Valpo Voyager

Student Stories from Around the World

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Semana Santa—Tradition or Thought Process?

April 9, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Author: Gabi Neuman

Location: Granada, Spain

This past week in Spain was Semana Santa or Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter Sunday.  To say that Spaniards take their celebrations during Semana Santa lightly would be an extreme understatement.  The entire week is a vacation week, with processions taking place every day through the streets and crowds surrounding those processions in a swarm (think the size of Fourth of July parades but with tiny, narrow cobblestone streets…and no candy being thrown to onlookers).

Just to describe the process a little bit (which won’t do it justice, but anyways) each city or town has their own processions which consist of a group of men carrying a massive float that contains statues of Jesus and his crucifixion or the Virgin Mary, a large amount of flowers, a canopy covering the statues in some cases, candles, gold, and any other items that contribute to the enormous amount of weight.  There are about 6 rows of men manually carrying the float and there are even more men under the float that you can’t see.  From what one Spanish girl told me, each man can be carrying 100 pounds or even maybe even more, which is distributed just on their shoulders without any padding to help with the immense weight.  The float is preceded by a group of men and women whose faces and heads are covered with large pointed hats as they carry candles and also children and young people who swing the incense holder, leading up to the float.  The float is then followed by a band playing solemn hymns.  All in all, the processions are an amazing spectacle and a great opportunity to  to experience while being abroad.

While Semana Santa seems to me to be one of the most important traditions Spain has to offer, for some it also seems to be just that—a tradition.  Although the basis of the processions is to commemorate and celebrate the life of Jesus, his death and resurrection and reflecting on what that means, many seem to participate in the tradition as part of their culture and only for that purpose.  They remember their roots and history, appreciating the art and tradition but not taking in the reason behind the processions and why it is they are celebrating.  In all honesty it’s a little sad to me, coming from a Christian home and background where Easter is one of the most important days of the year, especially in the church, and makes me question the value of traditions and important religious celebrations like Easter and Christmas—am I celebrating with a purpose or just because it’s how it always has been?

Experiencing Semana Santa here in Spain has not only caused me to observe and question the cultural values of the Spanish, but also my own.  It has given me the opportunity to look beyond the surface of what we consider culture and delve into the meaning and actions driving that culture, whether that be traditions like Semana Santa in Spain or Easter in the United States.  This constant stream of learning seems to be a pattern of mine while being abroad, and hopefully I continue it during my next few months here.

So What About that Tico Schedule?

April 6, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Author: Hannah Purkey 

Location: San Jose, Costa Rica

I have gotten a lot of questions about what a typical day in Costa Rica is like. Fair question right? After three months, one would think I could answer this question with ease. The truth is it differs every day. The structure of my semester has been very different than anything I have experienced in Valpo. Here’s a glimpse of what my day looks like!

Costa Rica Part One:

The first months of my time in Costa Rica were based more around a typical class schedule. My days went something like this:

6:00 A.M.  – Wake up to the warm sun shining on my face and get ready

6:34 A.M. –  Start riding my bike to the train stop (I had this down to a T)

6:43ish A.M. – Get on the train to go to the University of Costa Rica (transportation here runs on Tico time, that means the nonchalant attitude Costa Ricans (Tico’s) have about being (not) on time.)

8:00 A.M. – 1:00 PM Spanish Classes. We were in very small Spanish classes with people from all over the world!

Image may contain: 9 people, including Hannah Purkey, people smiling, people standing

A picture of everyone in my Spanish Grammar class!

1:00-3:00 P.M. – Eat lunch and go back to Santa Rosa (the neighborhood where the program is based)

3:00-5:00 P.M. – History of Costa Rica class or hangout with our host family time (depending on the day)

Image may contain: 3 people, including Hannah Purkey, people smiling

I always look forward to spending time with my host sisters!

5:00-9:00 P.M. – Homework, dinner, and more family time.

9:30 P.M. – Bedtime! I go to bed much earlier here than I did at Valpo!

This was more or less my weekly schedule before Spring break. The second awesome part about this study abroad program is you get to do an internship! The following is what my schedule has looked like since Spring Break.

Costa Rica Part Two:

7:00 A.M. – Wake up, get ready, and catch the train!

8:30 A.M. – Arrive at Fundacion Mujer (the place where I am interning.)

8:30-1:00 P.M. – Help out with data input, talk to refugees, assist in workshops, and more!

