Instead of marking my spring semester by President’s day and the Cherry Blossom festival this semester, I have been busy charting out my calendar with trips. Europe has never been more appealing. Most students I know spend half their lives on budget travel websites, gazing wistfully at a screen that lists everywhere from Lisbon to Istanbul, trying to figure out what their wallets and calendars will allow for.

Thankfully, when you’re traveling with all of your possessions stuffed into a backpack, and staying at hostels filled to bursting with 20-something-year-olds from every corner of the world, you’re going to have an interesting time wherever you go. This past weekend was my first official trip outside of Spain this semester, as I headed off to Amsterdam.

Apart from being absolutely beautiful, Amsterdam is one of those cities that attract backpackers and travelers like nothing else. Within 24 hours, my friends and I encountered two little old ladies from Scotland, a group of British guys, some Italians, 20 Irish boys and a man from Mexico.

When you are in a new city for only two days, it is easy to get overwhelmed, and get into a travel-guide induced frenzy, hopping from one landmark to the next. However, I’ve quickly come to realize that by doing this, Europe could easily become one huge blur of archaic churches and massive museums. Instead, I am trying to just pick two or three main sites that are unique to each city (although I’m guessing this won’t work quite so well in London and Paris), and make the effort to see and enjoy them. Other than that, the best part to traveling is being able to soak in the culture and atmosphere, and let yourself enjoy being in a location so completely different from what you call home.

I suppose the phrase “so much to do, so little time (and money)” has never been more appropriate than when you find yourself in a foreign country for four months, with relatively easy access to such a fascinating continent. But it is really no different than in D.C.- time is going to fly by way too fast for our liking, and all we can really do is settle in and enjoy the ride. Ok, well, I’m off to book a flight to Paris…