Travels

I have three major travels planned for the near future, and I can't even describe how I feel. My mom says that I'm touring the world like a rock star. I am so lucky to have been in the right place at the right time, to be raised by parents who have worked hard to give me incredible experiences, to love education, to have amazing friends, and to be the kind of girl who reads e-mails. If I could toot my own horn for a second, I did work pretty hard to be able to have the financial freedom and competitiveness to be able to receive scholarships and study abroad three times, BUT the truth is, I am just fortunate to be where I am because of the hard work of everyone around me. Thank you, mom and dad. Thank you universe. I love you.

Trip 1: Texas
This one is Spring Break, the only "just for fun" trip I have planned. I have talked about it before in my Top Five blog, but it is happening in just a few days and I am really excited. I will be providing the blog with photos I've actually taken myself (!!!).
Anticipations: Meeting Austin-ites, seeing my best friend, being a temporary hipster, being a 21-year-old in a cool city, not saying y'all
Concerns: getting all of my liquids onto a carry-on and getting to the airport

Trip 2: Ecuador
I am spending my Maymester teaching Ecuadorian children English and hanging out with university students from the University of Ecuador. Listen, we get to go to hot springs. The people I'm going with seem really awesome, I'm taking a class with all of them now. Also, I get to network with a bunch of Higher Ed grads, which is a dream because I think that's the program I want to do eventually.
Anticipations: Practicing Spanish, teaching English, hot springs, potentially getting some Chilean pisco, Spanish poetry/music/lit, mountains, avocados (basically, I love South America and I'm so excited).
Concerns: Altitude sickness, motion sickness, and guinea pigs


Trip 3: Indonesia
My life is a dream. I was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship to study Bahasa Indonesia in Malang, Indonesia. What? Pinch me. Seriously. I know it is going to be an intensive language learning experience, but I know it will be life-changing. I'm so fortunate. I met a guy today who was awarded a CLS and he said his life hasn't been the same since. Can you believe I'll be living in a place called Java? Like the coffee?
Anticipations: Meeting the other scholars, the beach, volcano, mosques/architecture, FOOD, tea plantation, warm weather
Concerns: Jet lag, getting sick