Everyday I get a little more excited about my adventure next semester – studying abroad in Rome, Italy, through IES Abroad.
Last week was the Study Abroad Orientation here at Hope where, in addition to a lot of helpful information, I got to hear where across the globe my peers are headed this spring. Everyone has aspects that make them nervous and excited as we look forward to stepping into a new unknown.
I absolutely love Hope College – the people, the campus, the squirrels, etc. – I am happy here. Over the last four and a half semesters I have found my comfortable little niche within the community. And while finding a home here at Hope has been great, I have become really comfortable. I have my circle of friends in my house and around campus, my go to food options at Phelps, my routine path around campus for optimal travel times between classes, and my usual seat up in the balcony of Dimnent Chapel. That familiarity and routine is all a part of what makes Hope home.
Unfortunately, the comfort zone is not exactly the best place for growth. I know who I am here in my comfort zone and I am looking forward to making myself uncomfortable. All of the things that make me nervous about studying in Rome are simultaneously many of the things I am excited about because I know they will push me to grow. From learning to live in a major city for the first time to learning how to communicate in a foreign language, I am fairly confident that not a day will go by without a new lesson to learn.
While I will miss this home, I am anticipating an unforgettable semester that will teach me more about this world, its people, and how I fit in it all.
Thanks for reading,
Erin