September 22, 2015
Not All Who Wander Are Lost
By: Stephanie Griffin, Honors College Senior
Traveling the world is a dream that I’ve had from a young age. To explore places and experience new cultures, food, and even architecture was always a goal for me, along with filling up my passport. I never thought I would have the chance to go abroad, but this summer, I did just that: traveling to 7 different countries throughout Europe in just over 2 weeks. I wasn’t studying abroad or going to see my family — I was taking a once in a lifetime opportunity to simply travel.
Approaching my senior year here at ECU, I have another 4 years of graduate school to look forward to, including summer sessions. I knew that this summer may be the last time that I would have the opportunity to travel and wouldn’t be up to my eyeballs in graduate school debt, so I went for it. With the help of a buddy pass for my flight to Ireland and back, I was able to travel on a budget and get quite a head start on filling up my passport.
Having already traveled to Haiti before, this was not my first international trip; but it was a one of a different kind to a diverse continent. Over the course of two weeks, I traveled by plane, train, and bus throughout Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Northern Ireland. I tasted the best pasta I’ve ever had (thank you Florence), walked along the cliffs of Ireland, and even put my feet in the Mediterranean.
Aside from all the food and views, I also was able to experience history through different museums, holidays, and traditions. I was able to stand on a bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice (in amazement at the architecture), touch the Berlin Wall in Germany, walk through a castle in the Czech Republic and experience Orange Day (a historical holiday) in Northern Ireland.
Where does the Honors College fit into all of this you might ask? Seeing such a large group of students exploring the world only further pushed my drive to do the same. If everyone else was traveling, why couldn’t I? The seminar classes were also helpful as well. I recently took Ocean Exploration with Dr. Runyan where we discussed the history of diving as well as the Titanic. Sure enough I found myself at the Titanic Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland,and the best part was having an understanding of diving and different underwater ROV systems. I was able to take the information I had learned in class and directly apply it in a country halfway around the world. The Honors College provided me with courses and knowledge that I was able to apply all over Europe, and without the drive I was given from my fellow colleagues, this Europe exploration trip might have waited for years. My biggest piece of advice would be, when you are given the opportunity and feel strongly about something, live on the edge and go for it! Happy travels!