Image may contain: Hannah Purkey and Kyra Tessmann, people smiling

Kyra and I after our first day!

1:00 – 2:00 P.M. – Eat lunch with co-workers. This has been some of my favorite moments at my internship site so far! I love learning and hearing about people’s work and lives here!

2:00 – 4:00 P.M. – Head home or work more (depending on the day.)

4:00 – 9:00 P.M. – Spend time with my host family, dinner, homework, and more.

9:00ish P.M. – Bedtime once again!

Here’s a quick note about Tico Time: Costa Ricans run on a different kind of time system. Sometimes things take twice as long and sometimes they take no time at all. And it is all NO big deal. People do not worry much about time which makes mandated time grids (like above) hard to follow.

 

These are rough outlines of what my time has looked like here in Costa Rica. Everyday is very different, but each day is full of lots of learning and growing!

The Greatest Gifts

April 4, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Author: Emily Nelson

Location: Hirakata, Osaka, Japan

Last week, I was on Spring Break and had many opportunities to travel. In particular, I visited my aunt in Yokohama, a port town and Japan’s second largest city. Every time I’ve returned to Japan, I’ve always ridden the ferris wheel by the water and toured near the seaside. That day, we took a cruise called the Sea Bass, the sun glittering on the water. While traversing the sliver of ocean, I talked with my aunt. We’re able to converse well, as she takes weekly English classes. Curious, I decided to ask her if she uses English a lot at her job, to which she responded in the negative. I then inquired as to why she learns it at all, and she responded, “Oh, your existence.” This answer was completely unexpected to me; I was and still am so touched.

I suppose that I always assumed there was a better reason that my aunt has been learning English for the last 20 years. It’s common knowledge that learning another language is very difficult, especially when learned later in life. But the fact that my mom’s sister decided to take it up just for me is mind-blowing. I can’t imagine all the countless hours of dedication she put forward for my sake.

There is often speculation as to what love is, and I believe that real love requires action. Granted, it should be attributed to the giver’s ability and the situation, but anyhow, the word “love” is so ambiguous, but in this case, it carries so much personal value to me. I cannot think of anything else but that word to describe this situation. Perhaps that is what makes love more tangible-sacrifice. It begins with a feeling, but it is much more. Perhaps love’s presence is rendered visible by service, by sacrifice.

Of course, this is only one speculation of how love works. One could write endlessly about the topic, but I have comfort in knowing that I truly learned a small piece of it this day. One of my favorite phrases regarding love is, “We accept the love we think we deserve” (Stephen Chbosky). I think of this statement frequently, as it says so much in so little space. It suggests that the love we choose to reciprocate is a direct reflection of how we think of ourselves. Our perceived self-value is directly transposed into what we accept from the outside. I think this is why love can teach us so much about ourselves. When love is personified in action, it seems to multiply, creating something so much more valuable. I don’t think I can really describe what this valuable thing is, but I’m okay with not completely understanding.

I take comfort in knowing that my aunt has done so much for me, even being thousands of miles away for most of my life. She was the best aunt she could be, given the circumstances and my needs. And what do I do now? I welcome it with open arms and an open heart. And I’ll keep learning for her, too.

Leipzig, Wittenberg, and Eisenach/Wartburg Castle

April 2, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Author: Devin Powell

Location: Reutlingen, Germany

Our next adventures took us to Leipzig, Wittenberg, Eisenach, and Wartburg Castle up north. This was a school trip rather than one of our own adventures, so things were a bit more planned. This region of German is often referred to as “Lutherland” due to the great reformer, Martin Luther, having made his stay in this area during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Here, the reformation of the church began and Lutheranism began to form.

Leipzig Ferris Wheel: We happened to arrive in Leipzig during a very exciting time. The city was having a sort of Christmas fair downtown with an ice rink and traditional German food and their traditional drink, Glühwein (warm red wine with spices and herbs). The event was called Eistraum Auf dem Augustusplatz. You could purchase a Glühwein for 3 Euros but for an additional 3 Euros, you could also purchase the frosted mug that it came served in.

 

St. Nicholas Church (Nikolaikirche): This church is situated in the center of downtown Leipzig. It was constructed in the 15th century in a Romanesque style design but was later converted to a more Goth church in the 16th century. Johann Sebastian Bach was actually the music director of the Nikolaikirche during the 18th century, and the church was also the center of peaceful protests and demonstrations during the 1980s and early 1990s against communism.

