Realizations While Abroad

Everybody told me that I would grow up a lot while abroad for an entire semester. They said that I would discover myself. I was told that I would come back a new person. 

Well guess what, they were right in some ways. In other ways they have never been more wrong.

There are three areas that I really feel like I have matured and evolved in since being across the pond. They are independence, career and faith.

Independence.

I've always been a social person who prefers to be in the company of others. That hasn't changed. But you know what has? My views in how I want to live my life. When I started college I had my entire life planned out. Seriously. I think that mentality I had stemmed from growing up in a small town. Now don't get me wrong, I will always love my hometown and be forever grateful for the woman that Centralia molded me to be. However, I had entered college with the stereotypical "small town mentality". Through my years at Mizzou I realized that I didn't want most of the same things anymore. Being abroad has shown me that I'm not meant to stay in one place. Being abroad has taught me that I have the ability to be on my own. It's taught me that I'm good at being on my own. My family used to always tease me about being scared to talk to people that I didn't know. Well when you live on your own in another country you don't really have an option. Also after having to call and speak with a United States Embassy you get over that fear pretty quick. The best way to sum up what I am trying to say about how I have grown in my ability to be independent comes from the ridiculous Coach Bennett. I can't believe I'm about to quote this phrase. Nothing infuriated me more in high school than when he would get under my skin by saying this so I would shave a bit more time off my 800. The countless times he has told me "you don't need no man" using this phrase. Or if I ever made a comment about not being able to do something. I am woman, hear me roar. Okay after typing that I realize it still makes my skin crawl. Old habits die hard. But I admit that when something has been difficult this semester, Coach Bennett on his dumb old megaphone rang through my head and I remember that I am capable and I can do anything.

Career.

Lol. How many times have I changed my major while in college? Pretty sure my adviser has put a cap on me. Everybody told me that I would find clarity in what I wanted to do with my life while being abroad. LOL AT ALL OF YOU. I knew that wouldn't happen and I'm still right. However, studying abroad has shown be that there are so many opportunities out there for me along with an entire world. After you see just a fraction of this beautiful place we get to live, how can you ever go back to being satisfied with working 9-5 at an office? The answer here is you can't. And that is what I have realized. I know that I am called to help others. I know that I want to see the world. I know that I'm not meant to be cooped up in one place. I know that to me, college is a joke. The fact that I am paying an absurd amount of money to get a degree so I can sit in a building for 40 hours a week until I retire makes my head want to explode. I don't want that. I want to make a difference. A real difference. How am I supposed to do that? I honestly have no idea. But I am now accepting any and all ideas to the cause. 

Faith. 

I have grown up as a Christian. Even when I didn't want him, Christ was always there and I knew it. I ended up joining a Christian sorority which saved my life and was the best decision I have ever made. When I went alumnae this past semester to come abroad, I thought I had the whole relationship with Christ thing on lock. I mean, I'd grown a lot through my time in Phi Lamb. However, being abroad has brought all sorts of challenges that I have never had to face before. I haven't been close to Centralia where my home church family is. I'm not at my university surrounded by campus ministries and my sisters in Christ. I'm in a whole new country that is quite different than what I am used to. After the first couple of weeks it was a daily struggle for me to connect with God because I hadn't been to church or any activities where God was the center. I even had a conversation with a man at a clothing store where I was personally verbally attacked for being a Christian. The idea of being attacked because of my faith was something I had never considered, and it was really difficult for me to come to terms with. I was angry and confused why somebody would do such a thing. Then I realized that other people have had it way worse than the minor incident that I experienced. It really made my heart hurt for others. But it also made me grow. It made me realize that faith isn't something that is just there. It's something that I have to put effort into daily. The problem with my college experience so far is that Phi Lamb made faith convenient for me. Coming abroad made me really work for my faith on my own for the first time, and it has made me understand just how much I NEED Christ in my life. 

I'm reading this book called "All The Places To Go" about the open doors that God places in our lives. Coming abroad was definitely an open door placed in my life from the Big Guy. It has been scary, but also amazing. A complete mess, but also beautiful. Full of mistakes, but also many breakthroughs. I've met so many people who have changed my life for the better. I still have about six weeks left and I can't wait to see what else I'll experience. 

