Mrs. Manternach also noted the affordability of certain items in Europe such as the pricing of a pair of shoes and clothes that caught her eye while traveling abroad, that usually wouldn’t be as affordable as it was compared to what it was in the US—further shining a light on the value of the European travel experience. Their combined experiences shed light on the cost aspects of traveling and how easy it is to get around.
Digging deeper into the information on traveling, Rick Steves, a popular travel enthusiast, delved more into the idea that “The experiences and problems a person encounters during their adventure can give you a better look into how the world works around us, even if it is done differently from how we as individuals do it”. Meaning that no matter how hard a person tries to match someone else’s travel ideas, they will never be able to get the same experience out of it as the other person, Since it is proven that everyone has different values and beliefs, making it truly impossible to match another person’s experiences when traveling abroad.
The value of traveling to Europe extends far beyond the initial cost. Mrs.Hennemen and Mrs.Manternach’s experiences paint a picture of the affordability of travel expenses, the stunning cultural differences, and the unique perspectives they gained from traveling to Europe. Meaning that it’s definitely worth going out of your comfort zone and creating your own perspectives on your experiences and ideas on how a culture acts or does things differently than how they are done here.
