Through my STEP Signature Project I had the opportunity to travel to London, Normandy, Paris, Krakow, and Berlin with 19 other Ohio State students to study World War II and the lasting impact it has had on Europe. The program lasted about a month, and after the program I stayed in Europe for two-and-a-half weeks to travel to the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, France, England, and Ireland with a friend of mine.
Waiting for the Tube at London-Heathrow Airport with other program participants
Going into the program, I was used to living a life that was extremely detail oriented. I felt that I needed routine and stability to thrive. I was reliant on my planner, and rarely left the house without it. If plans were changed at the last minute, it easily could become a stressful situation for me. The WWII program travels to many places in an incredibly short amount of time. On a program of this nature the ability to adapt and be flexible is the most important thing you can take with you. I realized early on that being set in my ways was preventing me from fully experiencing Europe. I had to throw my comfort zone out of the window and learn to be ok with spontaneity. Looking back, the trip participants affectionately say that Dr. Murphy and his laws travelled with us. If something had the potential to go wrong, it did, and we had to be able to think on our feet to find a solution. In my transition back to Columbus I’ve noticed I’m less reliant on my planner, and more willing to take life as it comes
Ale and I in a Tube Station in London
I participated in a Digital Storytelling Workshop last weekend for STEP. In the workshop I focused on how my trip required me to break my old habits and keep my mind and my planner open. The workshop allowed me to revisit a lot of the emotions and struggles I experienced while trying to find a balance between having order and having an open mind. It was hard having to go back and process some of those difficult moments again, but after the workshop I felt like I had really made a lot of progress. I’m really thankful for the opportunity the workshop provided for me to continue to get to know myself better. When the Digital Storytelling Program makes my story available on YouTube, I will attach it to this blog.
The Digital Story participants Fall 2016
I had never travelled to a country where the primary language was something other than English, and I had never travelled by myself internationally. Because of this, I was more comfortable sitting in the lobby of my hotel and doing research and mapping out exact directions than just going out and experiencing the world. As I have mentioned, having a plan is incredibly important to me. I was forced to navigate using a paper map, or no map at all because my phone’s data plan did not cover international usage. As someone who is reliant on her smart phone this was a huge change in my life. Another issue I ran into was the weather. When you are reliant on a paper map, the frequent London rain can be a bit of a complication. Despite the amount of planning I did, somehow something always went wrong and we would end up lost, or we would have taken up so much time planning that we missed out on other opportunities. As time went on, I starting to realize just how much I was missing. When I started leaving my planner at the hotel, I found myself enjoying myself more. It took me going across an ocean to realize I wasn’t truly living. Some of my best memories of the trip are of things that happened completely by accident. I bought a single ticket to see Phantom of the Opera in London, and had an incredible evening by myself. I walked for what felt like hours with some of my best friends in Paris trying to find a Chipotle so we could eat burritos under the Eiffel Tower. I got lost in Berlin trying to find an art museum, but ended up accidentally finding the incredible Jewish Museum. This program helped me build on my sense of independence, and it built up my self-confidence.
One of the most rewarding things about living in the moment instead of in my planner was the interactions I got to have with the people. There are so many sad and scary stories in the news, that sometimes I forget that people can be really amazing. I was especially impressed in the small town of Bayeux, France. The people were incredibly tolerant of our horrible French. Even though we didn’t speak the same language, they were able to communicate so much patience and kindness. Our bus driver, Mohammad, spoke very limited English. Throughout the week we spent with him, we shared multiple meals. Our conversations were limited to a few words and a lot of charades. I was amazed how much could be communicated by a smile or a wave. When we left Bayeux, I found myself wishing Mohammad had joined us. Even though we couldn’t communicate well using words, I felt like we had made a true connection and I was sad to leave him. I was surprised to see that it was so easy to make connections with people in another country. When I first arrived in Ireland after an incredibly taxing morning of travel I was overwhelmed by how busy and large the Dublin airport was. As I was attempting to read a map I was approached by a family from Northern England. They could tell I was not from the area and they wanted to know if they could help me with anything. After explaining the bus system to me they gave me and my friend a bus pass each. It was a 3-day pass that could be used to travel all over Dublin. They were headed back to England and had no use for it. I asked what they would like in return and they refused all offers of compensation. All that they asked was that we put it to good use and enjoy ourselves. The kindness of complete strangers was surprising to me, and I felt guilty for making assumptions.
Showing some Buckeye Pride at Point du Hoc, France
One of the most surprising things to me was how present the memory of World War II is in European cities. Because the war was not fought on American soil, it’s easy for us to forget about it. However, much of Europe was destroyed between combat and air raids. The memory of the war is very much alive. I was interested to learn that students in Germany are required to visit at least two sites per year as part of their education in Germany’s History. When walking through Paris at night, I stumbled upon a plaque on the side of a building memorializing a man who fought against German occupation. There are so many designated sites, memorials, and museums that it is impossible to forget. To me this was startling, but to the people who live there it isn’t odd at all. It was a month-long learning experience. I didn’t notice as many of these sites in our first city, I expect this is because my eyes weren’t open to what was happening around me. As time went on, I noticed more and more of these memorials placed throughout the city. Buildings in Berlin were marked with bullet holes. Churches in France had put in stained glass windows depicting the actions of paratroopers. I had the opportunity to attend a birthday celebration for the Queen of England, and during the celebration there were flyovers by the Royal Airforce. I recognized some of the planes from the World War II class I had to take before the trip. It was moving to see how important the history of the war still is to the people of Europe.
Outside of Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth’s 90th Birthday
In transitioning back to the United States I feel like my worldview and my view of mankind has shifted dramatically. Regardless of our differences and home country, people are people. I never expected to feel at home halfway around the world, but I find myself counting down the days until I can return to Europe. I’ve realized that my way of life was preventing me from actually enjoying myself. I have learned that sometimes it’s better not to make plans, and keeping an open mind truly does provide the most opportunity for adventure. This trip and the people I met through this trip gave me the push I needed to leave my comfort zone. I feel like a much more confident person, and now I know that no matter where life takes me I’ll be able to adapt to the situation and make the most of it. The world is a spectacular place, and I’m so happy I was given the chance to explore it.
Utah Beach – May 2016