Back Stateside…

I have been meaning to sit down and write for weeks now, unfortunately I just have not had the time between school, work, or anything really. But alas, here I am squeezing in some much needed writing between work and sleep. I am officially done blogging for CIMBA, though I am sad that I will no longer be blogging for them, it is bittersweet to go back and re-read through all of my wonderful adventures. You can read these blog entries for yourself over here.

Being back stateside has allowed me to experience just about every emotion you could imagine, all the way from happiness to sadness. Initially I knew that once I left for Italy (though it was difficult to leave family, friends, and my boyfriend, Eric) that I would not want to come back. Boy, was that true.

At the end of my short three months, leaving my newly found (and loved so dearly) home, also known as Paderno del Grappa, Italy, meant leaving the new, wonderful, amazing, best friends I had just spent the last three months with. It also meant not traveling from country to country on the weekends. But it did mean seeing my family, friends, and Eric again. I felt my heart being torn in two different directions; I did not want to leave but I also did not want to stay away from all that I knew back in the US. But alas, here I am, getting back into the routine of going to school in the mornings and waiting tables in the evenings. Harsh reality, huh? And it was harsh for me to get back into the swing of things, and I still am working on finding the routine I had before study abroad.

Let’s look back on my first day of school this semester: January 14, 2015. I would have never guessed that all the “welcome backs” could ever be so overwhelming. Seeing all of these familiar faces as they welcomed me back and asked to catch up so they could “hear everything”  gave me a sense of anxiety I thought I would never experience. Now don’t get me wrong, these people are my friends and colleagues that mean only the best, yet my brain was sending itself into overdrive. I was not ready to start school, work, or life back in the states. I guess you could say I was experiencing what I’ve dubbed to be PSAD or Post Study Abroad Depression with a little mix of Reverse Culture Shock.

As we left CIMBA, we were warned that we might experience reverse culture shock. Rather than taking this seriously, we collectively shrugged off the thought, because how could we experience a culture shock from where we’ve grown up our whole lives? I was wrong, again. I experienced it as I got off the plane and took my first steps in America, as I understood everything being said around me, as I was no longer legal to drink wine with my meals, as I spent my weekends not traveling to new places, as I no longer saw mountains when I looked out my bedroom window. Don’t underestimate the power of reverse culture shock, especially if you’ve lived abroad for some amount of time. PSAD hit me the hardest though, and some days I am still sad to no longer be traveling through Europe. But who wouldn’t be, am I right? I look through pictures from my travels at least once a day in order to live vicariously through my past self — she’s pretty lucky to be frozen in time in some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever laid eyes on.

To err off of the depressing parts of being back, being home has allowed me to shovel my face with homemade meals, love on the people (and pups) I love most, and become a part of reality again. I will be sitting down to blog, hopefully more often, more in-depth about my time abroad. I don’t want to forget the wonderful memories I have, which means I have a lot to write about.

A photo from every place I visited.
The best welcome home brigade I’ll ever need.

Talk soon, my friends. N.

Waking up in Italy.

It’s amazing to finally be in Italy and to be experiencing first-hand how beautiful this campus truly is. Luckily when we finally arrived to campus, the majority of students were just as tired as I was. I suppose this is the only time that jet-lag has actually worked out in my favor. Despite the whole gang of us being tired and anxious to find a bed to sleep in, it was definitely apparent that all of us were eager to get on with the semester. The bus ride from the airport to campus was full of chatter and excitement the whole time, with the only exception of silence being when campus first came into view.

As I reflect on the first half of this week, I know that soon it will be bittersweet as these three months fly by so quickly. Check-in day was our only real chance to catch up on the sleep we had missed; unfortunately when day two rolled around many of us were still just as tired as before. I was fortunate enough to have traveled with some family for ten days beforehand so I was able to get used to European time before school actually rolled around. As all of us have quickly caught on, these first two weeks of school are going to be rather busy. Understandably, there is a lot of information to be gathered (travel info, survival Italian, LIFE & LEAP, beginning classes, ect.) and the CIMBA staff is keen on keeping a strict schedule. Though the schedule is demanding, I am truly starting to see just how rewarding this program is going to be.

Initially I was worried about making good impressions with the professors and students alike, but I knew my biggest challenge throughout the semester would be getting up early for 8:25am classes everyday of the week. Although that thought is daunting, when I wake up in the morning and peak out my window, I see the beautiful Mt. Grappa and know that everyday here will be wonderful. I definitely can’t complain that I will be waking up to this beautiful view for the next three months.

