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Whole Trip Reflection

Paris, France

January 23, 2023

My time in Europe will be something I look back on forever. There is so much to say about it and I definitely could not put it all in a blog post, nor do I have time. However, I was able to finally sit down today (Monday, the 30th) and reflect on the trip for the first time. I immediately had to drive down to Elon, 8 hours, the day following our return for sorority recruitment. We had 13 hour days and stayed up until 2 am, so I never got a chance to write this blog post or deeply reflect on my time until now. I am so grateful for the past three weeks in Europe and all the amazing places/structures we were able to see. My favorite structure was St. Peter’s Basilica because it immediately took my breath away when I stepped inside. I think the reveal was so intense because we had to wait over two hours to go inside and it was optional. I knew I had to see it and I am so happy I did. I can’t even begin to imagine how much effort went into all the small details. I am still blown away by how a building that detailed could even exist. The gold color and other vibrant colors covering the ceiling made it so spectacular. It took me awhile to be able to take it in and realize what I was actually looking at while walking around inside. The structure is in my opinion the “greatest one” we saw! The structure also has so much meaning behind it and symbolism inside, making it much more special to me. It reflects the Renaissance era perfectly and was designed so well. My favorite country had to be France. I’ve always wanted to visit the Eiffel Tower, it was on my bucket list since I was little. Going to France made me so jittery and excited compared to the other countries. I also enjoyed spending time in the south of France. Steak is also my favorite food and I would have it as my death row meal so I was stoked when we had steak twice for dinner in France. The food was amazing throughout the country. I also got to taste real macaroons with gelato inside which were amazing. Speaking of the south of France, Nice was by far my favorite city. I liked how it wasn’t as big and crowded as other places we went to. Being near the water and on the beach instantly brightens my mood so I felt a wave of happiness come over me while there the first day. I already spoke to some of my personal goals in the Barcelona blog, but one of my goals that I did not mention yet was about mental health. I aimed to stay as calm and relaxed throughout the trip, being away from my closest friends and family. I didn’t know anyone going into the trip, so I knew this would be hard for me, being in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. But I can now say I successfully achieved this goal. I met 7 fantastic friends that I think will stick by me for life. I still text them more than any of my closest friends and we already planned to go out to dinner this week. They helped me stay my bubbly, kind self throughout the trip. There were days where I was extremely tired, physically and mentally, but having them throw hilarious jokes around or act in silly ways made my days ten times better. They always know how to put a smile on my face and for that I am extremely grateful. Without them, I think I would’ve been more mentally drained as the trip went on.

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Comparing and Contrasting Cultural Impressions between South of France and Italy

Nîmes, France

January 17, 2023

When it comes to France and Italy, there were some key differences that set these two regions apart from one another. The south of France had more of a relaxed, coastal lifestyle and luxurious aesthetic. Nice had many elegant cafes and expensive restaurants along the water. In contrast, Italy is more famous for its rich history and food culture. When it comes to food, the two regions have distinct culinary styles. In the south of France, we were served a variety of meats, salad, and seafood. On the other hand, in Italy, our meals were centered around hearty dishes like pasta, pizza, and gelato. The meals in Italy were commonly three courses served with dessert. We were at the restaurants much longer because we started with an appetizer, then had a first course, and then a larger second course, followed by dessert and coffee. Additionally, water that was served with dinner was free in France, but costed money in Italy. In France I noticed that people had more trouble communicating in English. For example, at Zara, the worker could not understand me when I asked where the blazers were. Much more people had the ability to speak clear English in Italy. This is probably because the cities we visited in Italy have much more tourists so the locals have gotten used to communicating in a different language over the years. In terms of cost, the south of France seemed to be pricier than Italy, especially when it came to dining. All of my meals were more than $15, and it was unusual to find a sandwich shop where I could get a quick and inexpensive meal like I did in Italy. The streets in Italy were also much more small and narrow. I feel like when we got to France the towns were really open and airy and you could walk around freely without being stuck in a crowd. The south of France and Italy both offered unique cultural experiences for us students. Personally, I was more attracted to the south of France lifestyle as Nice was my favorite city we visited.

