Tag Archives: Pre-Departure

Am I really doing this? (predeparture)

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Sorry that I’m posting this late. I actually just got to Barcelona about three hours ago and I’m just now posting the stuff I wrote Saturday night about my trip. It’s weird re-reading it now that I’m here. Anyway, here are what my predeparture thoughts were:

I had this plan where I was going to take all three courses of introductory chemistry over the summer, and then finish up all my pre-nursing requirements by fall term, which would leave me in good shape for when I apply for nursing school this winter. But then I thought, I really want to go abroad and I might not get another opportunity. It occured to me that there was really nothing stopping me from ditching my initial plan and applying for an internship abroad. I have a lot of ideas that never amount to anything because I don’t do anything about them. This internship was different because I actually did something. For that alone, this experience is important to me.

I’ve been through a roller coaster of emotions as my departure date gets closer. Sometimes I’m super excited and confident, and other times I’m anxious and just want to back out. A lot of times I go back and forth between those two states about 50 times in 5 minutes, and I haven’t been sleeping well either way.

Here are some of the things I know about Spain: soccer (I hope I can catch some of the game tomorrow during my layover), warm weather, beaches, Spanish, siestas, Catholicism, Christopher Columbus was from there, the Moors, cool architecture, bad economy. And here are some things I know about Barcelona: Catalan, good public transportation system, near the coast, international community.

I am nervous about speaking in Spanish. I took Spanish for five years in middle and high school, and got a 5 on the AP test, but I’ve hardly used it in over three years. And I’ve taken German, which sometimes gets in the way of my Spanish. I wonder how many times I’m going to say ja instead of si. And, native Spanish speakers talk so freaking fast! People should be more like the characters in my old Spanish textbooks. They always spoke slowly, with perfect grammar, and didn’t use words I didn’t already know.

I’m trying to keep an open mind and reasonable expectations because I don’t know what Barcelona and the people there will be like. But considering how much this program costs, I’m going to make it be good no matter what.

I can’t figure out how to add pictures to this post, but mostly what I’ve been doing today is packing and quadruple-checking that I have everything, so if you just Google “suitcases” and “neurotic people” you’ll get it.

Here’s hoping for a safe, crying baby-free flight!

~Cicely

Pre-Departure Thoughts

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Family, Friends, and Bloggers,

I’ve had all good intentions to do some in-depth research on Costa Rica before I go, but I have found myself caught up in everything I need to do in the short-time before I leave.  So far I have no expectations of what a Costa Rican might be like. I have heard things from unofficial sources saying that Costa Rica is the happiest place on Earth, that Costa Ricans are conservative, and that they are a peace-loving people. I’ve also heard their food isn’t very good because much of it is fried, but that is very relative; personally I don’t think I will mind that much.

I feel less anxious than I am excited about going on this trip, because I am going to Costa Rica with my friend Megan. It will be great to share some memories abroad with someone else. I have done some traveling alone, and it has disappointed me to not have a companion just as confused and marveled as I am with me sometimes. Locals often take for granted what they see every day, and often do not show as much fascination in the mundane things as a foreigner does.

Overall, what I wish to get out of this trip are some experiences that are challenging, rewarding, and that I will have fun re-telling. It would be great to get a real sense of the culture and communicate with locals. I want to experience Costa Rican life to its fullest and see beautiful things.

Hasta pronto.  Kelsey

I want to see a tucan!

Pre-Departure

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I really know very little about the Honduran culture other than what I have read from the prepared binder that WOU has given me.  I do not like to base the culture off articles or magazines. I do expect to have a difficult time understanding Honduran Spanish. I know that people from other Latin American countries also speak faster Spanish than I am used to. I think that I will see a lot of impoverishment around workers’ homes. I think that I will quickly adjust to the lifestyle. I have been one other time out of the country and know what difficulties I will have to face. I am pretty excited but a little sad that I will leave my family and friends for two weeks, but I am doing this because I feel that this internship will help a lot of families and change the lives of others.  Joanna

Predeparture

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Staring at my packed suitcases im a little apprehensive, but the more I think about being in a new country in a new city, the more excited I get. I just keep telling myself, “you get to study art in one of the most beautiful places in the world.” but I still cant help wondering how ill fit in, its a good thing I got that pocket dictionary!

I imagine myself going to a lot of museums and seeing a lot of the famous sites the first week im in paris, just being a tourist, but I also hope to interact a lot with the local people and get a feeling for what its like to “live” in paris, and use some of the french ive been learning. I cant wait to eat all the delicious food and to see what the people are like, and also meet other students that are in the same situation I am.  Lauren

Who Would Have Thought?