Now I just have to make the most of my time spent here in Paderno. Although I am extremely excited to travel throughout Europe, I have to keep in mind that my studies come first over all. It is called STUDY abroad for a reason, I suppose. I am taking business courses that will transfer back to Tech and my goal is to be successful in my travels as well as all of my courses.

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That’s all for now, my friends.
N.

PS- Find my blog for CIMBA here!

A few stops (and a million pictures) on the way.

As I write this, I’m resting at my hotel in east Venice and reminiscing on the past ten days that I got to spend with my dad, aunt, and uncle. What an incredible experience. We went from London to Budapest to Salzburg and finally to Venice. Not only have I seen some amazing new places, I’ve also learned a couple things too.

For starters, there are always going to be some casualties when you’re traveling… a UV lens protector, glasses, suitcase, my ring, you get the point. While this may not be something fun to go through, it’s certainly not the worst thing that can happen when you’re traveling in a foreign country. Always keep that in mind. It’s more fun to be optimistic (and less stressful).

Secondly, and this one is fairly easy, always be aware of your surroundings. Large cities are well known for being home to many pickpockets. Yes it’s unfortunate but it’s also avoidable if you’re smart about where you are, what you have on your person, and who you’re with.

Most importantly, remember to have fun! This is a once in a lifetime adventure.

And now onto the fun part: travel! Although my pictures and words cannot possibly do justice to what I’ve experienced in the past ten days, I will try my best to accurately depict how awesome this trip has been.

First stop: London, United Kingdom. It was everything I’ve heard and so much more. I was in awe of how much Queen Elizabeth II affects the culture and by how much the country adores her. To see how another government functions is always so interesting. Aside from that, seeing all of the famous attractions was wonderful as well. Everything was huge! Abbey Road was absolute favorite… but I’m a Beatles fan so that makes me biased. My dad and I got to witness the Ceremony of the Keys on our last night in the UK and it was ridiculously cool. Seeing a tradition that has gone on every single night for the past 700 hundred years is not something many get to say they’ve witnessed (and our names are on record for eternity — sweet).

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Next stop: Budapest, Hungary. This is where we met up with my Aunt Caren and Uncle Mike, and boy was my dad excited. Not only did he get to see his younger brother, he was stepping foot on their grandparents’ homeland. My dad is half Hungarian (I believe that makes me an eighth), which made it really cool to walk the city where his grandparents grew up before moving to America. Budapest gave us great food, wine, and the best views.

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Third stop: Salzburg, Austria. This quiet town surrounded by beautiful rolling green hills and a river happened to be one of my favorite stops along the way. It was cool to see where The Sound of Music was filmed, especially since I used to watch it all the time when I was younger. Luckily, we were able to really enjoy ourselves and the town without feeling rushed. Shopping, food, wine, and castles! I would definitely visit Salzburg again in a heartbeat.

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Last stop: Venice, Italy. It was absolutely incredible to wander through a city almost entirely built on water. I realized just how noisy cars can make a city; through the quiet we were able to enjoy the Italians singing from their gondolas a few blocks away. We visited the glass blowing island of Murano and I was amazed at the talent that had been passed on throughout generations. And to see it happen before my eyes was magical. The rest of our time in Venice was spent getting lost along the canals, shopping, eating, and enjoying the views. It won’t be long until I’m back in Venice to travel elsewhere during my time at CIMBA.

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Tomorrow I head north to Paderno del Grappa to officially begin my semester abroad and I couldn’t be more ready(ish).

Thanks for stopping by,
N.

Becoming a world traveler.

I remember the day I stepped into the Center for Global Engagements (CGE) at Rawls. I was going to study abroad and they were going to help me find what program was just right for me. And they did… once I had switched between programs time after time after time. I was indecisive; the world was at my feet and I had opportunities to travel almost anywhere. How could I possibly decide on just one place?

After a couple of meetings with the CGE, I had finally narrowed it down to three places: Australia, Norway, or Italy. I reached out to my advisor (shout out to Valerie!), to professors, to friends and family for any advice they could give me. Really, I blabbed on to just about anyone that could stand to listen to me ask questions they couldn’t possibly begin to answer. Trust me when I say that I had questions — I still do. Thankfully Rawls, the CGE, TTU’s International Cultural Center, Iowa, and CIMBA all find the answers I’m desperately searching for. It seems I’ve found the most wonderful team to work with and I’m incredibly thankful for that.

