Hello everyone! This is the space where I will be sharing my thoughts, feelings, and new learning from my upcoming experience abroad on Cultural Routes. I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to embark on this new adventure that I have been told will be unlike any other experience I will ever have.
To begin, here’s a little about me. I am a passionate, outspoken, and charismatic gal with a big heart. I love getting to know other people for who they are and breaking down facades that we so easily put on for the rest of the world. I tend to be sarcastic around the people I love most. I also tend to break into song and dance at random moments when I feel comfortable to be my truest self. I love to have fun, and I also appreciate seriousness and sincerity. I have strong opinions and I am not afraid to share them when asked, but I place high value on hearing the perspectives of the people around me as well. Considering that CR seems to be all about dissecting our points of view and challenging what we think we know, I cannot wait for it to begin!
When I decided to apply for CR, I had minimal knowledge about what it actually is (though I still don’t know much), other than that this experience is nothing like a traditional study abroad program involving time spent in a classroom and weekend trips hopping across Europe. I was motivated to apply for CR because of the places we will get to see – Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. These are destinations I have dreamed of going to for years, largely because of the history that has taken place there as well as the rich and diverse cultures that I have longed to experience first-hand. Ultimately, reading the blogs of multiple CR alumni is what led me to apply for this month-long European adventure. Their vulnerability in sharing the details of their lives abroad, including discussing the deep relationships they formed with other CR members, inspired a strong desire in me to have that opportunity for myself.
When writing my application, I aimed to share stories from my own life that would allow Dr. P to see my heart and my passion for learning about the world around me. My goal for CR is to become as immersed as possible in the culture of each place we get to visit. I am not known by others to be typically adventurous, but I do possess a strong sense of wanderlust and desire to experience the world. From my understanding thus far, CR is about pushing myself to explore new things, and I feel ready to take on these challenging and exciting foreign adventures.
On the note of excitement, I can’t remember the last time I was as excited as I was when I found out I was selected to be part of CR12. I had been anxiously awaiting Dr. P’s email all morning, but I decided to go to brunch at my favorite restaurant, Mother’s in downtown Portland, with my friend anyways. Finally, just when I had started to eat my scrambled eggs and bacon, I saw a notification for the email and my heart began to race. When I opened the link and saw fireworks, I flew out of my chair and started clapping my hands while gasping in shock. I could not (and still can’t) believe that I was chosen to be one of 16 students who gets to have this once in a lifetime experience abroad. Waitresses and other patrons were staring at me and asking what happened as I proceeded to bear the biggest grin on my face for the rest of my meal. Now, over a month later, my excitement is only growing as each day passes. I get to explore Europe with people who I have a feeling will become some of the most cherished friends in my life. How cool is that!
I am excited to keep this blog as a running memoir of all the special memories I am about to make. Elated does not even accurately describe how I feel about this opportunity!!
See you in 82 days CR12!
Cultural Routes 12 