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Well, hello, there! First I suppose I’d better introduce myself. My name is Becky, I’m an art major at Western Oregon University, and this summer I’ll be doing something I never thought I’d get the chance to do; study abroad.

This is how I’ve felt for the past month.

I can’t even express to you how ecstatic I am about this opportunity to, not only earn some credits over the summer, but see the world while I’m studying. I have dreamed of going to Europe my entire life and London specifically ever since I first opened a Harry Potter book. Many of my obsessions are centered around the United Kingdom (Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, The Beatles, Irish Music, Camelot, ect) as well as much of my family’s history. Being part Hamilton and O’Neil, I suppose I was meant to go there at some point or the ancient spirits of my homeland would shame my existence. (Or I’d just really regret it)

To all of you fellow Whovians- I also have a sonic screwdriver. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Before this year I was scared out of my shorts at the thought of travelling on my own. I’m a confident person, but I don’t usually like to be anywhere without someone I know well. So why did I decide to study abroad this year, you ask? To be honest, I don’t really know. Maybe it was the new-found confidence I found in Student Activities Board. Maybe I just REALLY wanted to see the Olympics. Maybe it was to see if I could jump into the deep end of the proverbial pool without floaties and see if I swim or just flail around. My decision was most likely based on all of those things as well as this; if not now, then when?

As an art student, I am looking forward to sketching a place I’ve never been and being around so much diverse energy. The cultural experience will help immensely with my studies next year. I will attempt to post art on this blog as well as photos, so we’ll see how it goes! England, I’ll see you in five days!   Becky

Si, Puedo! (Yes, I Can!)

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Live for the moment.

Seize the day.

Take time to smell the roses.

These phrases get thrown out on a constant basis all around me.  So much, in fact, that they tend to lose their significance far too often.  Until now.  Because seizing the day is precisely what has become an overwhelming desire and mantra of mine as I prepare for an unprecedented and emotional 3 ½ week trip a continent and hemisphere away from my husband and children.

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6627 miles, 10665 kilometers, or 5758 nautical miles.  And that’s as the crow flies.  However you measure it, it’s a whole heck of a lot.  Far enough away that Google Maps, my trusty source for distance and directions in this digital age, informs me that they “could not calculate directions between Monmouth, OR and Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina”.  They could not calculate a conceivable route for me to get home by land.

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Pretty intense for a gal who worries when her children are 45 minutes away from her.  In fact, I will be so far away that it will be the dead of winter where I am while my family basks in the heat of the summer sun.

I am a mama first and foremost.  I spent 7 years of my life doing just that, until I made the choice to return to school when my youngest entered kindergarten.  It was a choice that I have never once regretted, yet one that has been filled with numerous trials and adaptations for my entire family.  We have struggled, been exposed to new things, and changed our family’s routines on a regular basis to work with this academic adventure of mine.  And in doing so, I think we have all discovered valuable new things about ourselves.  No one more so than myself, who has rediscovered a personal identity lost to the trials and craziness of young motherhood.

And now I embark on an adventure of my own for several weeks.  My family, of course, will be an integral part of the journey, both in Skype chats throughout as well as when I return to share my experiences, photos, and stories.  It will become another part of our family’s history, an ingredient in the glue that holds the four of us together.  But for those 3 ½ weeks, I will primarily be on my own for the first time in a very, very long time.

I know that my initial reflex will be to count down the hours until I am reunited with my family.  I am a homebody through and through, and I tend to crave the comforts of my home whenever I venture out.  This trip will be a challenge for me, but one that I am infinitely excited about.  And part of preparing to take full advantage of the experience is getting myself into the mindset to grasp hold of and appreciate every single moment for what it has to offer.  To ‘live in the moment’ and ‘seize the day’, if you will.

“Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.”-Paulo Coelho

But how can I possibly prepare for such an adventure?  I quite literally have no idea what to expect, both from myself as well as the Argentinian people and culture in which I will be immersed.  And so I start to make lists.  And my lists look a little something like this:

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What I Know about Argentina-

I know that the people of Argentina primarily speak Spanish.

I know that I speak very little Spanish.  Un poco.  Un poquito.  Muy, muy poquito.

I know that I really, really want to learn more Spanish, and that immersing myself in a Spanish speaking culture is one of the best ways to do so.  Therefore I plan to try to speak only Spanish while I am in Argentina.  My Spanish-English dictionary will be one of my closest and dearest friends.  In fact, I probably won’t let go of it.