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Significance of Water In Our Travels Thus Far

Marseille, France

January 14, 2023

In Rome, I noticed we were not necessarily on the coast as we were in other cities. This means they rely on a river that flows through the city for their source of water. Since water is not abundant nor easily accessible, it costs money to order tap water at restaurants, which I immediately found odd. However, I noticed in Rome there are an enormous amount of fountains that are supplied with ground water, so water is definitely not scarce, but maybe seen as more of a luxury. In Ancient Rome, water was a signification of wealth and power for citizens. Nothing about water stood out to me in Sienna since it is not located near a body of water. Sienna does not have any main river flowing through it therefore it does not have a local source of water. Besides the similarity to the public fountains in Rome, water does not majorly influence cultural identity in Sienna. As for Florence, I already mentioned the significance of the Arno river in past blog posts. The Arno river promotes tourism as it draws people in and functions as a gathering place. The river provides locals with clean drinking water and also boosts the city’s economy. The Arno river allowed Florence to be a center of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. On the other hand, this river has also been a source of destruction and death from past floods. The Arno flows through Pisa as well. As for Nice, the significance of water is almost obvious, as it plays a main role in the tourism of the city. Being located on the Mediterranean Sea, the city attracts people desiring a beautiful vacation, boosting their economy. The Canal de Gairaut solved the drinking water supply for the people on the land of Nice Côte d’Azur in the late 1800s. Out of all of the places we have visited thus far, the most obvious impact of water is in Marseille. Marseille is the second largest city in France and is conveniently located on a port. The Port of Marseille is France’s largest port and a major player in international trade still to this day. As we walked around the port, we could still see the boats that were used in this process. The Canal de Marseille is the largest source of drinking water for all of Marseille. The remaining 1/3 of the water supply comes from the Verdon River through Provence. These water sources provide a popular tourist site and cultural attraction.

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Villa Savoye - Cinq points de l’architecture moderne

Paris, France

January 21, 2023

1. Seen first are pilots, reinforced concrete columns that bear the structural load. These allow the movement of cars to easily get into the garage while also lifting the building off the ground as a new aesthetic.

2. Second, is an example of free designing of the group plan. As you can see, there are pilots dispersed throughout the room to allow an open floor plan. The pilots hold the structural load so that there are no load bearing walls on the inside of the room.

3. Third, is the free design of the facade meaning the exterior of the building is not load bearing, window would be crushed if all the weight was on the outside.

4. The fourth point of modern architecture seen here are the ribbon windows which cut the facade along its entire length and allows natural light into the rooms equally.

5. Fifth, and last but not lead, are the roof gardens that not only provide protection to the concrete roof but also allow members in the house to bathe in sunlight when necessary.

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Reflection on Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain

January 21, 2023

My time in Barcelona was cherished. Barcelona was my second favorite city behind Nice. Right when we arrived, I already felt settled in and very comfortable. To me, the city felt like New York City which gave me a sense of home. Even though it is one of the worst cities for pick pocketing, I felt safer here than in previous cities we visited. Maybe because I felt so comfortable with a sense of home and America, that I felt like I could live here safely on my own. My favorite structure we saw in Barcelona was La Sagrada Familia. Why? Why not. There is so much to mention about such a stunning structure that stands out of the city like a sore thumb. When first entering the front door, I was astonished by the colorful light consuming the whole interior of the structure and bouncing off walls. The stain glass windows were unlike any I had seen before (even after the numerous churches we entered). The sunlight was shining through them at the perfect time and lit up the walls, creating a mish mash of rainbows and completely drawing my attention away from my Voxbox and to the views (kidding, not kidding). As for personal goals, as a refresher, my main goal was to expand my knowledge as widely as possible while staying engaged. I can confidently say I feel I have successfully completed this goal. I made it my priority to pay attention to all the tours even on long days to take in as much new information as my brain could hold. Although sometimes it was information overload and I was extremely tired, I look back and think of how interesting and engaging the history is. It was essential for me to sit down at the end of the day and reflect on everything we learned since there was so much happening at once. Sometimes information overlapped, and I needed to take time to digest it. To ensure I could separate the information later on, I held myself accountable to my goal of taking notes in my phone and jotted some down during presentations. These notes were essential to creating blog posts with depth. The simple bullet points I listed throughout various times of the trip made it easier to reflect on what I learned and store the information in a clear and concise way.

