A little about me…

In order for you to get a feel for the blog that will result from this study away, I think you have to know a little about me and my journey up until this point. I am 19 years old and I have traveled a lot in my life. My dad was in the navy, and I had the privilege to travel the world with my family by my side. I started my journey in California, where I was born and bounced around the united states and beyond. From California to Maine, Hawaii, across the ocean to Japan, then Rhode Island, and finally I landed in Virginia where I have stayed from eighth grade till now. It is the longest I have ever lived anywhere and I think because I have stayed there so long I have lost a little part of me that was able to meet new people so easily and adapt to new places. If you’ve ever had to move around frequently you know there are two type of mentalities that come with that. You are either tired of moving and want to live the rest of your life grounded in one place, or you get the “itch” every few years where you are ready to leave everything behind and start the newest thing. For a long time I had that “itch” and I was ready to go, until I got stuck in little old Chesapeake. Its where I lived in the first house my parents owned. Its where my best friend and I met and where we continue to grow together. Its where I met my wonderful boyfriend, where I went to high school, where I got to complete all grades 9th-12th in the same place. Its where I was able to get a guaranteed contract to do what I’ve been working toward my whole life. However, with all this good I have changed. I am tied to this place, and because of that I have lost the part of me that is able to start over in a minute. It’s not necessarily a bad thing just different. I miss the side of me that was ready for adventure, and the day I saw the poster for a study away to Berlin, a spark started in my heart and I knew I needed to go. The “itch” was back and this was my time. I built myself up for this trip, I shopped and I studied, I saved and I waited and finally the start of winter session came around… and then I got scared. I was traveling over 4,000 miles away from everything I have known for the past six and a half years with people I don’t know. What if I don’t make friends what if I don’t have fun. It is an experience of a life time and I kept trying to tell myself that, but it was starting to think maybe its an experience I don’t want to take… I am determined to stay positive though, I am determined to soak up every moment. I am determined to learn all there is to learn, see everything I can see and have a wonderful time. We shall see how I do.