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