I know that I will be living in a city, Rosario.  ImageThe third largest city in Argentina, to be exact.

I know that I am a small town girl, and that I will need to be prepared for the daily hustle and bustle of city life: especially city life in which everyone around me is speaking a native language different than my own.

I know that Argentinians are very big on drinking Mate, Image a brewed tea-like drink made from yerba mate leaves and traditionally drank from a hollowed out calabash gourd using a special ‘bombilla’ straw which strains the drink.  I know that sharing one’s mate, even with strangers in the city park, is not only customary but a symbol of hospitality.  I know that I am really excited to be a part of a culture that still shares and connects with one another like this.

I know, given the sharing custom of drinking mate combined with what I have heard from others, that Argentinians are pretty friendly.  Given that I will probably be a bit on edge from being in a larger city, this is something I need to keep in mind and work on fostering in my reactions to others.

I know that daily siestas are still a big part of Argentinian culture.  How can you not love a country that schedules time for rest?

I know that my ‘go, go, go’ personality will have to adapt to the idea of daily siestas.

I know that typical dinners are eaten anywhere from 9:30-11:00 p.m.  For a girl who doesn’t eat after 7:00 p.m., this will take some getting used to.

I know that Argentina, despite being located in South America, has been heavily influenced by European culture.  It’s a nation of immigrants.  So while Argentina has its own cultural characteristics, such as the tango (will I dance the tango while there?…we’ll see), and gauchos (cowboys), it also has large German, Italian, and Swiss populations.  The food is heavily influenced by Italy, with lots and lots of beef and pasta dishes.  I WILL be eating delicious empanadas while there!Image

I know that I will be staying with a wonderful woman named Denise.  A woman who has opened her home to an unfamiliar stranger from another country.  Someone who is herself open to trying out new and unknown experiences.   And I know that I can’t wait to get to know her, work on my language with her, and leave Argentina with a new foreign friend.

Most importantly… I know that I am extremely excited, nervous, and full of an infinite number of questions.  And what true adventure doesn’t start out like that?

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I can’t help but wonder who I will be once this experience is behind me, and has become a tangible piece of who I am.  How will I have changed?  It is said that every occurrence in our lives plays a role in who we are, despite how small or insignificant it may seem at the time.  And this trip is certainly going to be one of the more noteworthy in my own life.  So I am filled with speculation about not only what my time abroad will be like, but who I will be when I return.  Not only who I will be at the deepest level, when I am quietly conferring with myself, but as a mother, a wife, a sister, a teacher, a friend, and all the numerous other roles I play each day.  How much will it change the manner in which I react to situations, take action within circumstances, and present myself to new acquaintances?  I guess only time will tell.

So, now I prepare for my journey.  In 22 days I will catch a flight out of Portland, Oregon and 24 hours later will be standing in another country, on a different continent and opposite hemisphere.  I will land in an international airport in Buenos Aires by myself, and do my best to navigate immigration, baggage claim, and customs with my very limited Spanish.  I will catch a 4 hour bus to my destination city and find my way home to Denise.

Am I scared?  Very much so.  And that fear is the start of what I consider will be one of the most amazing adventures of my life.

“You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.” – Paulo Coelho

So come along with me, and follow the trail of this small town girl from Oregon as she finds her way into and around Argentina. Image

Through this blog I hope to share my experiences, my emotions, and my adventures.  And my next entry will find its way to this site from the gorgeous Argentinian winter, 6627 miles away.  As the crow flies, of course.

~Jessie

A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.

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In 6 days I will be departing from PDX to Philly, then after a few short hours I’ll be hopping on a plane to London. The anticipation has been building for months now, and boy am I ready!!

The most exciting part is that I have no idea what to expect. These past few weeks I have been trying to picture myself in London, surrounded by so many cultures in just one city, trying to imagine how I will adapt. Even just typing that makes me want to squeal and dance around the room! My dad just got back from a business trip in London about 2 weeks ago and shared with me how much I am going to love that city, even mentioning with a hint of sarcasm that he’s a little nervous I won’t come home.

I cannot wait to see this in person. Wow, so beautiful!

I’ve grown up in suburb of Portland for about 17 years, but have always been drawn into the city. The lights, buildings, and people give me a feeling of adrenaline and euphoria. It’s so intriguing that there’s so many people with their different lives running around in the same place with various destinations. But all the observer sees is the external, and for a spit second feeling that mystery… “Who IS that person?”