 

Johann Sebastian Bach: He was born between March 21 and March 31 1685. He was one of the most influential composers of his time, and today, his influence even lives on at Valparaiso through the Bach Institute. As a part of our program, we will be visiting the Marienkirche in Reutlingen to hear the St. John’s Passion, one of Bach’s works. According to the Bach-Were-Verzeichnis, Bach composed 1128 works in his 65 years of life. 23 of these works were lost or unfinished and are only known via other compositions or clues left by history.

 

Stadt und Pfarrkirche St. Marien zu Wittenberg (Town and Parish Church of St. Mary’s): This church was first mentioned in the year 1187. Martin Luther often preached at this church in downtown Wittenberg. Not pictured but just off-screen on the top right of the tower are sculptures of swine. These swine sculptures represented the Jewish people that were present in Wittenberg. They were often the lowest class of people and were not allowed in the churches. The town wanted to get rid of the tower some years back due to what the sculptures represented, but they ultimately decided against it stating that it was a part of history and would be merely hiding an ugly part rather than embracing the ignorance of it.

 

Lutherhaus (Luther House): This building was originally constructed in 1504 and was a part of the University of Wittenberg where Martin Luther and his wife, Katharina von Bora, lived. When Luther wrote his 95 Theses, he lived here and may have even written them in his bedroom that is highlighted by the fancy looking window adornment to the right of the tower in the photo. He and his wife even taught here during the period.   

 

Schloßkirche (All Saint’s Church/Castle Church) and Church Doors: The Schloßkirche is the most famous of the churches in Wittenberg. This church is the very one where Martin Luther hung his 95 Theses. The doorway pictured on the right is the same doorway where they were nailed to the doors in 1517. A fire in 1760 destroyed some of the church and burned the original wooden door. Since then, a new bronze door has been constructed and every single line of Luther’s theses are chiseled into it to commemorate the Protestant Reformation. Luther is also buried here.

 

Wartburg Castle (Eisenach): Built around 1067 in the Middle Ages, Wartburg Castle housed St. Elisabeth of Hungary. It’s most legendary fact, however, is that this castle is where Luther translated the Bible from Latin into German allowing ordinary people to read the Bible and therefore interpret it in varying ways. This is also where Luther fled to hide from persecution after calling for a change in the church.

A Pop Over to London

March 30, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Vlogger: Nicholas Kwiecinski

Location: Reutlingen, Germany

When You Realize How Good You’ve Got It

March 28, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Author: Gabi Neuman

Location: Granada, Spain

If you read my last two blog posts you might remember me discussing the more “negative” aspects of studying abroad.  However, after this past weekend I’ve realized how good I actually have it here in Granada.  In a week my parents come for Semana Santa or Holy Week here in Spain. I’m still learning all sorts of things from this culture and the people.  I spent last weekend in Barcelona which was a nice escape from the 4 weeks of continuous rain we’ve had here in Granada (this much rain is a rarity but extremely helpful since southern Spain is currently experiencing a drought).

 

To give you a little background information on the city of Granada compared to Barcelona, Granada is home to about 235,000 people whereas the population of Barcelona is close to 4.6 million.  Just a tad bit bigger if you ask me.  While in Barcelona we visited La Sagrada Familia, a largely famous cathedral which Gaudi began in the 1800s and is still being constructed today.  The estimated year of completion is 2026 (supposedly), and it’s one of the most stunning pieces of architecture I’ve ever seen—the photos don’t do it justice.  Another of Gaudi’s famous works is Park Güell which we also were also lucky enough to visit.  If you’ve ever seen some of Gaudi’s architecture it has a very modern look, especially considering it was created by a man who was born in the 1800s (as you can see in the pictures).  We also were able to travel to Montserrat, a suburb of Barcelona where a monastery is built into the side of a mountain and can only be traveled to by cable car or mountain train.  All in all the views and architecture of the city are incredible.

Even though the city of Barcelona is absolutely breathtaking, the weather was perfect, there was great food (we even got a taste of American), and I enjoyed myself in every sense of the word, I know now that I wouldn’t trade living in Granada for any other city.  Because Barcelona is so big we took between 10 to 15 taxis, walked about an hour and a half back to our hostel on the outskirts of the city, took a very confusing metro/train ride to Montserrat, spent a decent sum of money on food because as a popular tourist city prices are automatically increased, and were spoken English to about everywhere we went (also due to the tourist aspect of the city).  You could also spend a whole semester in Barcelona and still not see everything.  These aren’t necessarily negative aspects about Barcelona, but it is very different from Granada.

