It’s hard for me to believe that in just about a week I’ll be lugging my big blue suitcase through the airport to board a plane to Germany. I’ve dreamt of studying abroad ever since I was in high school, and now my dream is becoming my reality. As much as I can’t wait to fully submerse myself in German culture while I’m in Freiburg, I am just as excited to share my roots with other Americans and Germans.

Disclaimer: I am only sharing my observations, feelings and experiences. I cannot and do not speak for everyone.

"Are there any boys?" one student said aloud.

"Are there any minorities?" I thought to myself.

I don't love how overused this word is but I have truly had wanderlust my entire life. I have always been a dreamer and dreamed of grand adventures and travels. My sister studied abroad in London when I was in middle school and we visited her while she was there. The travel bug hit me when I was young and I have always known that I would study abroad. 

I have now been in Quito, Ecuador for a week. It has been a whirlwind, with orientation, adapting to life in a new country, and introducing myself to new people—fellow American students, my host family and many Ecuadorians in a variety of capacities. 

Meeting so many people has given me the opportunity to learn the typical Ecuadorian greeting—or, in Spanish, saludos. 

A few months ago my best friend and I discovered we would both be in Argentina this fall. We excitedly began dreaming up all of the things we would do while there Our future adventures consumed us and we found a way to weave them into every conversation (it was quite annoying I bet). By mid-summer I realized that I was so engrossed in what was to come, that I wasn’t enjoying what is probably the last summer of my college career where 80% of it was fun, not working scrupulous hours at an internship.

            Three weeks before my departure from Santiago and I managed to find a direct flight from Santiago to New York, JFK airport, for only $630! This was after spending a total of hours searching various websites and flight combinations to find the cheapest and most direct option available to get me back to Philadelphia. From JFK airport, I took public transportation to the Megabus stop in Manhattan.

Before I delve into how I'm preparing to study abroad in Barcelona, I'll tell you a bit about myself.

I grew up in the D.C. area and have lived in Arlington, Virginia my whole life. I was lucky enough to attend school at the National Cathedral School in the city, where I got to walk by the Washington National Cathedral every day between classes and attend weekly services there. I can't wait to compare the vivid stain glass and gothic architecture of the cathedral to churches in Spain, especially La Sagrada Familia.