A Note of Explanation

Perhaps a note of explanation is in order-- about who I am, what I am doing here, and where I hope to be going.

In the past I have thought about starting a blog where I might share thoughts and experiences, where I might simply write about the epiphanies (great and small) of my life, but I think that those thoughts were only half serious. I don't know if I ever actually meant to do anything with them... But here I am, pushed into the public realm (well, only if people actually read this) by this great adventure before me.

Oh, yeah. I am going to be living in Spain for a semester, studying abroad at the Universidad de Sevilla.

Other languages and cultures have always fascinated me, especially the Spanish language, which is one of the reasons that I decided to add a Spanish Major at PLNU (I actually have two majors-- Literature/English Education is the other one). Because immersion is the best way to learn a language and understand a culture, I decided to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country to improve my Spanish skills, to better understand the Spanish culture and world I live in, as well as to become a more well-rounded person.

I looked through countless study abroad pamphlets and a mountain of booklets until I finally found what I was looking for in the Center for Cross-Cultural Study. I was looking for a challenging academic environment where I would be able to improve my Spanish language skills, but I also wanted to study in a place where I could live with a native family in order to truly understand the culture and build relationships. I found that CC-CS provided both a stimulating academic environment as wells as the opportunity to live with a family, and, ultimately, I chose their program in Seville, Spain.

I believe that studying abroad will help me better understand not only Spanish culture, but also the world I live in as a whole. After living abroad, travelling, and experiencing different cultures, I will be able to become a more globally minded citizen and will be better able to function in our growing global economy. It is so important to me to be able to see the world and experience it first hand, and I am looking forward to understanding and participating in the customs and culture of Spain.

I know that I will grow so much through this experience, and I am deeply grateful that CC-CS values diversity and has an emphasis on personal growth. I am so excited to be living with and becoming a part of a Spanish family. I hope that I will be able to get involved with the community in Seville, Spain and make lasting friendships during my time there. Living in such beautiful city, rich in Flamenco culture and Moorish architecture, will be very exciting, and I am looking forward to the adventure that next semester will be, but I won't pretend that I am not a little nervous as well... So, this is a place where I can share about my experiences-- from triumphs to failures-- during my semester abroad.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading,