Ever since watching the sci-fi thriller Ex Machina, I've wanted to experience the beauty of Norway firsthand. The film, one of my all-time favorites, was partially shot at the Juvet Landscape Hotel in Valldal, Norway. As I was preparing to depart for my semester abroad, I emailed the head of the property to inquire about booking a stay at the hotel. It was pricey, and the prospect of traveling to and staying in a small Norwegian village was daunting; but three months later, as I sat in a hot tub surrounded by snow and trees and mountains and streams, I knew it was worth it.
Read MoreWhen you've only partially recovered from the flu, getting up at 4:00am for a 7:30 flight to Geneva isn't particularly appealing. But it's a bit easier to do when you were never asleep in the first place.
The night before my trip, I tossed and turned and literally never fell asleep. I want to emphasize the no sleep part as well as the still recovering from the flu part. It wasn't an ideal circumstance—and yet, there I was, walking in the still-dark morning hours to the train station.
Read MoreI landed in Amsterdam just before 6:00am. It was the start of a new day in a new year on a new continent—and I was all alone.
Before my first flight from Kansas City to Detroit, I did something I'd been dreading for months: I said goodbye to my mom, my dad, and my boyfriend, Tyler. It was my first time going to Europe and my first time leaving for such a extended time—and it felt surreal.
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