How old were you when you first went to Europe?
Feb 9th, 2005, 05:28 PM
#22
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24 -- my sister did a year abroad at the University of Cork in Ireland and I went to visit her for 2 weeks. I didn't return to Europe until I was in my 30s. I haven't been back to Ireland, but hope to get there soon. My husband has yet to see the Emerald Isle and the land of most of my ancestors.
Feb 9th, 2005, 05:39 PM
#25
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I was 23. I auditioned for and was selected for a USO Tour to sing for "our boys overseas" at Christmastime in 1974 (I think, maybe it was 1975). It hit me like a ton of bricks and I've more than made up for lost time, having made something like 75 trips since and now own a home in France.
I remember looking out the plane window as we were about to land in Frankfurt on that first trip, at the tiny cars and the unfamiliar architecture and somehow feeling as if I were coming "home." I think I was.
I remember looking out the plane window as we were about to land in Frankfurt on that first trip, at the tiny cars and the unfamiliar architecture and somehow feeling as if I were coming "home." I think I was.
Feb 9th, 2005, 05:43 PM
#26
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I was 17 on a 4-H trip with families in Denmark and then to Berlin and Amsterdam before our return. It was fun, but I don't think a chaperone today would spend time in bars with teens.
I returned two years later and then had to wait until I was 44. Then I had the great luck to travel with my dh on his first european adventure, and 2 more since then.
I returned two years later and then had to wait until I was 44. Then I had the great luck to travel with my dh on his first european adventure, and 2 more since then.
Feb 9th, 2005, 07:19 PM
#28
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My parents took me and my brother to England, France and Spain when he was 14 and I was 17. They had inherited a little money, and decided they'd rather go budget with us than upscale without us. They figured that no matter how many times we went to Europe, we'd always remember that our first trip was as a family.
It was a fabulous trip, and my parents and I still talk about it, 38 years later. My brother died in 1990.
It was a fabulous trip, and my parents and I still talk about it, 38 years later. My brother died in 1990.
Feb 9th, 2005, 07:26 PM
#29
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I was sixteen my first trip to Europe. I went with a group from my school to England. I went back on another trip the following year, to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein for a month. I was totally hooked.
I've traveled several times to Europe (I'm 26), but my husband's first trip to Europe was on our honeymoon. He was 34. Doesn't matter when you first go, as long as you go, and now that you're going, I'm sure there will be many more trips.
I've traveled several times to Europe (I'm 26), but my husband's first trip to Europe was on our honeymoon. He was 34. Doesn't matter when you first go, as long as you go, and now that you're going, I'm sure there will be many more trips.
Feb 9th, 2005, 10:28 PM
#30
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I was 14. My father took a teaching sabbatical and my mother planned a six month trip throughout most of Europe. They bought a VW "Campmobile" and all seven of us (I am the oldest of five children) took off. We had a marvelous time.
Feb 10th, 2005, 02:31 AM
#31
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I lived in UK 'til I was 20. However, my first trip to Europe without the 'parents' was when I was twelve - went with the Girl Guides to Switzerland (through France and Luxembourg?). Been travelling ever since!
Feb 10th, 2005, 03:56 AM
#32
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After being an avid reader as a child, I couldn't wait to explore the world. But my parents were not so adventurous. They were, however, very active in their church. So, when I was 15, I signed up with a Christian teen group , Teen Missions, to go to Austria (I loved the movie, The Sound of Music!!) I believe I had to raise almost $2000 to do this! Our "mission" was to help build a youth hostel in Graz for teen runaways and drug addicts. We spent about one month in Graz, and then one week in Belgium.
It wasn't my dream trip to Europe (sleeping on the floor AND doing construction work), but, I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!! It was so different from my home town and my surroundings growing up. In my scrapbook, I pasted everything from the scratchy pink toilet paper to candy wrappers because they seemed significant at the time (and I didn't have much money for souveniers!!)
Looking back, I can't believe what I went through just to get to Europe. Last year, we offered my teen-aged niece and nephew a trip to Italy with us, and my nephew turned us down!! I hope my children are interested to explore the world as I AND my husband were (he was 17 when he went to Japan for a year.)
It wasn't my dream trip to Europe (sleeping on the floor AND doing construction work), but, I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!! It was so different from my home town and my surroundings growing up. In my scrapbook, I pasted everything from the scratchy pink toilet paper to candy wrappers because they seemed significant at the time (and I didn't have much money for souveniers!!)
Looking back, I can't believe what I went through just to get to Europe. Last year, we offered my teen-aged niece and nephew a trip to Italy with us, and my nephew turned us down!! I hope my children are interested to explore the world as I AND my husband were (he was 17 when he went to Japan for a year.)
Feb 10th, 2005, 04:09 AM
#33
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I am here for the first time now! Living in N.Italy for a semester of school, did a week in Athens before the start of classes to see all the lovely ruins and museums, after school is out I have a month to toodle around France and Spain, or stick to Italia if I wish... which ever.
Feb 10th, 2005, 04:14 AM
#34
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I should add that this trip was two years in the making, lots of art history courses, many hours of extra homework and study to get my grades up high enough, many extrs hours of working as a busser in a restaurant to make extra money, and lots of support from my family, of whom I am the first for 100 years to leave N. America.
Feb 10th, 2005, 04:24 AM
#36
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Hi ilovetulips - I love these kinds of threads, because I love hearing about everyone's adventures.
When I was 19, my parents took my sister and I to Paris as a Christmas present - kind of the "last big family vacation" before the kids grew up. They also took us to Bermuda when I was 15 - that was my first international travel.
I have been to 11 European countries in 5 trips (and a variety of non-European places as well). I am 35.
Karen
When I was 19, my parents took my sister and I to Paris as a Christmas present - kind of the "last big family vacation" before the kids grew up. They also took us to Bermuda when I was 15 - that was my first international travel.
I have been to 11 European countries in 5 trips (and a variety of non-European places as well). I am 35.
Karen
Feb 10th, 2005, 04:32 AM
#38
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20 - the summer between my junior and senior years in college. I went with 5 college friends to Scotland, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and France. We were gone 6 weeks and mostly stayed in college housing and hostels. We had a fabulous time. That was many years and many trips ago.
Feb 10th, 2005, 05:11 AM
#39
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I was 23 and my husband was 24 when we made our first venture to Europe. We went to London and Wales for a week, renting a car for a few days to see the countryside. That was 3 years ago and in May we will be making our 4th trip with many more planned for the future. Its addicting!