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Pont Du Gard - Roman Ingenuity

Nîmes, France

January 16, 2023

The Pont Du Gard is an amazing example of advanced Roman engineering and Roman ingenuity relating to the architecture built during the empire. The Romans enjoyed showing off their work but creating long lasting structures that are absolutely massive. The Roman emperor Augustus’s son-in-law, Marcus Vipsanius, was responsible for a lot of this work. He was managing the city's water intake and management and construction of some of the most notable buildings in history, including the original Pantheon. Everything the Romans built was massive and the architects of the era wanted their structures to stand out. The Pont Du Gard reflects this desire, as it holds the largest Roman arches. The whole structure stands 161 feet high and the aqueduct spandex 899 feet long, demonstrating the massive size of this important tool carrying water from the Fontaine d’Eure to the Roman city of Nîmes. Not only is the size astonishing, but this structure exemplified the true engineering of the Romans during this time as the Pont Du Gard used the power of gravity. The Romans were intellectual and relied on their knowledge of mathematics to keep this building standing. The Romans were not only extremely smart, but also original. They created their own material, Roman concrete, which formed the base for many of the structures we visited throughout the trip. Specifically, the Pont du Gard’s stone are made primarily of Shelly limestone and weight up to 6 tons. Blacksmiths and all sorts of engineers came together to create this amazing aqueduct that would carry over 100 gallons of water every single day into the public baths and all sorts of needs within the city of Nîmes. I was astounded that the Romans were so careful about how they used their water in the flow of it to every part of the city, prioritizing wealthy families when the water level was low and filling fountains and public baths when the water level was high. The aqueduct was able to carry an estimated 40,000 meters cubed of water a day throughout 50 kilometers or 31 miles into the city of Nîmes, an amazing feat of its construction. Today the aqueduct is maintained so that generations of people may be able to witness what the Romans were capable of constructing to still stand in our current built environment.

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Gehry yes or Gehry no?

Arles, France

January 15, 2023

I believe the LUMA Foundation in Arles is significant to the contextual identity of the city. Although there is a lot of controversy surrounding the building because of its stark and unconventional appearance, I will definitely argue for it. First, the LUMA project was built on the Parc des Ateliers, an economic hub for Arles and the largest employer when it was built. The LUMA is highlighted in the city as it’s height towers over the old city and it’s design takes in the light and reflects it in unique ways. The building doesn’t fit the tone of the city but I think that is what makes the structure special: it stands out in its own way and is intriguing for locals and visitors to explore. The LUMA is made of concrete and glass, standing 56 meters and containing 12 floors. The facade is made of 11,000 stainless steel boxes along with glass windows. Clear to the eye, the structure displays deconstructivism in its architecture with its design representing fragmentation and lack of symmetry through its geometric patterns and spiral design. Additionally, the mirroring effect from the metal boxes takes on colors from its surroundings and the sky to give the illusion of movement. This form of design is a parallel to the Vincent Van Gogh touch, a style of painting that looks like the LUMA at night. The building serves as a detachment from conventional styles, but also draws i sports toon from the old city and Roman era at the same time. The glass rotunda at the bottom of the LUMA almost looks like the arenas from the Roman era including the one in Arles itself. Inside, the main exhibition hall doesn’t only showcase art, but engages conversation about education and culture. All in all, the LUMA pays a tribute to the natural area by making many parallels with the historical background of the city, making it an extraordinary structure.

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Sustainable Efforts in the Nice Meridia District

Nice, France

January 13, 2023

In the Nice Meridia district, there were many signs of promising efforts towards sustainability in the future. One aspect I found most compelling was how the infrastructure of the office building was flipped. This creates more usable space on the inside since the stairwells are on the outside. It also saves energy because the stairwells no longer need to be heated if they are placed outside. The infrastructure of the building was made of open metal beams so that less materials were used on the exoskeleton. Additionally, I found it extremely promising that this was the tallest office building made of French wood, meaning that the materials are renewable. This helps with economic sustainability efforts as the wood is locally sourced, increasing jobs in the city. This also contributes to less waste in transportation because wood is lighter than steel, a common material usually used in construction. This flipped infrastructure has other benefits as well. The load bearing is on the outside which allows for completely open floor plans for reusability. If the owners decide they want to change the floor plans in a few years, it’s easy to do so. These innovations for flexible use of spaces are efforts towards social sustainability. Lastly, the climate control throughout the district is very noticeable. There is plenty of biodiversity and vegetation thanks to gardens on each story that have benefits such as air purification, mental health, and water management. The tall windows and glass facade allow for natural lighting meaning less lighting is needed inside. The flaps surrounding the glass facade are for light and heat diffusion, all compelling efforts toward climate insulation and energy saving. Overall, the district has made successful progress in working towards a sustainable future.

