Although I’m sure many of us spent copious amounts of time binge watching and/or scrolling through Tik Tok this summer, others decided, in the words of Mr. Bevins, to “Carpe that Diem,” and live a little over these past few months. Our favorite twins, Charlotte Jordan ’23 and Anna Jordan ’23, took on Europe over the summer, and have lots to say about their recent endeavors.

The Jordans started out their vacation in Greece, headed to Montenegro, made their way to Italy, and ended their summer trip in Spain. Anna shared her favorite part of the holiday: “I personally loved Barcelona because there was so much to do, and it was beautiful.”

When it comes to souvenirs, the Jordans do it right: “I love world flags and I made it my mission to find a flag from each country I went to. I ended up with a few more than I expected, but I think those are my favorite souvenirs,” Anna Jordan shared. Charlotte, on the other hand, brought something a little different home from her fabulous time in Europe, and when asked where she got her adorable new phone case, she responded with one simple word: “Barthelona.” Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you read right. Not only did Charlotte gain worldly experience while vacationing abroad, but her love of Spain’s unique accent (an accent unlike any other in the Spanish-speaking world), has begun to manifest itself into her daily vocabulary, and the addition of the accent to life’s mundane words is not only a souvenir, but a gift that keeps on giving.

If anyone is planning on traveling abroad, the Jordans have some advice: “Check the weather for days you’re thinking about visiting and dress accordingly! Also, look up some key words in whatever the language might be, like ‘Please’ or ‘Thank you,'” the twins suggested.

As someone who wildly overpacks, I will definitely be taking that advice, and if you see a vacation in your future, you should too! Even though summer is 288 days away, it’s never too early to start planning for the trip of a lifetime.