Every time I go to Europe, I fall more and more in love with it. Everything about it is amazing to me, from the beautiful architecture to the kind and fashionably aware people to the amazing food. To say that Europe is vastly different from America would be an understatement. I remember this one day in Zürich, Switzerland where we had a lot of free time to go out and have lunch and to walk around and see the city. We must have been there around the same time that the students were having a school break because there were a ton of kids my same age walking around the city. I remember thinking about how different Zürich is than America. These teenagers were walking around, in clothing that I would consider being my best outfit only worn occasionally, just around the town. Not only did I notice that they were in gorgeous outfits, but I also noticed that they were too, walking around the city as if they were tourists, taking in all the beautiful sights just as I was. That is something that I have rarely seen in America, residents of the city appreciating the beautiful sights that their own city has to offer.
Another one of the biggest things that I noticed that took a lot of getting used to for me was the lack of cars in the cities.

In Europe, it is not common to have a car or to use that type of transportation to get to places. Most people choose to walk around their city to get from place to place, which is very uncommon where I’m from. It took a lot of getting used to for me because we were constantly walking to places, which I loved, I just wasn’t used to it.
One of my favorite things that we did on the trip was taking a train to the top of Mount Rigi and being able to see the snowy mountains. I thought that the views from the top of the mountain were absolutely stunning and I also loved getting to have fun in the snow with my friends.

Sophia, SPC Collegiate High School Student, Alps Program, March 2022

As my first time leaving the country, this trip was everything I could have asked for. I had so much fun at every single place we went to, and all the history and culture simply blew me away. I got to try so many new things and saw pieces of art and music that I had never seen before. One of my favorite places was the mountains next to Innsbruck that we took a lift to the top of. It was so cold, and the snow was so incredibly bright. It was a magical experience, especially when I climbed just a bit higher and saw mountains on every side. I also really loved the free time we got to explore the cities we went to, and I tried a lot of food that I had never even seen before.

I created so many new amazing memories on this trip and I am so sad that it’s over. I will be telling stories of what I experienced for years to come, and I know that I desperately want to go back and spend more time in the places we went to, as well as explore the places we did not. Another place that I wish I had seen more of was Salzburg. That city was rich with history and I know I could have spent weeks there just enjoying the atmosphere and all the sights. I am so glad that I got to try one of their infamous Mozart Kugels, and that I got to see their beautiful architecture. That being said, my favorite place by far was Vienna. The way that those centuries old buildings melded with the more modern architecture was breathtaking. I loved the intricacies of all the churches and will not be forgetting how historic and sprawling Vienna is. This trip was an incredible opportunity for me and I will treasure the memories and souvenirs for years. Everything was so exciting and all the people we met were very friendly and good natured. I honestly cannot wait to return when I have the means to do so.

Riley, SPC Collegiate High School Student, Alps Program, March 2022

I have always loved travelling but growing up getting to go to Europe seemed like an impossible dream I would never achieve, so when I heard about this trip I jumped at the chance. I loved getting to observe the rich culture and history of each of the amazing places. The beautiful cathedrals, statues, and natural wonders were sights to behold. Most of the towns felt like we were on sets of a movie or living in a postcard. I am forever grateful for the amazing friendships, memories and laughs I got to experience that I never would have sans this trip.

Maryssa, SPC Collegiate High School Student, Alps Program, March 2022