Why Study Abroad?

        Many people have asked me why I want to study abroad. Theses questions, "Why do you want to study abroad? Why did you choose the Czech Republic?" are the two most popular questions I have been receiving from family and friends. At first, I had a hard time explaining why. In the process of applying for a scholarship, I had to write an essay about why, and it really got me to dig deep and figure out what was motivating me want to do this. I am thankful I had to do that because I am now able to tell people without hesitating. If you want to know, read on as I have included part of the essay I wrote.

        I grew up in a multi-cultural family. My grandfather, a native Venezuelan, told me stories about his country and culture.  My mom spent the first ten years of her life in Venezuela, and she talked about the challenges of growing up in two cultures. My parents had a great appreciation for other cultures and we spent several summers in Mexico helping people build homes and serving in their communities. Those stories and experiences sparked a desire to see other cultures and it continues to grow. My knowledge of the world outside our borders is limited to these stories and the few personal interactions I have had with other cultures. When I heard about studying abroad I realized that this was the next step to fulfill that desire to see other cultures. Studying abroad is important to me because I will be immersed in a different culture, which is an experience I hope will broaden my understanding of people from other cultural backgrounds and challenge me to learn how to cope with the difficulties associated with change. In the end, I hope to learn new skills that will assist me in serving others. 
       The Czech Republic was not on my radar until I began to research the programs my University offers. As I learned about this program, I found myself being drawn to the unique opportunities it offers. I find the long and complex history of the Czech Republic to be incredibly interesting and I desire to understand more about how the Czech people view life, given their cultural history. I chose the Czech Republic because it offers what I envisioned for a study abroad trip: a culturally immersive experience in a non-traditional location where I learn about a way of life very foreign from my own.

I hope you got they why question answered! If you any other question or want to know something else about the trip please don't hesitate to ask me!

My next post will be about the different scholarships I am applying for and the process there is in the applications. Later I will talk about the process of my passport and Visa for this trip because I have had an interesting one so far.  

God Bless,
Holly Anne

Exciting Announcement!

Hello dear friends!
I have a big announcement that I have been excitedly waiting to share! As many know, I am now attending The University of Arizona this year. I finished my Associate's at Pima this past summer and I am a Junior now. Crazy right?! Time has sure flown by.

The University of Arizona has Study Abroad and I am happy to announce that I will be participating in one of those programs next Spring (2015). I will be going to school in Brno Czech Republic at Masaryk University.  I was officially accepted and I am beyond excited to be traveling to Europe for school. I will be writing about the process of getting prepared, my time while abroad, and share when I get back. I hope all of you will follow along with me on this great adventure and experience. If you are not following and wish to receive updates, please follow this blog or sign up for email updates!

I am so blessed by God to have this opportunity, and I am excited to see where He leads and grows me in this experience.

If you have questions, comments, please ask.

Here are some pictures I found of google of the place I will be living at.
Brno is a beautiful city!

The University I will attend 

Brno Czech Republic

In Christ,

Holly Anne

Hope- Psalm 42:5

When I wrote this I had no idea how God was using it for his glory. I met one of my best friends after sharing this with my writing club in 9th grade. God knew exactly what she needed and through me he was able to reach a lost soul.

Hope

Deep, deep down in her heart, lay fear. Fear. Fear was starting to take its power and wrap around her aching heart. Crushed. She was crushed every bit of hope she had was striped away. Gone Forever.

Like a ghost, fear began to creep into her poor heart. The sorrows of life were now upon her. What she needed was a companion. Someone she could pour her heart out to without getting laughed at. She needed love. Love of a family. Something she no longer had. She needed hope. A hope she could hold onto forever.

What hope has she now?

Building, building deep in her gloomy heart was fear, anger, confusion and hurt. Cold as snow and raging like a fire her heart became. Her days became days of pain.

Skin, pale as snow became stained with the color of a juicy sweet strawberry. She felt no pain, no plain from the blade.

What hope has she now?

She felt no pain, no pain at all. The world was a blur, her life like a machine. Day by day her days the same. But in her heart, her heart of stone, one little spark, she longed to be free. Free of the spell, free from the shell. She longed for something, something, something that would free her soul.

What hope has she now?

Like a fire burning out, her hope became a drought. Empty she be until she is released free?

What hope has she now?

Like a broken door her voice hardly worked anymore.

What hope has she now?

What was she longing for? What was it the she felt before? Hope? Love? Need? What do those things mean? Then she remembered what she had once lived for.

Falling to her knees she looked to mercy’s door. With outstretched arms he brought her home. He held her tight, tight in his loving arms.

What hope has she now?

The hope that all is well. Her hope of love, the hope that she was searching for. Her father and her Lord are the hope she was longing for.

Psalm 42:5 “Why are you cast down, oh my soul and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him…”