This trip will fill my mind with memories that will remain for my entire life. From the moment I stepped into Europe, I started experiencing things that I can never replicate. In this section, I have picked out a few significant things that happened to me.

On the train to Merano, I met a group of school children leaving Munich, Germany. At first I was shy, for they spoke very little English, and my German was as sketchy as possible. During the four hours I spent with them, I started to make conversation. I used my German translation book while they searched in their English dictionary. They laughed at my pronunciation, and I made fun of their choice in music. The most important part of this encounter was the fact that I met ten friends whom I will never forget. I learned that language is a barrier that can be broken.

The last night at Brunnenburg we went out dancing with our friends from the Treff. I found it exciting to see how other cultures behave in a disco type situation. I would speak with individuals who spoke German or Italian. I think the best way to learn and experience the culture is to go out and meet local friends. These people really enjoy discussing cultural and historical facts with you. Our nights at the Treff often consisted of intellectual conversation about the history, culture, and language of the region. On this last evening, I was forced to bid adieu to Anita. Anita and I instantly had a connection that never went beyond friendship, but at times seemed much deeper. She will forever be known as my queen of Italy. She did far more than serve my drinks during those two weeks, she became a dear lifelong friend. I will miss her.

My trip to Rome may top the list for the most fun experienced on the trip. Matt, Kyle and I just lived it up in the city. From meeting locals to getting lost, we experienced it all. We saw everything we could in just one weekend. This task was made much more difficult because we spoke virtually no Italian. A big moment occurred while dining on American food in the Hard Rock Café. We met American tennis star Lindsay Davenport. We spoke with her and had our pictures taken with her. She was happy to meet Americans and speak her native English while on tour in Rome.

This trip gave me the opportunity to meet new interesting people. I decided to embark on this journey without knowing a single person on the trip. I met a great group of people and made friends that will remain close for my entire life. My trip with Matt and Kyle to Rome was an experience of a lifetime. The three of us had many fun times together the entire trip. We jumped a fence for floor tickets at the Oasis concert in Vienna, Austria. That concert was a great opportunity for me to see my favorite band (Later on during the trip I was forced to endure a Sting concert that was surprisingly fun.) We also spent many wild nights experiencing Italian and Venetian culture. We paid the price for these nights together during the day people watching at coffee shops. We also risked our life doing some bungee-jumping ride at a Fair in Vienna. We also spent a lot of time dragging fun TA Deb around. We loved her and will always appreciate all she did for us on the trip.

My last memory would have to be the site of St. Stephen's Cathedral. This church was built before Columbus discovered America. It endured many battles of wars and still remained intact. Walking through the church was truly a religious experience. I had a similar feeling while watching the Vienna Boys Choir perform during a mass. They were outstanding. I could include so many more events in the section. I will always remember the entire trip. -Kris Hjelmeland