Aside from elephantiasis-like ankles from the flight, jet lag, and piles of dirty laundry, Europe was amazing. It was most definitely the trip of a lifetime. I got to spend ten days with my very best friends doing what I love most. I couldn't ask for more! We first spent 6 days in Prague, Czech Republic. We were there to compete in the New Prague Dance Festival where we competed five numbers and had the opportunity to take workshop classes. The days were long and grueling, not to mention extremely sweaty, but they were so fulfilling. We met people from Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Italy, Israel, Lithuania, Panama, and other places all over the world. We shared our different dance styles, a bit about our cultural backgrounds, and friendships that will last forever. Our hopes of making new friendships were fulfilled as we were awarded the "most friendly" group, voted on by the other groups. The long hours of hard work paid off when we won the Grand Prix prize, which was the top overall award of the competition. I feel so humbled to be part of such an amazing experience. From there we headed to Vienna. On our way we stopped at Mauthausen concentration camp. It was truly an amazing, but sobering experience that I will never forget. I feel so blessed to live the way I do. My heart and mind are so impressed to never forget what happened there and to do my part to make sure that things like that don't happen again. Feeling humbled and blessed, we headed to Vienna. We ate weinerschnitzel, toured Schonnburn palace, hit up the museums, toured some catacombs, and saw a Mozart concert. Oh and we managed to fit some shopping in there somehow, of course.
This short paragraph above doesn't do justice to the amazing experiences, memories, and feelings included in this trip. Words can't describe the last week. I feel so lucky to have been a part. I love my cougs!
