I have already boarded the roller coaster for my study abroad year. Actually, I chose to get in line for it in about August when I attended my first Rotary meeting and met the woman in charge of the exchange program; I immediately fell in love with it all. Ever since my trip to Germany and Holland last year for 10 days, I have not been able to clear the travel-bug from my system. I decided to seize the opportunity and apply to take a gap year.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine everything that would come from this: all the stress and rules I need to manage, but also all the amazing rewards that will come with my exchange year. Although leading up to going and on various occasions while I am away from home I will think it is hard, in the end, it will all be worth every penny.
Spain.
That is my destination, and I am beyond excited: it houses my favorite piece of art in the entire world ("Guernika" by Pablo Picasso;) from the photos I have seen, it looks absolutely gorgeous (and my Dutch/German friends have confirmed this;) and they speak Spanish, the language I feel most passionate about in the moment in time and wish to pursue in college as well as the rest of my life.
Yesterday, the first orientation meeting was held to prepare the outbound students for their life abroad. I am so grateful 2 other Minnetonka students were also accepted to the program (my friends Sarah and Hunter,) giving me some familiar faces in the sea of strangers. But the sea of strangers soon became familiar, after all, all the students were in the same boat: excited, perhaps a little nervous, and leaving the country to a place where they most likely had never been before. I made friends quicker than I ever had before. Sarah even commented, "Isn't it weird how we all can be so comfortable and friends with each other so fast?" I'm SO grateful for that. I met the other 3 students going to Spain: Joe, Jamie, and Alisa, as well as some other students going to the Czech Republic, Poland, France, etc etc.
"And we knows that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" ~Romans 8:28
I feel so blessed and I know that if this is the path God wants me to take, He will take my hand and lead me through it.
~Ashlyn
