Name: Brittany Pashkow
Age: 21
Year: senior
Her Campus: Where have you traveled?
Brittany Pashkow: “I’ve been to Mexico, Belize, South Africa, Germany, Czech Republic, France, England and Ireland thus far. As for where I’ll be traveling in the future, in 16 short days I’ll be in Switzerland for Christmas break to go skiing in the Alps. I’m so excited! But I’ve never been skiing before, so it should be interesting. My sister Lauren, my best friend Ashley and I are also planning a trip this summer to Thailand, Vietnam and Australia.”
HC: Where was your favorite trip and why?
BP: “My first trip out of the country was to South Africa last summer working with great white sharks in a coastal town known as Gansbaai off the southwest coast of South Africa. An obvious reason for this trip being my favorite was that I got to hang out and take pictures of sharks all day. But it was more than that. The whole vibe of the town really resonated well with me. Everyone was so humble, laid back and easygoing. Rather than living to work like we seem to do here in America, the people there worked only to make enough money to put food on the table for their families. It was more about appreciating the little things and less about worrying about trivial things in life that don’t really matter. I was there for five weeks and thus had time to really immerse myself in the culture and create relationships with people whom I still keep in touch with today. I think this trip was my favorite because it helped me figure out what kind of life I want to live.”
HC: What obstacles have you faced in other countries?
BP: “There was definitely a language barrier in Germany. Not everyone you had an interaction with could speak English, and more than once someone would approach you speaking German. I had to learn quickly how to say in German ‘I don’t speak German.’ Fun fact though: I’m really fascinated now with the German language, so I plan on taking a German language course in the spring. Another obstacle was definitely tipping at restaurants and dealing with the different forms of money. I’m pretty sure at one point a waiter giggled at me, my sister and my best friend for giving her way more than the average tip. I hope she celebrated with some really expensive wine that night.”
HC: What have you learned about yourself and the world as a result of your travels?
BP: “I’ve definitely learned that being adaptable is a necessary quality to have for life in general. I’ve also learned that it’s important to get out of your comfort zone and try new things because that’s the only way you can grow as an individual. The most far-reaching thing I’ve learned, though, is that it’s okay to get lost and not have a plan and go off road. Those are usually the most memorable and exciting experiences.”
HC: Where would you go if you had one week to go anywhere in the world and why?
BP: “I would probably go to Spain because it has been at the top of my bucket list for a while now, and I just haven’t made it happen yet. Every time I ask someone where their favorite place was during their travels in Europe, almost everyone mentions Barcelona!”
HC: Anything else you’d like to add?
BP: “Everyone always asks me how I can afford to travel to all these different places. You don’t have to have tons of money to do it. It’s all about budgeting and committing to it! I feel like expensive travel is a lot less humbling and fun anyway. When you stay in hostels that only cost you $15 a night, you meet more people, and you get to immerse yourself in the culture more than you would in a fancy hotel. I think everyone should travel!”
Photo Courtesy of Brittany Pashkow