Final blog (finished)

      It is hard to sum up two weeks in Europe, but I can definitely say that it was some of the best two weeks of my life so far.  Of course I had so much fun exploring each new city and seeing the touristy sights, but I also got to learn so much in the process.  I learned about all forms of design, art history, new cultures, and even a little bit of each country's language.  Before, I didn't really think too much about everything we use or see in daily life having to be designed by someone, or about where these things originated from.  This is why I liked the London Design Museum and the Museum für Gestaltung so much.  These museums showed me how we basically wouldn't have anything without designers because design includes furniture, instruments, technology, clothes, transportation, ads, street signs, etc.  Also before, I kind of knew what graphic design was, but I was able to learn way more during the trip.  I learned that graphic design focuses on typography and that a grid is used.  I found typography to be really interesting because it makes the difference between good and bad design.  I don't think I will ever forget Comic Sans font and how its a sign of bad design.  I love that I notice details like that now and I think the Museum of Brands, Packaging, and Advertising really helped me with that, which is why it was one of my favorite things we did on the trip.  I am a visual/hands-on learner, so this museum really helped me to better understand the evolution of design and the process of it.  I really liked analyzing the packaging and then creating our own; it amazed me how much Serina and I could accomplish in such a short amount of time and I loved how our design turned out.               


      I also loved our day in the Alps; it was a great way to end our time in Switzerland.  The Alps were one of the most beautiful sights I have seen and it was my first time being on mountains too.  It was really fun to go tubing and go on the bridge, but it was also very peaceful, so I definitely think the Alps should always be on the itinerary.  The Centre Pompidou was my favorite art museum because it introduced me to the work of Kandinsky, Mondrian, and pointillism.  I liked the Musée d'Orsay too because I got to see more pointillism, impressionism, and post-impressionism pieces.  Actually learning about these movements gave me a new appreciation for their work, and hopefully over the summer I can visit some other museums to see more of this art style.  Another high point was the Harry Potter Studio.  I have never been on a movie set before, so I wasn't really sure what to expect.  The whole studio was so mind-blowing to me; I couldn't believe how people designed and made every single costume, building, painting, and prop.  Everything was so incredibly detailed yet most of the time all these people had to go on was the descriptions in the books.  I was intrigued by the process of design from concept paintings, to sketches, to cardboard models, especially in the making of the creatures.  It was also fascinating to see how much could be filmed in such a small area because I was expecting the sets to be much bigger than they were.  Overall though, the only things I think I would change would be to give the Louvre its own day and maybe take out the Tate museum because at that point we had been to so many museums and had seen so much modern art that we couldn't really enjoy or appreciate it.
 

      The other part of this trip that made it so great though was the people.  At first I was slightly nervous because I'm a non-major and didn't know any of the other girls in the class.  However, even on just the first day of travel I got to know and make friends with everyone.  I think what was so great was the inclusion; I didn't always understand what we were seeing, but I never felt left out.  Whenever I had questions about art history, movements, or design, someone would help me out and explain it to me and I am so grateful for that.  Another one of my favorite parts was seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up at night.  At that point in the trip we had all become a lot closer, so even though I wish everyone could have been there, it is still a special memory for me as we watched the Eiffel Tower sparkling.  I can't imagine going to Europe with any other group and I am so glad to be able to call these girls my friends.

 

      After the trip I don't think I really changed, but I definitely gained more confidence in being abroad.  I think now I would be able to go back to some of these places by myself one day.  Taking walking tours and exploring during free time helped with that because I learned more about the culture and experienced the daily life in each of the countries.  Plus, I feel way more confident using the public transportation than I did in the beginning.  I was so nervous when I first helped lead the group in France, but after that I got the hang of how the metro and then the tube worked and I could figure out the best route to get somewhere.  It is the little things, like knowing to ask for the check at a meal or that crumpets are "different" from English muffins, that are really useful and that I'll remember if I get the opportunity to go back to Europe. 

    I miss everything about the trip already, but I am so happy to have all these new memories!