When I was considering where to study abroad throughout the past year, I must have changed my mind at least 9 times. [Spain, Italy, South Africa, France, London, Semester at Sea, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Australia, Morocco, Greece, Argentina.. embarrassing]. I want to go everywhere in the world and I hate to think of myself picking the wrong place. After I got that crazy idea out of my head that I could pick the wrong country, I realized that I would make my abroad experience whatever I wanted it to be. Coming to Boston from California for college, I have realized that I like doing things out of the ordinary. I have learned so much being so far away from home, and I want to continue this journey of trying new things. So I though Semester at Sea was PERFECT for me. I would be able to go to the most amazing countries in the world. While this would be the most amazing abroad experience for me, I couldn't imagine myself on a boat for that long. If you know me, you know I hate to sit still. The fact that I would be confined to one place kind of scared me (with thanks to my mom for making me realize this).
Maybe its just me, but I feel like everyone goes to Europe. Obviously a continent rich in culture, heavy in diversity, while at the same time providing such convenient travel accommodations. I would be able to see so many countries in just four months. But then I realized that the convenience of Europe presents the fact that I will be able to travel there anytime that my heart so desires and even travel to many countries in a short period of time. What I want from my abroad experience is two things: to become enriched in a culture and to become fluent in Spanish.
I have always had a passion for Spanish, the sole reason I didn't major in it is because of my necessity to always help other people. I didn't view majoring in Spanish as important enough in the grand scheme of the world. I didn't think I would be able to make as much of an impact on people if I chose Spanish as my major. I think I chose the right path for myself choosing to major in Occupational Therapy. Instead of studying Spanish, which I took for six years beginning in 7th grade, I have reached my maximum capacity of learning the language. The subjunctive, commands, future, por vs. para, to name a few. I think that traveling abroad to become fluent is a much better option for me. I need to be immersed in a culture at this point, being thrown into a situation where I must rely on my spanish, not being able to write it down will allow me to fulfill my dream of becoming fluent.
I chose Buenos Aires because of a quote I read when deciding where to spend my spring semester. Buenos Aires: the Paris of South America. Could a more perfect city exist? The amazing romantic vibe of Paris, in a Spanish speaking country, in South America? It was fate.
After all of the weird looks, questions of the safety of South America, and "what country is that in" I decided that Buenos Aires was the perfect place for me to go. Somewhere unexpected and out of the ordinary is exactly what a study abroad experience should be. The nerves I have in my body to spend five months in a foreign country are natural and I would be weird if I were not nervous. Right? [let's hope so]
I hope that Buenos Aires brings me everything I want plus some more. I think it will be nothing like I expect, because nothing is ever like I expect it to be. So I am going to BsAs with an open heart; open to anything new, no expectations whatsoever.
Ciao for now,
Ellen
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