Not to say that Granada is better than Barcelona by any means because it’s not, but I know that Granada is the perfect fit for me.  I can walk to class in 10 minutes or walk anywhere in the city in under 30 minutes without having to use taxis, I don’t have to spend an astronomical amount on food, clothes, or much of anything for that matter, Granada still has a very rich history and many places to discover, and the locals generally speak Spanish to me.  Not everything is perfect in Granada, but it’s pretty great and maybe it just took me leaving the city for a few days to realize that.

Body Positivity in Eastern Countries

March 26, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Author: Emily Nelson

Location: Hirakata, Osaka, Japan

*Trigger warning: Eating disorder references*

Today, I visited my Japanese grandmother for the first time in about two years. My aunt and I met her at her retirement community, and we commenced to intermittently chatter about life, my study abroad experience, etc. She offered to reimburse me for the (bullet) train ride to the area, which I attempted to refuse. Then, the conversation took an all-too-familiar turn, one focusing on my appearance. My grandmother asked if I had money for new clothes, which I answered in the affirmative. This was exciting, because I’ve been looking forward to revamping my style.

However, she then proceeded to speak to my aunt in Japanese, as if I was not present, saying that I was so big that I must be a large in every store. This is not the first time she has said such things-last time she called me fat, and I thought it was because she thought I didn’t understand. Yet the more Japanese I comprehend, the more I think that she simply doesn’t care or understand the magnitude of such language.

This time, however, the shame didn’t end there. My grandmother then proceeded to use the blood pressure reader on me-three times on the same arm. All of the readings came up high-the peak systolic being 152. This immediately caused her to suspect that I have hypertension, which I refuted. (I’m normally around 120/80 or 110/70). I had to have my aunt tell her that consuming caffeine and food can raise the reading significantly.

I like being a proactive individual. I prefer to tackle most issues directly rather than letting them fester. However, I’ve become so acutely aware of my physical deficiencies that body positivity continues to be a challenge. I have a larger frame than most women here, being around 150 pounds and 5 feet 8 inches. I definitely could have a healthier diet(carbs are delicious nom nom) and I still sometimes struggle to have a healthy relationship with food. (The shadows of eating disorders are slow to dissipate.) However, one of my favorite activities is exercise. As of recently, I’ve been going to the gym 5-6 days a week. Thanks to a fellow workout buddy, my new bench record is 120 pounds. I used to hate working out because I made it a chore-and now it’s a release I can’t live without. Unfortunately, now it’s contributing to a perceptual problem.

My American grandmother, on the other hand, will constantly feed me the “You don’t need to change; You’re perfect as is” message. While I am very appreciative of the love and support I receive from her, I can’t help but notice that this is also accompanied by subtle underlying messages that I should dress better, look better, wear more makeup, etc. Although times are changing, it seems like regardless of culture, women are still expected to be physically attractive over physically strong.

So what have I learned from this? I would argue that the message “You don’t need to change; You’re perfect as is” isn’t ideal. Why is that? For one thing, it suggests that change is negative, hindering the possibilities of positive growth. I argue that if one’s life is being hindered by negative body image, especially one that warrants the concern of a physician, change is needed. However, that does not mean that they are any less of a person. They are a capable individual who is taking a step in the right direction to improve their quality of life, whether through losing or gaining weight. Improve, not perfect. Furthermore, happiness is key. I would argue that I’ve never been more at peace at the weight I am now-my heaviest. I do things for myself and for my own well-being. This is so so important, regardless of the “fitness goal”. In the end, one should be doing it for themselves. If friends and family are bringing legitimate health and safety concerns to the table, they should be considered and addressed. But shaming is not the way to go. It often feeds the cycle of self-resentment and unhealthy habits further. So when shaming events like this happen, I suggest that one take it with a grain of salt, once they are ready to. First, are these tangible issues, or simply the result biased perceptions? Is an exercise and (balanced) diet prevalent? Is the person a sumo wrestler? (Shortly after this conversation my grandmother watched sumo matches, very ironic). We don’t shame muscular athletes for being fat because there’s context, so why do it for active women?