Back to the point: following an innumerable amount of hours spent reading pamphlets, browsing countless websites, and daydreaming about each place, something about Italy pulled me in. Not only did the country already fascinate me in previous travels, the program itself seemed dreamlike. An hour north of Venice, twenty-five built-in days for independent travel (WHAT?!), a student body made up from over thirty US universities, campus located at the foot of the Alps, opportunities to be certified in leadership training? I knew I was making the right decision. Besides, I can vicariously live through my dear friend Heather as she studies in Norway this semester (check her blog out!), as well as my dear friend Amanda who will be studying in Australia next semester.

And here I am, just six days away from my departure to Europe and picking a program is just a faint memory now. I have the opportunity of traveling beforehand with my dad, aunt, and uncle in London (UK), Budapest (Hungary), Salzburg (Austria), and finally in Venice (Italy). These are all places I have never been to and am extremely excited to experience, yet this whole ordeal doesn’t even feel real. While all of my fellow Red Raiders trek through the Lubbock heat to their classes, I have spent my time in Plano getting ready (aka laying in bed counting down the days) to venture overseas. I’ve gone through two orientations — CIMBA blog ambassadors and CIMBA social media team, gotten my courses checked and double checked, and have officially begun packing and repacking. I know these six days are going to race by, but when I stop to think about leaving the country, I feel unfazed. I’ve already left and said goodbye to Lubbock, now I’m just awaiting the goodbye from my family in Dallas (don’t cry Mom!), and then I’ll be off. This is insane.

Italy I’m coming for ya… soon,
N. 

PS- as an official blogger for CIMBA, I will be blogging through their site as well. Expect a link soon!

Ramblings amid a severe case of writer’s block.

There are twenty-three days separating me from Europe.
The flights and hotels are being booked, the plans are being set for my week of travel beforehand with my dad, and finally, the goodbyes have started. It is bittersweet to say goodbye to the people I have been surrounded by throughout the duration of my college career. I feel it, and I know they feel it too.

The pitch in their voice goes up and then down when they ask,  “are you ready to be gone for that long?” And the answer is of course not, but then again, yes. Beyond belief yes, yes, yes, yes.

I thrive on adventure, travel, meeting new people, making connections, creating memories. I wholeheartedly agree that life is not supposed to be lived in one place. I’m ready to step out of my comfort zone and see more of the world. Although I have been to the southern parts of Italy before, this will be new turf. The northern parts are places I have never been to, which means this is just another pin I’ll have the privilege to jab into my traveler’s map (thanks Hannah!).

If you haven’t noticed from my lack of posts, recently my words have not been flowing easily. Which is both good and bad — good because it gives me time to stop and reflect on what I’m feeling and bad because I am unsure of how to form the words for what I’m feeling. I suppose there are pros and cons to just about anything.

And this is where I hit writer’s block. Perhaps because there is so much to discuss, such as getting everything booked for the weekend I’ll be in Germany for Oktoberfest (!!!), or the what to pack and what not to pack discussion that I run through at least once a day. My thoughts get jumbled when I hit this road block, but my excitement does not lessen.

“Before it’s your favorite place, it’s a place you’ve never been to.”

That’s all for now,
N.

Going through the (e)motions.

Countdown to Europe: 35 days

First and foremost, I apologize for the lack of posts as of recently. I’ve been very busy between school, work, and going through all of the emotions that come along with this new adventure. Excitement, fear, nervousness, eagerness, anticipation — it’s all there.

This Heart

I have been abroad before, and I was a little bit nervous then as well. Luckily I have the help of advisors from both Tech and Iowa/CIMBA, thus making the process of getting ready to leave a whole lot easier. There are days when I feel bubbly and excited and ready to go. Then there are some, like yesterday, where I’m nervous and feeling down because I’ve started saying goodbyes to those closest to me. It’s never exactly easy to say goodbye to people for extended periods of time. But alas, even when I am swallowed up into the fear of the unknown, a certain excitement creeps up from under that fear. This excitement is what reminds me that everything is going to be much better than ‘okay’. It reminds me that the people I love will still be here when I get back, that I will be happy and care free as I travel from here to there. I made this canvas piece last semester, and I’m learning that my heart really was made to move and travel and enjoy the wonders of this earth.

