Quite simply, I couldn’t think of a reason not to study abroad. There are many students that have the ability to study abroad that don’t, and I don't believe it’s a matter of students intentionally choosing not to study abroad, but rather failing to capitalize on their opportunity to do so. For me, it was just a matter of realizing that I am fortunate enough to have good health and financial support to do this, and a life-changing experience was only a few forms and applications away.

When I submitted my application to study abroad in Rabat, Morocco, it felt very abstract. I’ve never really traveled alone before, never been an ocean away from everyone I know and love. But here I am, just a few days before I leave, and it’s only just starting to feel real. I’m researching what to pack, what to expect in terms of local customs, and how best to stay in touch with my friends and family.

Greetings~!

Hello! Hola! こんにちは! I hope everyone who's reading is doing well, since I have quite the series of events to document and detail for everyone and also for myself! I had my highs and lows for my first few days and I'm not holding back anything on how I was feeling or thinking because I feel like if such things occur for anyone else then maybe it would be comforting to hear that yeah--I had some not so good first days while in Japan. Of course, that doesn't take away from the good, but both will be explored, so sit tight for this ride!

Hace un mes que estoy aquí, aunque siento como si fuera una semana y un año al mismo tiempo. La verdad es que mi interior se encuentra en una encrucijada de emociones en conflicto, una amalgama que refleja la complejidad de esta etapa. Sin embargo, tengo una certeza arraigada en lo más profundo de mi ser, en lo más íntimo de mi corazón: este año está destinado a ser mi proceso de transformación.

Wait…I’m Actually Studying Abroad?!

This is one of the most common thoughts I’ve been having the last two weeks that I’m still in the United States of America. The first time this realization hit was on the day of class registration at my home university, when everybody got up at seven in the morning to register for classes, and I was able to sleep through the morning. When I went to my first class, everybody was chattering and asking each other how registration went and what classes they got into.

When applying to college, I was someone that knew I wanted to go abroad. I have always seen it as a unique opportunity to go live in another country without having to commit for an extended period of time. I think that the opportunity to go explore another country and just be a student is not something that will be available later in life. I recognized that it would be significantly more work and a larger commitment to move abroad after I graduate and am working a full-time job, especially if children are eventually in the picture. 

At the beginning of my sophomore year of college, I was unsure of whether to study abroad. I had already taken a gap year before college where I lived abroad for six months. I absolutely loved the experience of (attempting) to learn a new language, trying new spices, learning how to bargain in the street markets, making new friends, and figuring out a different bus system; however, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to undergo all that again.