DURING the first month of school, I had an amazing opportunity to travel to Istanbul, Turkey, and London for about three weeks. Although this trip was spontaneous and I didn’t know I was leaving until the day of, it was an amazing experience.

I have traveled a lot over the past three years of high school, but this trip felt different because I was attending school in person. For my first three years of high school, I attended school online with my two siblings. We always did spontaneous activities and packed up a few hours before a trip, so most people aren’t used to balancing in-person school with a sudden trip.

My first stop was Istanbul. It was my favorite part of the trip because there was so much to see and experience. I enjoyed walking down the street because the city was so lively, filled with local stores and markets everywhere. Everything felt familiar because it reminded me of South Africa, where I grew up. One of my favorite parts of Turkey was the food. I got to try so many Turkish dishes and snacks. Eating at restaurants and trying foods I had never had before was definitely a highlight of my trip. I remember that at night, everyone would just sit in a cafe drinking tea—a habit I picked up in Turkey, and now I drink tea every day. Turkey was amazing, and it is definitely on my list of favorites.

After Turkey, we headed to London. We hadn’t planned on it, but since we had a layover there, my mom decided to stay for about a week because my aunt lives there. In London, I met my mom’s younger sister for the first time. It was a very wholesome moment, since my mom hadn’t seen her sister in about 25 years. I also met my 6-year-old cousin, whose British accent I found fascinating.

It was a really nice trip because even though London was absolutely freezing, it felt like home. My aunt made us the most delicious Somali home-cooked meal. After resting for about two days, we decided to go explore London. I loved seeing the double-decker buses and even rode in a few. My favorite part was going to Blank Street Coffee with my dad for matcha and a walk around Central London.

Looking back, my trip to Turkey and London was an experience I will always remember. I got to visit two completely different places, try new foods, learn about different cultures, and create memories with my family. The trip reminded me that there is so much to explore outside of the classroom. Even though I missed some school, I learned that you can learn a lot outside a textbook, and I am very grateful for it.