The International Hippie

When I was in middle school, my mom binged the entirety of the Anthony Bourdain show, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Occasionally, I would join her on the couch and munch on chips and salsa while gazing upon his adventures. I was engrossed in it all: the food, the culture, the customs, the people, and the incredible stories. I had always wanted to travel but this show solidified my urge to explore the world. I remember watching an episode of the show that took place in Spain. I recall Anthony Bourdain eating paella, drinking wine, going to a bull fight, and dancing in the streets. This episode developed my desire to travel to Spain. In later episodes, he referred to himself as an "international hippie", a term which I loved so much that I used as my Instagram handle for years. I wanted to become an international hippie and see the world and all it has to offer.

Up until this point, my international experience has been slim. I have only ever been out of the country a few times, mainly for day trips across the border to Nogales. I did not even own a passport. I wanted this to change and knew I had to take my travel desires into my own hands. I applied for a unique program through the University of Arizona Honors College, designed for first-year students. Through this program, I could travel through Europe with a cohort of my peers and earn six units of credit as well. It all seemed too good to be true and I definitely did not expect to make it into the program. When that acceptance email came, I could not even believe it. My travel dreams were starting to become a reality. So that's how I ended up here. Currently, I am in a class with my incredible instructors and cohort of peers that will be traveling together through France and Spain. I am so grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to see what happens next.

♡ Katie