That being said, going to a different country’s city shall be quite the experience. The first weekend I arrive a group of us have started planning a trip to the London Eye to see a 360 degree view of the city. I feel like seeing the big picture first will be a great way to kick off the weeks ahead.

This is the London Eye! It’s a HUGE ferris wheel type structure giving participants a view of the entire city of London.

As far as getting ready goes, I still have quite a few things left to take care of! Well, I may just be saying that because I’m getting so anxious. But a trip to Target is still in order as well as making sure my bag doesn’t weigh a zillion pounds! I’m currently working in Monmouth, but today is my last day then I will head home this afternoon to wrap up some last minute things up before July 5th!

I wanted to get the whole rolling-clothes-into-tiny-tootsie-roll-shapes thing down.

The title of my post is probably one of my favorite quotes of all time. “A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for”- William Shedd. I have always has such a great desire to travel.  I’ve never been one to stay in the same place for very long so let this be the beginning of the many places overseas I will explore 🙂 I look forward to my next post, seeing as I will probably posting it in my new dorm room in LONDON! 🙂 -Rachael

Pregame Butterflies is My Toast

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The trip to Argentina is closing in. My family and friends are probably tired of listening to me tell people what I am doing this summer with an excited tone in my voice. I do not know a lot about what will happen when I am in Argentina, but I do know that I am ready.

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The preparation process has gone smoothly although I have been rushed. I got out of school on Saturday (June 16th) and left camping from Tuesday until Sunday (June 19th-24th). I was unsure if I would be able to get everything together in just a Monday before I leave on Tuesday (June 26th). Luckily, I am an easy going person and I do not need much. I have clothes and hygiene products. I made sure to get a personal present for my home stay family. I do not know how they will receive it, but I’m sure anything is better than nothing. With my experience, I have learned kind intention and a smile can go a long way no matter what country you are in. This is a nice feature to acknowledge because I know I will have to resort to smiling and motioning sometime while in Argentina when words are not enough. I feel confident in my abilities and am excited for this opportunity. We have a great group going down together. I know that we will sometime need to resort to speaking English now and then, but regardless of our level in Spanish now, I look forward to seeing growth in all of our abilities.  Cain

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I am a little worried about customs. I have not left the country for a couple of years. I also brought my host family gifts that I hope the customs people do not confiscate. Other than these little butterflies of excitement and curiosity, I am ready to be in Argentina.  Cain

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Pre-departure thoughts: One week before Argentina.

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6/19/2012
One week until I leave for Argentina! That’s crazy, this is something for which I have worked and waited for soooo long. Since a year and a half ago from when I talked to Karie about the program, until now, It is truly been my own trip. And what a trip! I’m going to be on another continent where I don’t know anyone! I’m very nervous, but I want to speak completely in Spanish the whole time.

I have been spending all this time getting ready, packing, reading, and getting everything together, but really I don’t think anything can prepare me. It’s going to be different than I imagine, but I have great feelings about it, because I have waited for this for so long. From deciding to learn Spanish in high school, and writing scholarship essays about wanting to study abroad, I have always had a heart to travel. New things, new people, new language, I am totally drawn to it; Drawn to the challenge, the appeal in learning how other people do things, how other people express themselves, how they eat their meals, how they build their cities.

I do feel as though I already have a foreign oriented mindset, most of my friends are from different ethnic groups than I. I already dove into the culture of MEChA (El Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlan), dove into middle eastern culture by dating a boy from Saudi Arabia. I already love culture, I know that. And I can’t wait to have a true experience of another people group’s culture. Who are Argentines? How do they live? What do they like? What makes the country tick, and how can I learn and grow from their perspectives and experiences?

Because that’s the real question. What can I lear about myself by learning about others? That’s the only way to truly know who we are. Exposing ourselves; Experimenting ourselves; Letting experience shed light on what is inside of us and what is outside of us. Everyone and everything can be a learning experience if we want to to be. Image

This is a picture of my roommates and I on my last night in the states. We went to Applebee’s to celebrate!  Emily

Pre-Departure Argentina!

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In three days I will leave for Argentina! I am excited, but nervous about having to speak Spanish all the time, and not knowing what things mean. Argentinians also speak very quickly, so I’m worried about having to ask people to repeat things a lot. I’m mostly excited though, and ready to get there after all the preparation.

The most famous soccer player in Argentina

Maybe we’ll get to meet Messi.

Also, I’ve never really been out of the country before, so I am excited to be in a place where there’s entirely Spanish, and learn how to navigate and explore a new place.  Anne