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Florence’s Outdoor Public Spaces

Florence, Italy

January 10, 2023

William H. Whyte’s documentary sought to determine why some urban plazas were successful as public spaces while others were not. The first outdoor public space I noticed that was popular in Florence was the walkway along the river. Although this isn’t a square where people can gather all in one place, I noticed an abundant amount of people staring out at the sunset on the water all the way down the path. We walked along the river for 30 minutes and I realized so many human interactions were taking place here. One key factor in Whyte’s research that determined if a popular gathering spot succeeded was an abundance of inviting places to sit and relax. He determined that benches, movable chairs, and ledges were all inviting seats. My first observation was that people along the river were sitting on top of the ledge to get a better view and better pictures of themselves. Many people were in groups of two or more people, taking pictures of one another or commenting on the beautiful sky. Even our group stopped here to interact in this public space as well. I think it is convenient that the layout of the city was mapped around the river. It stretches for miles along the city and provide multiple bridges connecting to the other side of the river. Restaurants that acquired great real estate along the river had plenty of outdoor seating and chairs for people to meet up with friends or grab coffee and look out at the water. Water draws people, ultimately making people gravitate toward this public space. Whyte’s study also found that sculptures, water features, and food vendors attract people to urban plazas which we can clearly see from this example. The second public space I noticed was a plaza located right near the Duomo. This plaza is in the center of the main shopping center and has a carousel. My first observation was the triangulation that was taking place in this plaza. There was a man playing a guitar and many groups of people stopped to listen or take a video (even me). The plaza was strategically designed to be large to give enough space for people to hang out in and located right in the heart of the city. You didn’t have to go out of your way to find this public space, you would just stumble upon it and be forced to walk through it while strolling the streets. The visibility and accessibility of the plaza makes it a successful public space.

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Cultural Differences between Siena and Rome

Siena, Italy

January 8, 2023

Since Siena is located in the Tuscany region, the city is much smaller and located in the hills or countryside while Rome is the largest city in Italy and it’s capital. Due to its smaller size, Siena felt more compact and safe compared to Rome. Many of the streets were so narrow that cars could not drive down them (although some still chose to😂). Rome has many plazas dispersed throughout the city while Siena only has one main one. However, this main plaza is extremely important to Siena’s cultural history. Siena is broken into neighborhoods that are very competitive and have a horse race, Il Palio twice a year. The race puts a lot of emphasis on neighborhood pride and competition as explained by Marta. The pictures she showed us of the square completely packed and transformed for the horse track demonstrates the sheer importance of the local tradition, and how it is not an event that is held for tourists. It dates back to the Medieval times and is associated with the area's religion and rivalry. Another cultural difference that stuck out to me was the taste of the bread. Tuscan bread is made with no salt. According to Villa Campestri, “There are many stories about why the bread in Tuscany is without salt, but the most popular one is that salt was heavily taxed during the Middle Ages in Tuscany so Tuscans opted to go without in their daily bread. There are also rumors swirling about that Pisa placed an embargo on salt to the Tuscan city of Florence”.

https://www.villacampestri.com/blog/en/why-does-tuscan-bread-have-no-salt/

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Jubilee Church versus Traditional Church