Also, I've almost finished my Jiff peanut butter my mom brought me. If anybody feels like helping a sista out I would be forever in your debt. 

Also also, I actually have to do some homework and studying in these upcoming weeks so pray for me that my brain remembers how to actually do work. 

Peace and love, dudes. 

Europe Trip Part 2

What a whirlwind these past few weeks have been! I'm still in shock of the amazing experiences I have been able to have. I'm a lucky girl.

The last time you heard from me, I was riding on a bus through Italy's beautiful countryside. It was gorgeous and I couldn't bring my eyes to look away from my window.

Here's a little summary of the rest of my trip through Italy, Denmark and then a wonderful week with my family in London and Paris!

Venice - We were only here for an afternoon and I fell in love. I may have mentioned this stop in my last post but I don't remember. It's worth a second comment anyways. We spent our afternoon on a gondala ride, eating delicious pizza, sitting by the canal eating amazing gelato and drinking wine outside at a local cafe. Basically my heart belongs in this fantastic city. I can't wait to go back someday and spend some more time here. I loved it so much.

Florence - This was a crazy day and a half. Our bus dropped us off on the side of a highway about 30 minutes by bus outside of the main city area of Florence. AKA we were in the middle of nowhere and not quite sure where we were going. We found a bus and made our way to a train station where we would sprint like crazy to catch our train to our hostel. I may have had an asthma attack and Grace had a bum ankle. We were a sight, I'm sure. We treated ourselves to wine and pasta that evening and all was well. We spent the next day wandering all around the city. I had the best sandwich of my life, climbed up God knows how many steps to see a beautiful view of the city, went to a few markets, and other cool shenanigans like that.

Aarhus - I was lucky enough that the wonderful Emma hosted me for a few days at her apartment. For those of you who don't know Emma, she was a foreign exchange student who attended good ole' CHS where we became good friends. After 4 years we were finally reunited and it was a fabulous time! She showed me some wonderful sites in her college city including a super cool museum, Old Town, the beach, and a little forest where deer are kept safe...aka no hunting. And people feed the deer. They didn't like me. It was so great to catch up with Emma and her friends were so welcoming and cooked me a delicious Danish meal! I'm so thankful for friendship.

London - FINALLY met up with my family. Which was fantastic. When I got off the elevator at our hotel, mom was running down the hallway to meet me. No surprise there. It was so good to see everybody. We spent our few days here on a tour bus hopping on and off to see the sights. We also saw the changing of the guards which was cool but took a really long time. I took them to Camden Market, my favorite market, and they loved it! We had some good food and bought a few things. Everybody had some good fish and chips along with meat pie. Unfortunately, we couldn't find a One Direction store for Maya.

Paris - Paris was fantastic. Most of the people we met were friendly. Some were quite rude, but oh well. We saw all of the wonderful classic sites and took a boat cruise down the river at sunset. Saw the Eiffel Tower both during the day and at night. When it sparkles it is so cool. We ate some delicious pizza at an Italian restaurant....twice. So good. Attached a lock to a bridge. Saw Notre Dame. Went to the Louvre where it took us longer to find the Mona Lisa than it did for us to get to the very front of the line. We went at the absolute perfect time and I got in for free. Score. We also had this amazing pastry place right down the road from our hotel where we went each morning. It was delicious. Also I love crepes. No surprise there.

My favorite part was just being with my family. I've always known how important family was to me, but I never realized how important until I have been away from everybody for an extended period of time. When the opportunity to take a short drive to visit is taken away, it makes you much more thankful for the time you get with them.

All in all traveling has taught me a lot. Most importantly, it reminded me how terrible my immune system is because I have been sick for 4 days since I have been back in Manchester. So not fun. I have learned a lot about myself and just how tired I can get. I would say I am much more cultured and trying new things isn't hard for me anymore.

This trip has opened up a new longing to travel for me. I've been given a taste as to what this world has to offer and I don't want to stop experiencing it now. There is just so much to see and so many things to experience! I can't imagine going home in June and never traveling again. It just isn't an option for me. I need to see the rest of this crazy, beautiful world that God has given us.