The day is finally here! It is crazy to think I've dreamed of embarking on this adventure for years and years and now it is actually happening! I truly have put in so much time, effort, and dedication into this trip I can't wait for it all to pay off. Looking back 5 years ago, at this time, I was saying goodbye to my sister, Megan, as she left to go on her journey to study abroad in Prague, CZ. I was too young and naive to really understand what she was going through at the moment: the nerves, excitement, and fear of the unknown. During my Spring Break in high school, sophomore year, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit her. Being there mid-journey for her was very impactful on me. I have always been a reserved and dependent-on-others kind of person. Up until about a year ago I was still forcing my mom to make my own appointments for me on the phone, and dragged her along with me to them because I was too afraid to go alone. Where I'm going with this is that I saw how much my sister was growing from her experience. She was becoming so responsible, resourceful, independent, and confident. I wanted that too. I have always seen my family members as role models in my life and looked up to them all in a different way. For my sister, I wanted to be independent and self-reliable just like she was and still is. It is then when I made the decision that I too wanted to go through the experiences she did that helped lead to possessing all of those traits. There's a lot of organization and background work that goes into even just applying for studying abroad let alone all the prep work, and countless documents one has to get ahold of. Applying for a Visa, for example, was one of the most timely and frustrating experiences and it seems odd to say but from just that I have learned so much. A lot of what I'll learn from here on out is trial and error. I am going abroad and receiving a formal education but most of the teaching will be outside of the classroom. Learning the value and concept of money, how to adapt to my surroundings, thinking on my toes, and being aware of different lifestyles and cultures can't be taught just by telling, to truly grasp the meaning. It can't be taught on how to navigate a foreign city or how to take the rail system from point A to point B with no reliance on someone else. My goal for this experience as cliche as it may sound, is to simply grow as a person and learn more about myself. I hope to become more independent and confident in myself. Studying abroad and being able to travel the world sounds so glamorous, which don't get me wrong it is, but there are also a lot of responsibilities that come along with it, especially when going alone and at a young age. While I'd love to take away as many life lessons as possible, I am also going to experience all that Europe has to offer and reap the benefits that come with it!! As of now I have no weekend trips planned, that will all fall into place once I get settled in and meet others from my program. I do have some places in mind like Paris, Barcelona, Interlaken, Budapest, and really anywhere in Croatia that I would love to visit. My heart isn't completely set on any since I plan on going in groups on these trips and we will all have to negotiate a plan! For my Spring Break, some of my family is visiting me and we are taking a trip to Ireland! It is a place my family has always wanted to experience since we are all of Irish heritage (hence the shortness and freckles)! All in all this is no doubt going to be a trip of a lifetime filled with indescribable memories. I am so excited and thankful for this opportunity and can't wait to continue to share my journey! Thanks for reading, Jen Thank you to my parents for all you have done for me and for giving me the opportunity to experience this journey. I have no idea where I'd be without you both!
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