Rome, Italy

January 7, 2023

The first observation I made of the Jubilee Church was that it is all white. This color differs from a traditional church that usually incorporate darker tones and wood in the interiors. Instead, the Jubilee Church has a marble like finish that is reinforced with steel, giving it a modern formal look. This bright and optimistic color may help the user experience because it can draw people into the church. The church stands out in a depressed neighborhood and lightens the space. Second, on the inside there are many differences between this church and a traditional church. The altar and walls are sparsely decorated with the only decoration being the crucifix. The purpose to this design was based on the need for intelligible speech for readings and announcements and reverb and volume for singing. Catholics do not like how the church is so simple because they like the decoration to be able to focus on and devote their faith to. In my opinion, I agree with this argument because at my church I enjoy looking at the stain glass windows and reading the passages on the wall, but I don’t know what to look at in the Jubilee Church with only plain white walls. Behind the crucifix I noticed a specific design called forced perspective, where the white background behind the crucifix contrasts light and dark. The three slits in the wall are meant to draw your eyes up toward the light. There’s a little window behind the altar designed so that at a specific time, the sunlight shines through and strikes the crucifix. Third, if looking at the altar, towards the right there is a wall of wood panels. These panels serve as a permeable membrane between the church and the exterior recreation side of the structure. These wood panels have gaps in between as it was acoustically strategic to let sound through. The acoustics from songs and musical instruments would flow perfectly through the wood panels and create a beautiful noise. I have never seen either of these features in a traditional church and I found the modernity of the Jubilee church to be unique and interesting. Lastly, some other differences I noticed were the three large sails incorporated into the exterior of the structure that represent the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The church was designed to look like a ship with the three curved sails on the left. They give a feeling of lightness given by the small thickness of the shells. The shape is supposed to represent the church is ready to ship the faithful, revoking early Christianity, and infusing holiness of interior with livability of exterior area. This design is incredibly conventional compared to traditional churches. Along with the sails, the church has a glass facade unlike any traditional church I’ve seen. The glass facade and walls throughout the church allow natural lighting and for sunlight during the late afternoon to penetrate the altar giving spectacular atmospheric effects.

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Pantheon as the 8th Wonder of the World

Rome, Italy

January 6, 2023

The Pantheon should be the 8th Wonder of the World for it’s powerful design and purpose. The name comes from the Greek words pan and theon meaning all and gods. The Pantheon that stands today was built on the site of another Pantheon that burnt down, so many think the new one was built to appease the Roman gods and serve as a temple for them. The structure is located in a small piazza of the city of Rome in which every corner you turn into this bustling square, you are simply in awe at the sheer size and architectural form. Your eyes are drawn in by the dark grey portico and forty foot free standing Corinthian columns. As you walk under the portico into the rotunda, the light beneath the columns dim and your eyes are drawn up to the oculus, the only source of natural light, demonstrating the intent of its precise design. The light shining through the oculus refers to Dio’s idea that the dome is the canopy of the heavens with the Emperor ruling over it all. The structure itself is a wonderful example of advanced Roman engineering from this time similar to the Colosseum, one of the 7 Wonders of the World. The Pantheon’s six layer concrete is made from a mixture of volcanic rock. The Pantheon’s enormous scale, circle-in-square movement pattern, and the dome’s half-sphere including the oculus, are all aspects that validate its candidacy for the 8th Wonder of the World. We do not know who designed the Pantheon, making the structure unique and mysterious. It allows us to think more deeply about the designs and be curious about which architect could have constructed such an important structure.

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Initial cultural differences between Rome and America

Rome, Italy

January 5, 2023

The first cultural difference I initially experienced between Rome and America is the food portions. At lunch, we were served a three course meal followed by dessert and coffee. I was surprised when we were first given an appetizer and then three separate pizzas, because in America we usually only order one course. You may choose to order an appetizer if you are super hungry, but it is not culturally integrated as a part of dinner in the United States. Our meals were also served with glass bottles of water instead of being filled with a pitcher of tap water like at restaurants at home. I learned this is because the water is much more regulated in Europe. Also pertaining to food, the food in Rome is much less processed than in America. The food we were served seems as if it’s made with simple ingredients and less fake ingredients such as as sweeteners and sugar. We took a cooking class where we were able to make our own pasta and the only ingredients we used were flour, one egg, and a pinch of salt. In Italy, asking for pepperoni pizza will get you a pizza with peppers, so instead you have to ask for salami. If you order pizza as your entree, you’ll receive a personal pizza which is incredibly different to the large 16 inch pizzas we share as a family at home. In addition, I noticed many differences about transportation as we were driving to the hotel. To start, most people in Rome drive super tiny cars that are easy to pack into parking spaces. People park bumper to bumper and leave absolutely no space in between cars. Many people drive smart cars, compared to the massive SUVs a majority of Americans own. I was thinking this aspect could be attributed to cultural differences and Italians simply prefer driving smaller cars or it could also be because the average income is lower and large cars are expensive. Also in relation to transportation, gas is extremely expensive at about $8 USD per gallon. In conclusion, Rome and America are very different in various aspects of our lifestyles.

