As the past two weeks in The Netherlands have come to an end, I have been able to reflect on the amazing experiences I was able to participate in. This opportunity was a major learning opportunity for me, in more ways than one. In traveling to a new country, I was able to build new relationships, make global connections, experience a different culture, and broaden my understanding of sustainability, all while building my independence. While there have been more teaching moments than I can count, I think that the biggest lesson I learned throughout this experience was how easy it is to cling tight to your culture from home.

I have been fortunate enough to travel to other countries previously, but I was much younger and less accustomed to my own routine. I think that after completing my first year of college, I developed a different level of independence as before, and therefore my own daily routine. Especially as someone who likes to stick to a routine or schedule, trying to break out of this while in a new country proved to be difficult.

I don’t mean that I came into this experience expecting everything to be the same, as the whole point was to experience a new culture and therefore lifestyle. However, I think there is a difference in expecting everything to be the same and unconsciously trying to find comfort in familiarity. While a silly example, I found myself clinging to the breakfast I typically eat at home instead of the more typical breakfast here of bread with various meats and cheeses. Although I so desperately wanted to try every possible new food and participate in different traditions, it was so easy to revert back to what I am used to.

Additionally, I feel like there is a specific impression that many share of Americans when they travel abroad: that they always expect everyone to speak English to them and cater to their needs, despite being in a different culture and country. I have always felt myself kind of looking down on these people, as how could you go to another country that has different customs than your own and expect it to be the same as at home? However, after traveling to the Netherlands without having learned Dutch, I realized I was just another ignorant American who expected everyone to speak English.

While practically everyone I interacted with did in fact speak English, I still felt that I had made a mistake in not attempting to learn this huge piece of the Dutch culture. I think that in the months leading up to this experience, I was so overwhelmed with making sure I had everything I needed and finding things that I wanted to see and do while I was there that I lost track of time and the task of learning the language fell to the bottom. Also, I think that in America everyone has gotten too comfortable in traveling abroad, as it seems that very few people, including myself, try to learn the native language of where they are traveling as “everyone speaks English now”. Although I could easily navigate around the cities and communicate with people, I could tell that a piece of the experience was missing, and I will forever regret not making more of an effort to break out of the comfort and ease of my own language.

This trip has introduced me to what I hope to be a future full of traveling, and in experiencing how easily one can hold onto their routines and customs, I feel better prepared to seek change as opposed to avoiding it. At school, this could apply to taking classes or participating in clubs that may be out of my comfort zone. In branching out, I am confident I can find a whole new community while broadening my experiences. In my future travels, I now know that I will experience the most if I leave room for new experiences. I think that despite missing out on learning the Dutch language, the Plus3 trip to The Netherlands was an amazing opportunity that set the stage for my future adventures, and without it I would never have learned the importance of appreciating and inviting change.