By AshleyLe
In the past two weeks, I had the exciting opportunity of traveling across Europe. Starting in London and wrapping up in Amsterdam, I found myself in 6 countries, 9 cities, 6 buses, 4 hostels, and countless of restaurants. But most importantly, I was surrounded by the presence of the GW community once again. Whether if I was in London, Paris, Madrid, or Vienna, I was welcomed and hosted with generosity and hospitality from GW students. So while the 2017 Colonials Weekend is quickly approaching back at home, I am honored to be a part of the global GW community abroad.
In reflection of my time constantly on the move in the past 2 weeks, I realized a few important lessons that would last a lifetime:
- Be a part of a community, and stay engaged in your community
Community here doesn’t simply limit in just the GW community. While I was blessed to have been welcomed and hosted by many GW students in different European countries, I also found myself in the presence of those with the same faith and common interest. In Paris, I found home at Hillsong Church. In London, my heart is full while attending a Chelsea FC football match. While the definition is vague and is always different, it will almost always be true that a community is where you find a home away from home. The idea of staying engaged in my community pushes me to continue reaching out to my friends currently living abroad. Checking in and sharing our experiences together help us to learn from each other while strengthening the community and friendship bond.
- Tourists vs. Visitors
Traveling is more than just sightseeing. It’s the opportunity to engage in a new culture, to be pushed out of our comfort zone, and to overcome the local challenges. Throughout my time in Europe, I learned to ride the buses (with Madrid being the only exception because its metro system covers most of the city), to speak the basic phrases using the local languages (German is by far the hardest), and to purchase meals at the markets (Naschmarkt in Vienna is my favorite) or local and smaller restaurants. During the strike in Barcelona, I walked along Catalonians who voted for independence, not because I was on their side, but because I wanted to understand what has driven them to separate from Spain.
- Be a contributor, rather than just a spectator, to the global community
Whether if you are a traveler, a tourist, or a student living abroad, it is always our responsibility to contribute to the host community. As the world pays more attention to the global refugee crisis, it is worth considering how we would feel if we were to be in a foreign country as a forcibly displaced person instead of a guest, However, refugees are among those who would contribute the most in their host country. Perhaps our most direct response to the refugee crisis is to be responsible travelers ourselves, who contribute to the communities we visit in every way possible. In Germany, I was able to help a disabled elder crossed the street despite the language barrier. In Paris, I made sure to recycle whenever possible even if it seemed inconvenient at time (it’s illegal to not recycle in Paris, seriously!).
As I travel back to Jerusalem in this very moment, I know I will never truly find a permanent home here in this Holy land. However, as a student, and a visitor, I look forward to contribute to my new community in every way possible. In preparing for the new academic semester, it is my responsibility to continue reflecting on these experiences, while continue discovering how I can best fulfill my role here in the rest of my time abroad.
To summarize, traveling is fun. Responsible traveling is rewarding and purposeful.