Although I feel annoyed and hurt by today’s events, I still plan on being as positive as I can. After analyzing the situation, I am able to look at it more objectively. I look forward to working out, finding a fashionable wardrobe suited to my tastes, and tackling new problems on the horizon. I hope that this may also help someone look at such issues objectively and thoughtfully. Stay strong, be mindful, keep moving forward.

Our Own Adventures in Cologne (Köln) and Brussels (Bruxelles)

March 26, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Author: Devin Powell

Location: Reutlingen, Germany

After we finished exploring Berlin and all of its historical context, we decided to make use of our German Rail Flexipass—this pass allowed us 10 days of free travel anywhere in Germany and select cities outside of the country—and head on over to Köln to see the largest cathedral in Germany. We booked an AirBnB for two nights and explored the city with no set plans.

The morning of our third day in Cologne, we made our way to the train station to see what adventures awaited us in Brussels, Belgium. I’m not sure how many of you know, but Brussels is actually the “capital” of the European Union (I’ll explain my use of quotation marks later on, don’t worry). Belgium has three official languages—French, Dutch, and German—so everywhere you turned a new culture was washing over you.

 

Köln Cathedral (Cologne Cathedral): This massive structure was first constructed in the year 1248 after the “Old Cathedral” was burned down on April 30 of the same year. A little over two centuries later, the cathedral remained unfinished and the project was halted in 1473 due to the lack of monetary funds and support from the people. Gradually, the construction resumed throughout the years but is still receiving repairs to this day due to the 14 hits it took during the Second World War. None of these bombs collapsed the building, but damage was certainly done. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) added it to the World Heritage List of important sites in 1996, making this building a protected historical monument.

 

Köln Triangle: Imagine a platform that is so high above the rest of the city that you can see 360 degrees of Cologne. Well, that’s exactly what we did. For only 3 Euros we were able to go to the top of this sky deck to see the city. The glass had etchings that you could align with the real monuments with small facts about what you were viewing giving a bit of history and thrill to the experience.

 

Köln Cathedral (A Closer Look): Here lie those who once preached at this very cathedral or who were nobility of the town during the old ages. This is a small cemetery on one side of the Cathedral that faces the Lower Rhine River.

 

Köln Lovelocks Bridge (Hohenzollern Bridge): This bridge has become notorious (much like the Lovelock Bridge in France) for people hanging locks on the bridge that symbolize their love. Some of the locks were even dated back to the 60s or early 70s! Some of the locks weren’t your regular locks either. There were owl locks, camel locks, locks the size of someone’s head, car locks—you name it, they were there. The bridge was constructed in 1907 and finished in 1911 and has been standing ever since. Out of the seven bridges that cross the Rhine, Cologne’s bridge is the most famous.

 

Now let’s head on over to Brussels, Belgium!

 

Royal Palace of Brussels (Palais Royal de Bruxelles): In case you were wondering, we got to Brussels rather late, so some of the pictures will be a little darker than others for our first day exploring the city. This was one of the first sites that caught our attention. This right here is the Royal Palace of Brussels of the King and Queen of Belgium. Now the King and Queen don’t actually reside here but live in another palace on the outskirts of Brussels instead. The palace here is smaller in floor space than the Buckingham Palace, but it is 50% longer.

 

Metal Ball Fountain (La Fontaine de Pol Bury): Since Belgium does not have any lakes, rivers, or beaches, they supplement with fountains that litter the country. Brussels alone has 20 or so fountains throughout the city. Pol Bury was a Belgian architect who designed this 21 steel cylinders based fountain in downtown Brussels in 1995.

 

Parc du Cinquantenaire (Park of the Fiftieth Anniversary): This is the main park in downtown Brussels which was created in 1880 in order to commemorate Belgian’s independence. The centerpiece (pictured above), was created in 1905. The piece shows a woman charioteer who is raising the national flag of Belgium.

 

Atomium: This is the Atomium. It was originally created in 1958 for the Brussel World’s Fair. The inside is a sort of retro designed museum telling the history of the structure and also giving a 360 degree view of Brussels from the top sphere. Only 6 of the 9 spheres are accessible to the public, but the top sphere was actually closed off when we went.

 

Manneken Pis (The Peeing Boy): This is one of Brussels most famous fountains and is what they’re actually pretty notorious for. Statues depicting the boy and sculptures made out of chocolate lined the streets leading up to the renowned statue. The original was erected in either 1619 and has now been replaced by a copy in 1965. The original still exists, however. You can find it in the Museum of the City of Brussels. The statue is meant to symbolize the humor and independence of the people of Brussels. It only stands at a height of 2 feet making some of the chocolate statues bigger than the actual piece!

