Ever since I got home from Germany, gratitude for this entire experience has consumed me.

I went into the trip with zero expectations. I was honestly quite nervous about travelling abroad without my family and with so many people I barely knew. Every time someone from previous Plus3 trips told me I was going to have the best time of my life or family and friends asked if I was excited, it almost made me more nervous because I wasn’t even thinking about it.

I can sometimes be a pretty shy person that takes a while to feel comfortable around new people. I also tend to rely too heavily on structure and control in my daily routine. I used to think I had to meet a certain criteria to feel my best like getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, being active, etc. Knowing I would have to let myself go with the flow on this trip was daunting, but before leaving for Germany I promised myself I would do everything in my power to make the most of this experience and have as much fun as I possibly could. I feel so grateful now knowing I did that to an extent I didn’t know I was capable of.

A single moment I keep thinking back to from the trip is getting off the incline at the top of the fortress in Salzburg and seeing the view of the mountains and the city below. I don’t think anyone was expecting to see anything like that, so all of us collectively being in awe was really special. Apart from that, I just keep thinking back to all of the laughs we shared, the heartfelt conversations we had, and the genuine interest everyone had in getting to know one another. It’s very rare for 20 people to get along let alone become such good friends so quickly.

The experience of working with and learning from individuals from a different country has made me far more openminded and understanding which I will take into my future business career. It was refreshing to see the way German culture prioritizes sustainability and the well being of the environment. Coming back from this trip I feel more passionate about eventually pursuing a career that will allow me to travel or involve international relations in some form.

I enjoyed every single moment of this trip, and more importantly, I enjoyed getting to know each and every Pitt student, German student, tour guide, bus driver, and program director. Sometimes in life I think its easy to tell yourself that you’ve already experienced the best day ever or you’ve already made your closest friends, but when you stay open and excited about trying new things and meeting new people you give yourself endless opportunities to change your life for the better.