I built a drill press this morning. Although new, it wore a sheen of slick oil atop its red coat of paint, making the machine reminiscent of a 1950s Cadillac. I liked Legos longer than I should have as a child, not for play but for building; I would continue to assemble my younger sister’s sets once I had outgrown the dolls. Putting together the drill made me feel like that version of myself, buzzing off solving something unnecessarily complex.

Finding independence abroad can be super challenging, especially when you’re in a situation where you want to be with people all the time, considering you’re in a brand new place.

However, toward the middle of my trip, I found myself craving time to do the things that I truly wanted to do while I was in Sydney. What were things that I had marked down on my bucket list in the first month that I wanted to be sure I did in the remaining month left? 

My study abroad trip is almost over after being here for almost two months. Looking back at what I was told before I flew here, I realize that there are a lot of misconceptions and things that I did not know about Cape Town, so here are some things that I wish I knew before I came!

After 6 full weeks in Amsterdam, I successfully immersed myself in Dutch culture while I was away from home, broadening my perspectives and learning about the many nuances of the Netherlands. By stepping outside of my comfort zone and adjusting to new circumstances, I was able to personally grow. I gained increased self-confidence, as I was able to make it in a city across the world, and complete two advanced college courses there! In 42 days, I was able to explore over 10 museums, 5 parks, 3 countries, and make an infinite amount of memories.