Today's the Day

Finally the day that I have been waiting for has arrived. I have dreamt of going to Spain and Europe since middle school, when I began my Spanish language learning. Ever since I became acquainted with the romantic tongue, I have had an even bigger crush on the mother country, Spain. During my middle school years and early high school days, I annoyed everybody around me with facts about my beloved country and planned to visit it right after high school. While these plans of Euro-tripping did not come to fruition, I made it a goal to one day go to Spain. After transferring from Drake to Luther for both a girl and the superior academic disciplines, I realized that this dream could finally become a reality.

I long debated between whether I was going to go to South America (Argentina or Chile) or to Spain for my study abroad experience. I thought that perhaps it would be better for me to go to the former location because it was much more exotic, so I could have an experience not shared by many. However, the longer I thought about it, the more I realized that since this was going to be my first time out of the country (and probably the last for a very long while), I thought it would be better to visit the place of my dreams, Spain.

After determining my destination country, I had to determine more specifically where I would like to study and live for a semester and with who. I chose my location based primarily on climate (as I cannot handle extreme heat, as most know about me) but also on location in reference to other major cities and likelihood of encountering English speakers. As English becomes more popular as a second language, it is increasingly difficult to escape the language entirely, but many of my professors pointed me in the right direction, Salamanca.

Having determined all of this, it was time to get the paperwork in motion, and so it began in the spring of 2012. There was an extensive application process that had to be submitted to the organization I chose (ISA - International Studies Abroad) and also to Luther, as the institution thought it was necessary to screen its own students for preparedness for studying abroad. Having been granted permission to study abroad, the process became one of patiently waiting, which is what I did all summer. However, I checked for any new information almost daily, and talked to everyone about my plans to go to Spain this upcoming semester.

The summer passed as they all do, too quickly, and soon it was time to begin school again. This semester would be different from the previous, as this one was the only thing standing in my way from going abroad and fulfilling a dream. Even though I desired to go to Spain with all of my being, at times I became bogged down all of the paperwork that was required for fulfilling this dream. I needed to get this form signed by this person while this other needed to be filled out by another, meetings with my professors and advisor were multiple, discussions about finances and aid were confusing and were done various times. Despite all of this, there was a point in this past semester when all of the forms were turned in, no more meetings were required, and all I needed to wait for now was January 3, my departure date from the United States. The date seemed far off to me back in November, even though it was only a month or so away. It still seemed far away one week ago. But as the days were counted down, and January 3 approached ever more steadily, I realized that I was going to be in Spain for the next six months.

And as I write this post right now, at about twenty minutes to midnight on January 2, it all seems surreal to me still. I think about what I am going to be doing these next few days and it does not seem real. I cannot imagine myself traveling through four different airports, taking three different planes, and crossing seven time zones in next thirty-six hours. Then, after that I will begin a journey of a lifetime, an experience that many do not get to experience and that I will most likely never experience again. It all seems unreal.

And so, today I saw all of the people that probably mean the most to me, and it took until four in the afternoon for me to finally realize what I was leaving behind, who was staying in the Midwest while I went east. I tried to hug people for as long and as hard as I could, because I will be physically without them for the next six months. These next six months are also different, I realized, from a regular semester at school for multiple reasons. My mom is not going to be just three hours away in Minnesota, I am not going to interact and chat about my day with my roomies on a daily basis, I am not going to drive for a solid six months either. At college, I usually come home and use the car for a bit or drive my friend's car down at school, but this is different because I am going to be without a drive for six solid months. Considering all of this, I cannot help but wonder: am I going to remember how to operate in America when I come back? Am I going to remember how to drive my car when I return? How will I change and how will others change? Are they going to be different? Am I going to remember how to speak English?! All of these are most pressing questions, some more serious than others.

However, despite all of the sadness of leaving these places and people I find familiar, I am going to a place that has been a dream of mine for ages. I am finally going to Spain. I also know that even though I am leaving all of my loved ones and friends behind, if they are truly good friends and they truly love me, they will be here when I return. These are the only permanent things I have in my life. Everything else seems changing and maleable, but friends and family will be there for me no matter the circumstances. This is something I am slowly starting to realize as I grow older, but also something I realized as I celebrated the holidays this year. Thank you to all of my friends and family for being there for me these twenty years and thank you in advance for being there for me when I return.

So read these my blog posts and watch as I journey through Europe. Things might get a little sappy, they might get a little emotional, they might get a little philosophical, they might get a little silly, they might get a little crazy, but that is me and this is my journey.

Let it begin.