Student study abroad essay: The pastries were good. The art was better.

I decided to spend this past J-Term out of my comfort zone. With my passport in hand, I embarked on a journey to study classical music, something I knew nothing about, in three different European countries. Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic each had their own currency and language that added to the cultural experience.  Along the way, I created four new friendships with girls from Rider. If it was not for this trip, we would have never crossed paths to create this bond. The five of us walked away from our trip with some hilarious stories of us figuring out our way across Europe.            
Eating my way through Europe —my preferred method of travel — exposed me to unique local cuisine. I enjoyed all the “must have foods” that travel guides told me: trdlo in Prague, wiener schnitzel in Vienna and goulash in Budapest. Most importantly, I savored the most delectable pastries. While enjoying European foods, my senses were opened to another big difference between Europe and the United States, the performing arts.            
It was a culture shock to see how these countries value the performing arts as compared to how little the United States does. I toured numerous theaters with rich histories. My favorite was the Estates Theater in Prague. It is the only remaining theater that Mozart performed in. I sat in the place where people listened to the world premiere of Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni. Later that night I saw the famous opera performed with marionettes. After seeing that special art form, I got to listen to my very first opera at the Vienna State Opera House and now I get to say I heard my first orchestra performance by the Czech Philharmonic at Rudolfinum.           
When I was not touring historic theaters or experiencing art forms for the first time, I enjoyed my free time at exciting tourist stops in each country. In Budapest, I swam in the outdoor Széchenyi thermal baths, smiled for a picture in Hero’s Square and experienced first hand the hype around the Szimpla Ruin Pub. I stood among the crowd of tourists to get a video of the Prague Astronomical Clock, froze in a trendy ice pub, drank famous Viennese coffee, stood where the Sound of Music was filmed and walked the halls of famous palaces where royalty once ruled. 
Now that I am back home, I have a phone filled with pictures and a bag full of souvenirs so I will never forget what I learned abroad. My trip was an unforgettable experience that taught me more in two weeks than a semester worth of lectures ever could. I am incredibly grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity that Rider’s Center for International Education gave me.