I was FaceTiming my sister Annie a couple weeks ago, and I said to her: I remember when I was a freshman in Dr. Damuth’s writing seminar, and I met Olivia (who had studied abroad multiple times during her undergrad years and spent a semester in Buenos Aires as well). I remember thinking that it was impossible to study abroad more than once, but somehow she did it! My dedication to traveling and selection of Buenos Aires was definitely inspired by her, along with other go-getters like my sister currently enduring the Russian winter on a Fulbright.
I am now looking back on the last 18 months. During that time, I have studied abroad in Spain, England, and Argentina. I received over twenty thousand dollars in scholarships from UNL, Chi Omega, and smaller organizations along with a fully funded experience abroad with the Fulbright Commission. All of the pieces fell together, and we (my family and I) found a way to make it work. Somehow (a lot of time spent on applications and enormous dedication to applying for scholarships), halfway through my junior year, I have completed three study abroad programs.
It’s going to take weeks of reflection to really figure out how I’ve changed over the last five months (in reality, the last 18 months of traveling). I’ve learned to cook a few new dishes, my spanish is so much better than when I started in July, and I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on how to live healthy: mind, body, and spirit balance.
They say you go abroad to find yourself. I’ve discovered so many little things about myself and grown immensely. I may not have found myself exactly, but I’ve learned a lot about who I am not and who I want to be.
It’s been less than two weeks since I was running around the streets of Buenos Aires, and as I grow nostalgic, I’d like to share the final 10 Days in Buenos Aires blog.
Here are the photos from the final days.
Thursday 8th of December
Friday 9th of December
Saturday 10th of December
Sunday 11th of December
Monday 12th of December
Tuesday 13th of December
Wednesday 14th of December
Thursday 15th of December
Friday 16th of December
Saturday 17th of December
Here’s to the end of a short journey during a life of exploration. There were tears, hugs, and love planted in new corners of the world. I am grateful for it all, and I would go back and do it all again.
