When You’re Leaving to Study Abroad in Like Two Weeks
I am less than two weeks away from my fall
semester adventure. One of the requirements for my Spanish minor is a semester
abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. I have been toying with out-of-country
travel for the past two years:
First I was majoring in Spanish and spending
six months in Spain, starting in June.
Then I changed my major, deciding instead to minor
in Spanish and spend three months in Argentina starting in July 2016.
Finally, after some circumstances outside of my
control, I ended up deciding to spend three months in Costa Rica, from August
to December. I fly out August 30th.
Let me tell you, that is approaching rather
quickly, folks. A couple weeks ago I pulled out a suitcase and set it down in
the corner of my room. Mission: Pack Three Months Worth of Your Life Into This
Tiny Box That Will Sit Here And Give You Low-Key Anxiety Until You Are Packed
Young Lady.
It’s still pretty empty, save for some skirts
and dresses, which really doesn’t bode well.
So, if you’re wondering what kind of thoughts
are going through my head, allow me to enlighten you:
fbsiuvbadprigusdfahfasdfn.
How many pairs of
underwear does one take when spending three months abroad?
I’d rather wear
underwear twice the right way and twice inside out than actually wash my
underwear.
faelivbepfiqbqpidsbcsakcjxmnsdiufsbdaivhs.
Do they sell
tampons in Costa Rica?
I wonder if
Starbucks exists in Costa Rica *pulls up Google Maps and checks*
Darn it. No free
drink for me.
Okay but really
maybe I should buy new underwear for this trip.
helphelphelphelphelphelp.
Who decided to let
me adult?
Well shat, my
driver’s license is going to expire while I’m in Costa Rica.
I am literally two
months away from getting a horizontal license; do I really need to get a
vertical one again just because I’ll be out of the country when it expires?
I’ve been looking forward to this for six years.
Is there a dress
code in Costa Rica?
I’m usually the
person who is randomly selected for a pat-down in an airport, but also usually
my mom is with me so… I might cry if it happens when I’m alone.
Great, that would
make me look so guilty.
Wait. I am
going to miss actually half of NFL season for this.
And half of the
NCIS season.
dslfsuafhpiabcsdpiufgsadpiuhsdacspi
It’s a good thing
I already bought my ticket because otherwise I’d probably back out tbh.
FAHSOIYFBKASLUH I
FORGOT I HAVE TO DO A SKYPE INTERVIEW AS PART OF MY PLACEMENT TEST.
Look at that
suitcase. Staring at me. I need to put some stuff in it.
How many books
should I take?
Does dry shampoo
actually work? Because I need to try that stuff.
I’ve never
actually even stayed at school for longer than two weeks at a time, so this
whole three months deal is a bit heinous.
If my dog dies
while I’m gone I’ll never be okay again.
Or my cat.
dliasufduhfipsudgfcbsapdcisudfsadipuh
I need a Spanish
Bible.
Wait I forgot
there’s a weight limit on suitcases when you travel.
OKAY HOW AM I
SUPPOSED TO FIT THREE MONTHS OF MY EXISTENCE INTO A SUITCASE THAT WEIGHS UNDER
50 POUNDS.
I don’t think I
thought this through.
I did not think
this through.
Okay but I’m kind
of excited.
sos
I’m really not kidding when I say that all
these things go through my head on a daily basis. Along with other more serious
things, like how much I’ll miss my people and—on bad days—how much I wonder if
they’ll even miss me.
But none of it matters all that much. Because,
regardless of what’s running around in my head, the next three months of my
life are set aside for a grand adventure. I get to learn my favorite language,
and meet other people who love it as much as I do. I get to experience a new
culture. I get to travel and live and see. And then I’ll come home.
I probably won’t be the same person I am now,
and it’s a little scary to think about it. But I’m still going. Like I said—I
already bought my plane ticket. And I’m secretly hoping that this opens doors
for the person I’m supposed to be for the rest of my life. Because goodness
knows I haven’t got any better ideas.
Before I have to be a real adult, with a real
job and real bills, I get to be this person. And that’s fun.
SO. Ways you can
contact me/support me/pray for me:
-I have
an address! Send me mail. I will appreciate you forever. You seriously have no
idea how much getting mail means to me.
Bailey Gerber
Latin American
Studies Program
Apdo. 54-2070
Sabanilla, Montes
de Oca
San José, Costa
Rica
-WhatsApp
– download this app to text me/be in more frequent communication with me. It’s
what I’ll use primarily, other than my email. (If you prefer email, use the one
affiliated with this blog J )
-Pray
for me!
-For
safe travels on the way to Costa Rica and throughout my time there
-That
I’ll be able to set aside my own expectations to see God’s plan better
-That
I’ll be focused and fully present, rather than thinking about home
-That
the person I am when I return is more whole than the one I am now
-Just
pray. Jesus knows what I need, even when I don’t.
Okay,
that’s all for now. Blogging is on hold until I am safely arrived and settled
in Costa Rica in two weeks. So. Hasta luego.
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