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Blog Post 2: Evaluation of favorite campus structure

Elon, NC

December 6, 2022

My favorite structure on campus is Global Commons. This structure is my favorite not only because of its wonderful atmosphere to do work, but also because of its neat architectural design and views of the lake. Global Commons was built in 2014 as part of the Global residential neighborhood. This is a place where students come to complete homework and study for exams. It was even named the “Best Campus Study Space” on Elon News Network in 2020. The structure also includes the Global Education Center, classrooms, and Argo Tea café. The intent of the structure is creative: the Great Hall in the rear of the building fosters a quiet ambience that students recognize and respect. Everyone knows to not speak at normal voice level in the room, but to only whisper. Although many people come to Global Commons with a group of friends, this is a place architects designed for deep focus. The Great Hall features classical music playing in the background throughout the entire school day. Focusing on the materiality of the building, the exterior is built of brick. Once inside, it is easy to notice the wood trim lining the windows and steel beams. There is a huge fireplace in the Great Hall, used as a focal point of the building. Above the fireplace, as seen in one of the photos, is a barrel vault that makes the room feel larger. On the back wall of the structure, is a clerestory to let in an abundance of natural light. Furthermore, a distinctive centerpiece to the commons building is an illuminated spiral staircase allowing views of all three floors from nearly any vantage point in the center of the structure (Today at Elon). “It’s almost a three-dimensional directory to the building,” said Brad Moore, the university’s architect and director of planning, design, and construction management. “Instead of having a sign pointing you to the Global Education Center, you can see the action happening on the third floor” (Today at Elon). This space relates to many of the concepts we have talked about in the course, especially the design and sociology of public places. I believe Global Commons is a node on campus that brings students together on campus to study collectively and complete group assignments. Dr. Jenifer Eidum, the Faculty Director of the Global Neighborhood, described Global Commons as a hub for active learning and a place all students can use. She said the space was “intentionally built for the residential campus idea” (Elon News Network). The Great Hall features twelve long wooden tables with ten seats at each table encouraging collaboration among students. The sociology of this public place reminds me of William Whyte’s film we watched in class. It is rather funny to see how students use the space. Most people sit at opposite ends of the table, as far away from the other student as possible to avoid any awkward encounters and respect their space. Overall, this structure is an aesthetically pleasing space to study because of its high ceilings, floor to ceiling windows, and view of Lake Mary Nell. It was designed with a lot of intent and creativity and is my favorite place to work.

Sources:

Elon University / Today at Elon / Fully completed Global Neighborhood opens for 2014-15

BEST OF: Campus Study Spot - Elon News Network

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Blog Post 1: Establish your personal goals for learning and cultural growth during our trip.

Elon, NC

December 6, 2022

The main personal goal I have set for myself during this trip is to stay engaged to expand my knowledge as widely as possible. There is so much to learn and take away from this trip, and this will require exceptional focus and engagement. I will achieve this goal by making sure the people around me stay on task during group tours and guide my peers back on track if we lose focus. I also want to write down important notes in my notes app on my phone throughout our visits to structures so that I retain the information for my blog posts and personal reflections. Another goal I have is to accept differences and any discomfort that can come from culture shock. Although it can be easy to feel uncomfortable in situations where we aren’t sure how to react, I will try to see these obstacles as learning situations. These learning opportunities will only enhance my experience and allow me to grow as a person and student. To achieve this goal, I have researched some quotes that I will write down in my notes app on my phone to look at during the trip as a reminder. Some quotes I found are as follows:

“Growth is uncomfortable; you have to embrace the discomfort if you want to expand.”

“Be not afraid of discomfort. If you can't put yourself in a situation where you are uncomfortable, then you will never grow. You will never change. You'll never learn.”

“The more you practice tolerating discomfort, the more confidence you'll gain in your ability to accept new challenges.”

I have lots of smaller goals, but one final goal that sums up the point of this trip is to self-reflect. Our itinerary is packed full of exciting experiences and some days will seem overwhelming traveling from place to place. I think journaling on my own at the end of the day, taking pictures, and talking to classmates about what we saw will help me achieve this goal. The objective of this trip is to spark my intellectual curiosity and foster growth of my knowledge, but I will not be able to retain that knowledge without some self-reflection. This goal will also help to keep me emotionally stable on this trip since I will be far away from my family and close friends. I also am looking forward to making new friendships and connections that will last throughout the rest of my college experience!