Exploring Newcastle

March 23, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Author: Maria Clemens

Location: Newcastle, Australia

My first week in Newcastle was overwhelming at first, but I quickly began to absorb the culture and feel at home. I arrived at the university after dark and was greeted by the friendly residential staff, and unfortunately a fire alarm. At first, I struggled to figure out how to make my way around this new campus which was a huge culture shock, but as I began to get to know the other students and my floormates, I began to feel a lot more comfortable and eventually reached a level of tranquility captured in the photo below.

Since classes haven’t gotten into full swing yet, I have had plenty of time to explore and get to know Newcastle. I have gone to all of the beaches here in Newcastle as well as the Bogey Hole and Sea baths. For those who do not know, a sea bath is a pool that is located next to the ocean and if currents are strong enough, waves can lap up over the edge and into the pool. These were created for children, weak swimmers, and days where the ocean is too rough to swim in.  The Bogey Hole is a very old sea bath that has been overtaken by the natural elements and has transformed into a beautiful spot to enjoy a swim.

In addition to the beaches, I have gone to a few markets. At the markets, there are loads of local vendors selling art, food, and clothing. These markets are a great way to spend an afternoon. The food is amazing and there’s plenty of opportunity to sit down with a smoothie and enjoy live music and the surrounding art.

As for the food in Newcastle, it is phenomenal. Down pretty much every street are lovely restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy a delicious meal. One of my favorites so far is Antojito’s. It is one of the few places in Newcastle with an all Mexican menu. The outdoor seating there is a bit shabby, but overall quaint and sets an amazing mood for a quality meal.

I’ve only spent a few weeks in this wonderful city, but I can’t wait to spend more time here and share more of my adventures.

 

Constantly Changing, Constantly Shaping

March 21, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Author: Emily Nelson

Location: Hirakata, Osaka, Japan

        Since arriving in Japan, I’ve made some exciting strides that are often achieved while studying abroad, including grasping the language, completing complex paperwork, solving unanticipated problems, and navigating social circles. However, what’s surprised me most is my ability to adapt to living on the opposite side of the planet. Granted, some of that was achieved prior to coming through numerous visits to family. I truly didn’t realize the magnitude of this move until a few people complimented me as brave. Actually, it puzzled me. I wrote it off as something miniscule, that I had simply planned on going to Japan for numerous years and it was destined to happen.

I perceived this sense of awe, and may I say respect without being too condescending, when discussing my athletic activities with others as well. I seem to have a reputation for being “cool” as a weightlifter and ballroom dancer(and nerd, although I think that’s a stretch!) At this point in my life, I’ve begun to realize just how courageous I’ve become. I do not like risks, and therefore I’ve always erred towards the conservative side. Yet over the past few years, I’ve branched out more and more: Socially, physically, etc. I discovered that my life is so much more colorful when learning to accept the possibility of loss. Studying abroad has helped me graciously lose and gratefully gain, from the best of friends and the hardest of days.

A shrine in Kyoto

We often become trapped in a web of routine, and studying abroad challenges this head-on. While I do have a schedule here, I often find myself getting lost or digressing, creating plenty of new adventures. Sometimes I wish I could say that I was even more intrepid, but I take this day by day and accept the person I am now while looking forward to the person I’m becoming. It is so important to accept the fact that changing yourself is okay, especially if you want to and with the right reasons. So for now, as I’m soaking in Japanese culture and understanding what my role is in a cultural context, I’m content with not having my life completely figured out.

Kyoto Tower

The last statement would have frightened me as a teenager. Actually, I am still 19, but that’s besides the point. As someone with most of their ducks in a row, I still prefer comfort and stability. As I’ve become older, however, I’ve let my experiences and individuals around me shape who I am, while still keeping my values in mind. I never understood why my mother always told me not to take things so personally, but now I believe I do. The world can crush you if you analyze it too much. Studying abroad is horribly stressful if one thinks they have to do everything perfectly, and it simply isn’t realistic. Your perception is the one thing that can be used to set yourself free. Mistakes are where the greatest learning occurs, and persistent work is propelling me in the right direction. I’m not exactly sure what direction that is, but for now, I will steer myself where my heart sees fit.

 

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