Traveling

I think that it is very important to travel to difference places, especially studying abroad. I feel that it really broadens your horizons and opens your mind up to so much more that is out there. It is important to go out of your comfort zone and traveling definitely involves doing that! Also, vet schools LOVE these kind of experiences on your applications and I was questioned about mine at interviews.

During my senior year of high school I was chosen by an organization called "People to People" to be a student ambassador and travel to Europe for three weeks during the summer following my high school graduation. I was told that a faculty member had picked me but that it had to remain anonymous.  (I think that they just sent out letters to everyone to see whose parents would fork over the money for the trip, but hey, who knows)

People to People Student Ambassadors July 2009

A group of about 40 students were chosen ranging from 7th-12th grade (me being the oldest). We traveled to France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. This was an educational trip and we visited numerous landmarks, museums, chapels, and famous areas. Not only did I learn a TON on this once in a lifetime trip, but I saw so many amazing things and I was able to appreciate all the art and history that I learned about in school. When you travel to different places and countries you learn about the culture, history, and economics and it opens your mind up to things that might be different from what your used to. You may also experience or see a lot of things that you don't see at home such as poverty, different living conditions, etc.

Some of the places that I went to are Versailles/Gardens, the Louvre, Fragonard Parumeur, Eiffel Tower in Paris, France; Strasburg, France, Lucerne, Switzerland, learned how to make apple strudel in a culinary institute in Innsbruck, Austria, stayed with a German family in Munich, Salsburg, Austria, Mauthausen Concentration camp, Vienna (where the famous James Bond ferris wheel is), Medeival Ages camp in Freseich, Austria, Venice, Florence, and Rome in Italy.

Some of my favorite places and experiences from this trip were traveling to Paris, France and seeing the Eiffel tower, it is HUGE. Seeing the Mona Lisa (really tiny).

I LOVED Switzerland, it was so calm and peaceful and beautiful there!

My favorite part was staying with a German family in Munich, Germany, so COOL. I stayed with a family of 4, mom, dad, brother and sister. I became close to the mom and daughter and they showed me around town, we went to a huge museum, the Olympic Park, the beer gardens, I got to try wiener schnitzel! I also got to go to school with Andrea for the day which was cool! Most of the students spoke some English and of course I attended the English class-guess what they were doing that day?? Watching the Simpsons!! (in English)

My host siblings-at the museum

My host sister-Andrea

My host mother!

Olympia Park

 I got to see around town like a "normal" person instead of with a huge group of obvious tourists. It was nice to see the day life of the town.










The family was super nice! I don't have a picture of the dad because he worked practically the whole time. (Mom stays at home) However, dad worked for BMW and they had 2 BMW cars themselves...very nice.






















Olympia Park was huge! It was really cool to be where they Olympics once took place!












And of course ITALY-AMAZING. My favorites cities were definitely Rome and Venice!

The Colosseum!

 Typical Gonzalo-ing in Venice! 

The leaning Tower of Pisa, Florence, Italy.










I am very thankful that I was given the opportunity to go on this once in a lifetime trip!! I encourage you to travel to different places and take advantage of travel abroad opportunities that your school has! Yes, it does cost money to go on these trips. But there are ways to fund raise and pay for them! You will not regret these amazing experiences and like I said before, vet schools LOVE to see that you have these types of experiences!