Last January I traveled Europe with WTW (Window to the World). Our group consisted of three people and our mission was to visit trade fairs. Due to my experiences of being an interpreter at various such international events, I was aware of the relatively boring style of modern Korean fairs, so my friends and I decided to look around at the more advanced European fairs for the sake of comparison.
It was a long journey through Europe by a rented car. Before we left Korea, we had collected information from the internet, travel guide books from the Central Library and we reserved the car. We had an international driving license, equipment for winter driving, and so many other things arranged. By the time we left, we felt completely prepared.
Our first destination was London, England, which had a gorgeous atmosphere and which is famous for musicals. It also has great museums, the beautiful river Thames, and above all, there are gentle Londoners who made the city attractive, apart from the gloomy weather.
Next we went to Paris, France, on the Eurostar train. After we finished the tour through the city, we picked up the pre-booked rental car. It was an unfamiliar place and strange to us all, so we clutched the map tightly, looked closely, and started driving carefully.
Our next destination was Luzern, Switzerland. We expected it to take seven hours to get there. We worried about the fact that it was our first experience driving in Europe. Unfortunately, we took the wrong expressway, so we arrived in another city named "Nancy", in France. It was very late at night. We were very excited but worried. Just at that moment, someone in our team suggested choosing a name for our car. It was a good idea to try and change our mood. Considering that the first city we visited was named "Nancy" even though we didn't particularly want to be there, we all decided to adopt the name for our car. From the moment, "Focus c-max" Ford was born again as "Nancy" at 3:00am that day. We didn't find an affordable or available guest house in Switzerland, so we had to stay in our car until dawn.
Throughout our trip to Europe, the most memorable experience was snowboarding and skiing in the mountains known as the Alps. Before deciding to go board riding, I worried about the slopes being dangerous because they were new to me. I never imagined that I could go snowboarding in the Alps so easily. I just rented a board and slid on down the slopes. It was a fantastic experience! I felt as if I were sliding through clouds in the sky. I stayed there snowboarding on my own instead of joining up with my travel mates straight away. My heart still beats faster when I recallthat time.
The word "Auto-bahn" in Germany generally means a highway of unlimited speed. Though one road we took had a maximum speed limit of 120km/h, I sped up to more than 180km/h. It was a dangerous test, but I just wanted to feel as if I were driving on the famous"Auto-bahn".
In Frankfurt we meta Korean couple who owned a guest house. They came to Germany in the 1970s as a miner and a nurse. I talked with them for a long time, discussing things like patriotism, immigration, and education in Korea.
There were many cathedrals in Europe, so I prayed when I visited them, including one in Vatican City in Italy. First, I prayed for a safe trip. I also wanted a good relationship with my travel companions throughout the journey. Finally I prayed that when I returned to Korea, I would do my best in my work.
I prepared for the last leg of our trip for a very long time. One of my co-travelers, Han Bi Ya said, "At the moment of dreaming, the journey begins." Even though I prepared for a long time, my trip was not perfect. I looked forward to seeing Paris but it was dirty and unpleasant. The impromptu visit to Heidelberg was very impressive. I learned to understand that 'Travel is like life'. Expectation, disappointment, regret, and pleasure are all aspects of traveling; but what is more important is to make one's dream come true.
I tried to find the best way to travel, and the best places to visit; but the effort as a whole is what has left a lasting impression in my mind. I believe that the lesson of this journey has left me with the wisdom to deal with difficult situations throughout my life.
