Abruddies

It’s officially been a week since my journey to Dublin commenced, and I cannot have had a better experience than the one that I have gotten over the past seven days. Not only are the program coordinators incredible, as well as my professors, but the experience has truly been made by the students that I am with.

It wasn’t even two hours before I had met almost everyone in the program at he O’Hare International Airport before I began to bond with everyone. As is natural, most people (including myself) were slightly reserved at first. However, we instantly began bonding over classes taken at the University and previous traveling experiences. Oh– and books, of course books. More members began to trickle in over the course of those two or so hours and the conversation never ceased. Affirming my hunch that I would make some good pals during this program.

My roommates and friends are all scattered to the winds this summer, which is both happy and sad. I feared that I wouldn’t be able to open myself in the way that I have learned to over this past year. As I reached out and let myself be comfortable with my classmates, I have indefinitely overcome that irrational fear. Perhaps, it is because my peers were feeling the same way that I was. But, we are english majors, and english majors like to talk– a lot. No shame, because I am a storyteller and an open book (which I can only blame and thank my wonderful mother for).

It has only been seven days and I feel that I have met some of the most important people in my life, being able to draw different and unique energy from each and every one of them. They are continuously inspiring me to be more honest in myself, more confident in myself, and more faithful in myself. I do not know that they know these things, but sometimes silent appreciations are the best. In and out of the classroom I can feel myself growing, and I have everyone that I’ve been with this past week to thank.

My lesson from this week (from an introverted extrovert) is not to hold yourself back from anything. Go, and if you don’t like it, go back. No one is stopping you, no one is forcing you. The power is within yourself, and you have more control over a situation than you think. Trust the people around you, and work as a team.

I can’t wait to see where my abruddies (abroad buddies) will be by the end of our now five weeks.