Cup Half Full

Me and Raphael at our reunionI am writing this staring at the date on my computer. It is November 2nd. NOVEMBER 2nd!!!! As in, my time here is over halfway done. And so is yours! Where the hell did October go?! That was probably the fastest month of my life, as is this semester. These past two months have been down right amazing. I honestly think that studying abroad is such an important experience of life, and I would advocate for everyone to do it. It is such a refreshing break from reality. My friends and I just returned from Spring Break in Brazil. On the plane ride home, we were complaining about going back to school and the real world. Then we laughed at ourselves for how ridiculous we were being. Life in Buenos Aires is nothing close to the real world. It has been nothing but the most magical moments of our lives, a permanent four-month vacation.

For the past month, most of my program has been traveling around every weekend leading up to a week long break. In the midst of all my travels, I realized how little I have seen of my own city. Even though we aren’t technically traveling while home in Buenos Aires, it still seems like a vacation. We are surrounded by lots of new people, a new culture, all kinds of new foods, a new language, and a HUGE new city. I feel like I have barely conquered Buenos Aires. In a sense, everyday feels like spring break. My parents are coming in three weeks, and I am stressing because I feel that I don’t know enough about my own city to share with them. But yet I do know enough. I know my favorite empanada place, my favorite bar, my favorite restaurant, and all the places that I now call home. Just like in New York City, I get absorbed in a little bubble of my familiarities and locations that are in my daily life. I too, now have a bubble in Buenos Aires, and I find this really special. It is more unique than visiting a city and having visited the top 10 tourist sites. It is yours based on your experiences.

Studying abroad teaches you so many things on all different levels. Not only does it teach you the history of a new city and country, but it also teaches you so much about yourself. I have learned how to detach myself from technology. I have learned that I don’t need everything that I think I do. I have learned to live simply. I have also learned about what I need out of other people, and what I can do on my own. Even in the times of darkness, you learn. This is a lesson I learned four years ago when I studied abroad for one year in Italy when I was 16. I had a lot of difficulties, but I came out with a strong head on my shoulders. I learned how to throw myself out of my comfort zone in the most awkward situations and to just be. A lot of my old lessons have come in handy while living here. And I only hope that what everyone else is learning will do the same for them for the rest of their lives.

While in Brazil, I had the chance to meet up with a friend that I met in Italy. He is Brazilian and studied abroad in Sicily too. We had not seen each other since we left Italy. We discussed the importance of studying abroad, the lessons that we learned, the experiences that we had, etc. We both realized how we had this wonderful connection that will never break due to the fact that we shared such an important time of our lives together. I hadn’t seen him in for years, but it felt like just yesterday. I know that the friends that I have made while living in Buenos Aires will always have an impact on my life, having been there for such an amazing time. That one year will live on forever in me, just as this semester. I cannot believe that I only have six weeks left. Yet, I must look at it optimistically that I still do have six weeks left to do whatever I want! I look forward to the experiences yet to come and the lessons that I will learn from them. Cheers to everyone for putting themselves out there and taking a plunge. 

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