It is hard to believe that this semester is just flying by.
Julia and I have traveled so much that I feel like we are a team on the Amazing
Race. Could you imagine a dreadlock damsel duo winning the Amazing Race…It’s
bound to happen soon enough.
Studying abroad can be summed up in one word: NEW. We see a new place every weekend, take a new adventure every day and find a new surprise around every corner. I must force Julia sit down and write in her journal occasionally. This is a daunting task since she wants to see it all. We want to see every nook and cranny of Prague. I want to brush against the corner of every old building and be shown-off to every local who points at Julia’s head and asks, “What’s That?” It is, without a doubt, important to see all the sights that Europe has to offer, but it might be equally as important for Julia to reflect on the experience.
I’ve watched Julia change throughout the semester, and the main thing that she has gained is independence. It’s great how often just Julia and I hangout without another human around. We go out to eat together, go to museums together and walk everywhere together. Did I say we walk everywhere together? Wow, so much walking! Thank god Julia’s dragging me along because if I had legs, I don’t think I could keep up. We don’t mind being alone, just us two. It is amazing how frequently I have asked Julia, “What do you want to do?” without considering a million different opinions or expectations of others.
I know you’re probably thinking how selfish this all sounds, but isn’t this the only time in her life that she is allowed to be a little bit selfish? She is past the time in her life when she permanently lives at home and though she (of course) abides by those deeply rooted morals instilled in her by her parents, she doesn’t have to answer to them (even though she FaceTimes them every-other-day). It is also before the time in her life when society demands she become a real person with a real job and real responsibilities; maybe eventually settling down and popping out some rugrats that she will have to put before her always. Right now, she is living for her. Asking what she truly wants to do… and doing it. Is there any truer form of freedom?
Studying abroad can be summed up in one word: NEW. We see a new place every weekend, take a new adventure every day and find a new surprise around every corner. I must force Julia sit down and write in her journal occasionally. This is a daunting task since she wants to see it all. We want to see every nook and cranny of Prague. I want to brush against the corner of every old building and be shown-off to every local who points at Julia’s head and asks, “What’s That?” It is, without a doubt, important to see all the sights that Europe has to offer, but it might be equally as important for Julia to reflect on the experience.
I’ve watched Julia change throughout the semester, and the main thing that she has gained is independence. It’s great how often just Julia and I hangout without another human around. We go out to eat together, go to museums together and walk everywhere together. Did I say we walk everywhere together? Wow, so much walking! Thank god Julia’s dragging me along because if I had legs, I don’t think I could keep up. We don’t mind being alone, just us two. It is amazing how frequently I have asked Julia, “What do you want to do?” without considering a million different opinions or expectations of others.
I know you’re probably thinking how selfish this all sounds, but isn’t this the only time in her life that she is allowed to be a little bit selfish? She is past the time in her life when she permanently lives at home and though she (of course) abides by those deeply rooted morals instilled in her by her parents, she doesn’t have to answer to them (even though she FaceTimes them every-other-day). It is also before the time in her life when society demands she become a real person with a real job and real responsibilities; maybe eventually settling down and popping out some rugrats that she will have to put before her always. Right now, she is living for her. Asking what she truly wants to do… and doing it. Is there any truer form of freedom?