I have just over a month to prepare myself for this trip of a lifetime. How do you prepare yourself for that?

Con amore,
N.

Airfare across the world.

It took me a long time to be okay with the idea of doing this. I’ve become a very independent woman ever since I began my college career and asking for money in the time of need, even from those I love, has never been easy. Asking for money is not easy, period.

But what I’ve come to the realization that going to school is not cheap. Tuition, housing, books all add up very quickly. It can be overwhelming for myself as well as my parents.

I have set up this fund (through fundmytravel) to help cover the airfare expenses to get me to and from Italy. Unfortunately in this day and age it’s pretty pricey to get across the big blue ocean. Of course I am fully aware that there are more pressing and important concerns out there, but this is a great opportunity for me to grow academically, professionally, and one that will allow my perspectives to be blown wide open.

If you contribute to my fund, you can follow my blog and/or I can send you a postcard from my travels. It may not be much, but it means the world to me. Whatever small contribution is greatly, greatly appreciated, but even if you cannot contribute, your views are appreciated as well.

Yours,
N.

Your average college student.

This summer is full of school, work, and….. more work. This is all by choice, kinda.

Right now I am working two jobs, one on campus and the other as a server at Olive Garden. I’m saving up so that I can travel as much as I possibly can when I finally get to Europe. The last thing I want to have to do is turn down the opportunity to travel because I can’t afford it. I realize that it’s bound to happen, but I’m working on making it happen very, very, very little. If you know me, then you know that I’m always working. Even during this past school year, I worked a lot whether it was in class, at work, or in one of the numerous organizations I am a part of. This is a norm for me, and therefore not entirely too bad. And of course, my roommates have pretty much gotten used to only seeing me at night.

I’m so(ooooooooo) looking forward to only worrying about class and where I’m headed to next when I get to CIMBA. What a great relief it will be! Honestly, nothing could possibly sound better.

That being said, I’ve been doing research on Italy and Europe. I am talking to fellow students who will be traveling to CIMBA with me, talking to former students and friends that have studied in Italy. I’m looking at the cost of daily life, and am trying to figure out the cost of travel. Is it better to buy train and/or plane tickets far in advance, just beforehand, or as you’re leaving? Would I save more money buying these tickets in the US or when I’m already across seas? I recently got a credit card with a chip in it, will this make using European ATMs easier? You get the point. If you have experience and you want to share, feel free! Even though I am aware that there is nothing I can do to fully prepare myself for my semester abroad, I know that something I learn now will eventually come in handy later.

They say money is not an easy topic to discuss. They also say the economy is tough and that we’re going through a rough patch. But honestly, when are we not? Throughout this past year, I have learned just how right “they” actually are. I guess you could say that I’m becoming an “adultier” adult. I have begun to pay for everything myself, except tuition and insurance, which I am so incredibly grateful to my parents for. An infinity’s worth of thank you’s will never be enough. It’s quite easy to say that without my education and all the opportunities that going to university has allowed me, I have no idea where I would be in life.

Even though the cost of living is very expensive and it can be very stressful, I am grateful to be able to support myself — almost fully. I know, I know, money is a touchy subject. But I’ve taught myself some lessons when it comes to money and budgeting.  So I’m finally learning what it means to grow up. Through hard work and patience, I have become so much more appreciative of what I have. This new way of living and being self-supportive is something I can definitely get used to.

“Know what you own, and know why you own it.” – Peter Lynch

Always,
N.

Taking flight.

I have always loved airports.
I think it runs in the family. My dad is a lifetime Platinum member of American Airlines with well over two million miles (that’s about 80 times around the circumference of the earth). My mom used to take my younger brother to the airport to watch the big jets take off into the sky. My sister just got back from traveling Europe on her own study abroad adventure. And now airports are some of my favorite places.

Something about an airport is so calming, so diverse, so alive. It’s amazing to see all the different people that come through the doors on a day to day basis. I’ve sat in airports all over the world: Chicago O’Hare, DFW, Brussels, Boston, Adolfo Suárez Madrid — and not a single one is like the other.

There’s a quote that sends chills down my spine every time I read it. “Airports see more sincere kisses than wedding halls. The walls of hospitals have heard more prayers than the walls of churches.” And, god, do I believe it. These are the places we don’t give enough credit to.

There’s so much to look forward to when it comes to studying abroad, but not many people get excited about spending time in the airports. Airports take you places. Mine is taking me to Italy.

As always,
N.