From Alabama to Backpacking Europe

Hi! My name is Micky, and I am a recent graduate from the University of Alabama! If you know anything about American football then you have definitely heard of The Crimson Tide (Roll Tide!). The school is right in my hometown of Tuscaloosa, where my family and I still live. There is a beautiful campus next to the Black Warrior River, and there is a lot of nature around. I studied psychology and biology there because, if there are two things I love, it’s the natural world, and the people in it!

After graduation, I wanted to take time and see the world while visiting some old friends, so I set off on a small backpacking trip around the UK and parts of Europe. I visited a dear friend that lives in London and she showed me the incredible diversity that London had to offer- in people, food and culture! The food market on Brick Lane was heaven to me. So much authentic food from around the world! Brick Lane is also home to a lot of street art. It was such a sight walking around the bustling area and hearing people talk about the art.

I spent a couple of weeks in London, eating good food (not to mention the good ol’ fish n’ chips!) and exploring history through museums. Then it was time to move on to mainland Europe! I spent time in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands exploring the culture there. Sweden was so peaceful and full of life. I was surrounded by nature and taking walks around in the evening was so relaxing. They even had rabbits running around! In Denmark, I had the pleasure of going to Copenhagen Pride! The people were so nice and they let me join the parade! In the Netherlands, I explored the beautiful canals and rich history of Haarlem and Amsterdam.

Soon after, I made the long journey to Southern Germany to visit some old friends! I fell in love with Germany when I was younger after visiting on an exchange, so coming back felt like I was coming home. Still, seeing the beautiful churches and old, breathtaking buildings never gets old. I spent a large chunk of my time in Konstanz by the famous lake. Its fame comes from its beauty, as it is a lake shared by Germany, Austria and Switzerland! On a clear day, you can see the Alps in the distance. Moving from the gorgeous lake to the mountains, I traveled to Switzerland and to Austria before coming to Poland! 

Backpacking is such an enriching experience, but it absolutely gets tiring and a bit overwhelming sometimes. I was very excited to come to Poland and settle down for a while and gain a different type of experience teaching English to such a wide group of people. It has only been a couple of days, but I already know that I will enjoy my time here!