Estoy Lista

As I’m sitting here writing this blog post, I feel both excited and nervous.

I felt exactly the same two years ago, when I was packing to leave for the States. I grew up in South Korea most of my life, and so going to a college in the U.S. was a great adventure for me. I was occupied with so many worries like:

“How am I going to make friends?” / “Will people there understand my English?” / “How am I going to handle classes taught in English?”

Now I am about to start another adventure “para Salamanca,” and the similar doubts trouble me. Would I be able to make friends there? How am I going to take courses in Spanish?

Yes. I am indeed  worried about many things. But! Just as I got used to the States and ended up loving the country, so will be the case in Spain. Only thing I need to make sure is to let excitement reign over anxiety!

My mom says, “You are already studying abroad in the U.S. Why are you going even more abroad?”

I couldn’t offer her one definite answer. There are so many reasons–some abstract and others concrete. I want to immerse myself in Spanish-speaking environment (so that I can read Lorca and Cervantes in Spanish). I want to test myself and see how I cope with my life in a new country (so that I can find out more about myself). I want to travel and meet people. I want to be brave and independent.

Hopefully, when I get back from Spain in the winter, my mom could find the answer to her question by seeing how changed I am.

But first!! Let’s pack