I have one month left in French Polynesia. Where did the time go?! Ever since I switched host families, the time has flown by, and I finally feel at home. For example, after I returned from Fakarava, I unconsciously included "home" in my Facebook status.
Ever since I began noticing "little" things like that, I started realizing I have made Tahiti my home, and it was an unconscious effort. I'm adaptable to situations and try to make them positive experiences, but this is a curse as well; I know I will shed more than just a few tears after I say my good-byes and the plane leaves Papeete.
A few of the other students are extremely excited to go back home. They began counting down the days our second week in French Polynesia. As for me, there were a couple weeks when I hit rock bottom and fell victim to this mentality, but I persevered knowing that things would truly become easier. Also, I didn't want to count down the days until I had to go home.... I wanted to think, "I only have X number of days left??"
My objective for this study abroad experience was to focus on enriching and broadening my international understanding of the world we live in. Having never studied abroad, I wasn't sure what to expect, but that is what I wanted. According to our text, based solely on how to maximize study abroad, it is helpful to have a goal but no expectations. Whether it is to strengthen language skills or dive into the culture, I agree that goals help and expectations harm. Or, if you have an expectation, you must be willing to recognize and accept it as a false hope. You will never fully understand or know what will occur. Sometimes the culture itself, or situations such as host families or friendships, doesn't measure up to what you imagine. Be willing to adapt to or let go of the image you have of how your experience will unveil.
Now that finals are over (YES!!), May term commences Monday and leaves us with four weeks left. We travel to three other islands the after next week. After we return, we have one more final week of class, and I leave the week after. I graduate soon, and finally it is the real world!!
I'm still not sure what to think about life post graduation. I won't resume classes in September, I won't have to work out for volleyball, and I won't have the luxury knowing what will happen in the upcoming year. I will work at Simpson as a mentor through June, but after that I am not 100 percent positive where life will take me. The "plan" is to be in Washington, D.C. by Aug. 1, but we all know plans change.
I do know though that this experience helped emotionally prepare me for the possibility of serving in the Peace Corps. Going from talking to my parents almost every day to not speaking for five weeks was difficult. I never thought it would affect me the way it did. They are my support group, and as I was undergoing an extremely emotionally charged experience, I was unavailable to reach them. The lack of communication with home is also difficult for Peace Corps volunteers. Lucky for me I got a taste of it! It really made me question whether or not I could make it as a volunteer. Also, knowing that I'm leaving a home in Tahiti will surely result again if I am accepted as a volunteer to serve elsewhere; it is always difficult to leave when you grow to be fond of where you live. Now I know at least a little of what to expect, and I still want to help others.
Ever since I began noticing "little" things like that, I started realizing I have made Tahiti my home, and it was an unconscious effort. I'm adaptable to situations and try to make them positive experiences, but this is a curse as well; I know I will shed more than just a few tears after I say my good-byes and the plane leaves Papeete.
A few of the other students are extremely excited to go back home. They began counting down the days our second week in French Polynesia. As for me, there were a couple weeks when I hit rock bottom and fell victim to this mentality, but I persevered knowing that things would truly become easier. Also, I didn't want to count down the days until I had to go home.... I wanted to think, "I only have X number of days left??"
My objective for this study abroad experience was to focus on enriching and broadening my international understanding of the world we live in. Having never studied abroad, I wasn't sure what to expect, but that is what I wanted. According to our text, based solely on how to maximize study abroad, it is helpful to have a goal but no expectations. Whether it is to strengthen language skills or dive into the culture, I agree that goals help and expectations harm. Or, if you have an expectation, you must be willing to recognize and accept it as a false hope. You will never fully understand or know what will occur. Sometimes the culture itself, or situations such as host families or friendships, doesn't measure up to what you imagine. Be willing to adapt to or let go of the image you have of how your experience will unveil.
Now that finals are over (YES!!), May term commences Monday and leaves us with four weeks left. We travel to three other islands the after next week. After we return, we have one more final week of class, and I leave the week after. I graduate soon, and finally it is the real world!!
I'm still not sure what to think about life post graduation. I won't resume classes in September, I won't have to work out for volleyball, and I won't have the luxury knowing what will happen in the upcoming year. I will work at Simpson as a mentor through June, but after that I am not 100 percent positive where life will take me. The "plan" is to be in Washington, D.C. by Aug. 1, but we all know plans change.
I do know though that this experience helped emotionally prepare me for the possibility of serving in the Peace Corps. Going from talking to my parents almost every day to not speaking for five weeks was difficult. I never thought it would affect me the way it did. They are my support group, and as I was undergoing an extremely emotionally charged experience, I was unavailable to reach them. The lack of communication with home is also difficult for Peace Corps volunteers. Lucky for me I got a taste of it! It really made me question whether or not I could make it as a volunteer. Also, knowing that I'm leaving a home in Tahiti will surely result again if I am accepted as a volunteer to serve elsewhere; it is always difficult to leave when you grow to be fond of where you live. Now I know at least a little of what to expect, and I still want to help others.
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