Studying abroad is a really worthwhile experience. It's a chance to see the things you've never known, the things you've always wanted to and things you could never see coming. There's a lot of aspects that change how you see yourself and how you view the world around you. You become aware of the world, ideologies and cultural backgrounds that make up the global community. Simple things back home are complicated here and some complicated things are more than simplified. The opinions and customs of another country are so intriguing that you are submerged into different types of thought. It sounds philosophical and deep but that's what happens to a person abroad. You reevaluate and reanalyze everything in your life and develop a new re-shaped outlook on the world.
It's taught me a lot. Rome taught me to be passionate, Ireland taught me to live simply, London has taught me more than my share of life lessons and most importantly that a place is only as good as the company you keep in it. There are so many other things like don't pack too big of a bag, print off all your papers twice and get up early enough to beat rush hour but those are more common sense ;) Also having a plan and an agenda is great... but my favorite moments are spontaneous and in the moment. A night at a pub with friends is worth more than a loud dance club any day. The farther you get from major cities the more you realize what true citizens of the country are like and that if you have the opportunity to do something to better yourself... take it. It's not a leap across the canyon or a battle of giants. You're in a boat, watching the water, and you have two choices; stay in the boat or jump. My advice? Jump. The world can be scary but you won't know what you can handle if you don't experience it.
History is really important but something London and Europe have taught me is that history lies, writers make things up and power leads to your ultimate demise. One can do things but many can move things. People are the foundation that builds a society and they alone can choose to better it, the cities and countries in Europe constantly go through changes an adapt. It's beautiful to see it all in person. You don't really get a truer appreciation for things until you experience things on a different scale.
So as a take home point: even the Pope lies, Leprechauns are hard to find and everyone has a story so go and write yours.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Life's Little Lessons
Studying abroad is a really worthwhile experience. It's a chance to see the things you've never known, the things you've always wanted to and things you could never see coming. There's a lot of aspects that change how you see yourself and how you view the world around you. You become aware of the world, ideologies and cultural backgrounds that make up the global community. Simple things back home are complicated here and some complicated things are more than simplified. The opinions and customs of another country are so intriguing that you are submerged into different types of thought. It sounds philosophical and deep but that's what happens to a person abroad. You reevaluate and reanalyze everything in your life and develop a new re-shaped outlook on the world.
It's taught me a lot. Rome taught me to be passionate, Ireland taught me to live simply, London has taught me more than my share of life lessons and most importantly that a place is only as good as the company you keep in it. There are so many other things like don't pack too big of a bag, print off all your papers twice and get up early enough to beat rush hour but those are more common sense ;) Also having a plan and an agenda is great... but my favorite moments are spontaneous and in the moment. A night at a pub with friends is worth more than a loud dance club any day. The farther you get from major cities the more you realize what true citizens of the country are like and that if you have the opportunity to do something to better yourself... take it. It's not a leap across the canyon or a battle of giants. You're in a boat, watching the water, and you have two choices; stay in the boat or jump. My advice? Jump. The world can be scary but you won't know what you can handle if you don't experience it.
History is really important but something London and Europe have taught me is that history lies, writers make things up and power leads to your ultimate demise. One can do things but many can move things. People are the foundation that builds a society and they alone can choose to better it, the cities and countries in Europe constantly go through changes an adapt. It's beautiful to see it all in person. You don't really get a truer appreciation for things until you experience things on a different scale.
So as a take home point: even the Pope lies, Leprechauns are hard to find and everyone has a story so go and write yours.
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