I am a student at Niagara University, but this semester I am going out of country to study abroad in Spain. The university I will be attending is Universitat Pompeu Fabra. I am a Communications and Spanish double major with a philosophy minor, my intended graduation year is 2021.

Some of my hobbies include going rock climbing, doing yoga, kayaking, hiking, hammocking, photography, cooking, reading, painting and drawing, writing poetry and many more things. I’m doing my best to be an advocate for the environment and trying to live as minimal waste as I can.

This amazing opportunity to study abroad is something I have worked very hard to achieve. However I still have some worries about being away from home for so long. The longest I’ve been able to travel away from home for a month was last summer; my grandparents took me across the northern half of the United States and into British Columbia. This summer I took a big road trip by myself to go camping in the Adirondack Mountains. Both of those experiences have helped me realize that I am a lot more capable of things than my mind lets on.

Of course there are other things I’m worried about. For example, making friends and being able to communicate effectively. I think with more time and patience with myself, that I’ll be able to adjust fairly quickly. The mind has a way to protect itself, focusing on the negative aspects and remembering past experiences of hurt in order to not make the same mistake again. It’s easy to get caught up in this cycle, I do it so often. Just remind yourself of the things that will be exciting, even though it can be difficult to think of them with the negatives lurking in the back of your mind.

Experiencing the culture, eating the local food, getting to know the city and learning how to speak with colloquial sayings. These are just a few of the things I’m excited for, but most of all I’m excited to meet other students and talk with them about the way of life in Spain. To show me small cafes and hidden spots away from the busy life. The Sharma rock climbing gym to improve my skills and to go to the mountains to hike and breathe in the fresh air.