I’ve been thinking about “the” question recently—why study abroad.
No matter how it feels like a second home (and a 2nd level homesickness) to me, Holy Cross was the first place that made me consider the reason for studying abroad. It didn’t take too long—I knew I wanted something different.
It was also a quick one with full confidence last fall: why study abroad? Why not? I had so much more than just curiosity spending one year and a half on the hill dealing with life alone. I lived in Berlin by myself for a month in a winter worse than New England, I had an unexpected 24-hour stay in Ireland with a visa given at the airport and no data or phone service, I knew I got this.
It wasn’t however, how I thought would be. I did had a great time since arrival(and we’ll get into that later), but at the end of the day(and even during) it was not the excitement that filled my head: I can’t stop comparing my life here with it was in Holy Cross, and from what I realized something I may never if I stayed on the hill for this year. I realized how much I was changed by Holy Cross, and how, in every decisions or reactions to things happening here, I found a piece or two of my previous college life. I realized how deep the people I met, the things I’ve done and the difficulties I’ve overcome(or not) had influenced and prepared me. I think of my friends, professors and the faculty back on the hill all the time with gratefulness, for I could never be who I am today without them.
❤Thank you, HC. ❤