A Must-Do in College!

The opportunity to study abroad is one that EVERY single college student should invest in seizing. There is no better way than to broaden your mind, to become more cultured, to become more educated than being taken out of your comfort zone and embracing a different culture and a different style of life. Almost every person that I have spoken to that has studied abroad has returned with unforgettable memories, priceless stories to share, new friendships, and the immense desire to return one day when given another chance.

Money should not be an excuse to deprive yourself of such a fantastic experience. Money exists everywhere and many generous people are willing to donate it for a good and meaningful cause. If educating yourself with a valuable and educational experience is important to you then persistence and courage are two traits I recommend adopting before venturing in this process. Scholarships, financial aid, loans, savings, fundraising engagements…the means to making this voyage possible are endless. If you have not done so already, I suggest you find a class of interest (a general elective, a language, a class for a major or minor, etc) you would like to study in a foreign country (whether it’s in Asia, South America, Europe, the US for non-Americans, or Australia), find a program that caters to that interest, and begin initiating the steps to achieving the fulfillment of this amazing opportunity.

Let’s face it, while many of us aspire to “travel the world” once we graduate, we must first save a ton of money before embarking on such a costly trip. And if we start stepping into the real world of marriage, kids, a full-time job, payment of bills, when will we find the time to make this dream a reality? Upon graduation, it is a lot harder to become qualified for scholarships and impossible to receive government grants. And as fun and exciting as sightseeing and visiting landmarks is, no experience is comparable to the one in which you have to take a class in a foreign university and remain immerse in the country and the culture for more than 4 weeks.

Studying abroad is not only an educational experience but it is also a self-discovering personal one. Meeting people with a different point of view, learning to adapt to any situation, and trying new things are all essential skills that I guarantee will be useful for a lifetime. This experience makes life that much more valuable.

In the words of Nike Corporations, Just Do it. You won’t be disappointed. If you have any fears of flying, of entering a country that is not America or your home, of being unsafe, put those fears aside. And take a risk. Believe me, the gains WILL outweigh the costs. If you have no time, make time. If you can’t during undergrad, then try in graduate school. This world offers so many chances to explore its wonders, but it’s up to us to take the initiative and discover them. Don’t allow yourself to wish you had taken this chance and regret it when you’re too old sitting in a rocking chair with grandchildren on your side. Regret damages the heart. Do it while you can because believe it or not, time does run out. And if you’re young and healthy, take that energy abroad. You’ll see what fascinating adventures and encounters await you.

Belgium-Home of the Original Frites!

A day like this one two years ago, I was boarding Continental Airlines at 5am in the morning to catch a connecting flight in Newark, New Jersey with the final destination of Brussels, Belgium. It was my first time flying so far. Then, I had only crossed a sea to Dominican Republic and territorial states to New Jersey or Miami. On May 24th, 2008 I crossed the Atlantic Ocean. And while I thought the 8-hour plane ride was going to seem like forever I kept myself entertained with writing in my journal, watching Step Up 2 and episodes of Friends, and catching some much-needed sleep on the plane.

Upon arrival to the francophone- and Flemish- speaking country, I did not know what to expect. Yet, excitement overrode the fact that I could not read any of the signs and thankfully, I flew with some of my fellow study “abroaders” and we guided each other to our baggage and a taxi. As soon as we left the airport, I grabbed my camera out of my purse and began to capture La belle ville di Bruxelles. But what I could not grasp with the lens of my camera, I grasped in memory, in awe, and in gratification.

Instead of giving you a long day-by-day synopsis of the time that I spent in Brussels, I will keep it short and sweet, highlighting only the most heart-touching details of my 7-week expedition.

Living in a European-style apartment with three other fabulous girls brings me a smile every time I reminisce. It is amazing how in such a short time period the bond that formed between us four was so strong and so deep. Going to school together Monday through Thursday, sharing one shower, and taking trips to other European countries on the weekends, being 100 of miles away from home, it was inevitable for us to become inseparable almost like sisters. Plus the fact that we were four girls with problems, boy issues, and the need to be listened to, we depended on each other for comfort, for advice, for laughs, for support, for love. And yes, we all cried at some point, at different points, but you can assure we were always there for each other. It was the night we watched Titanic in our living room with French and Flemish subtitles that I realized how important these three individuals in my life were, how much I had learned from each one of them, and how grateful I was to have met them and undergo this experience with them.

Ok, enough sappiness for now. On to the scandalous part of the trip that college students look mostly forward to studying abroad: the nightlife and alcohol! Five simple words: Beer capital of the world! Our most visited spot of our trip was Delirium- a bar that carries over 2,000 beers from Belgium and all over the world!! My personal favorite: Chimay Beer <3 face="trebuchet ms">
-Amsterdam- Tempted to buy crocs, I refrained and instead enjoyed the sites of the multicolored apartments, smelled the fish from the nearby ocean, and paid my respect to Anne Frank in her former house.
-Paris- In La Ville-Lumière" ("The City of Light"), I played the role of a typical tourist: I visited the Louvre, ate a mouthwatering nutella filled Crepe, road a boat on the beautiful River Seine, and embraced my religious side inside the Notre Dame.
-Versailles- I endeavored in a roadtrip with one of my roommates and two friends we made in Belgium and had a marvelous weekend visiting the Palace of Versailles, feeling like the monarch family when the Palace played 15th century royal music, and drank wine in the backyard of an antiquated horse carriage home.

Oh Europe, this continent is something else! So much history, rich in a diversity of cultures, and so much to see and do! Seven weeks was definitely not enough.

And Belgium…with its rain, its sporadic sunlight and warmth, its warm frites (fun fact: French fries were actually invented by Belgians not the French; and apparently the Belgians love to eat with an excess amount of mayonnaise...yuck...fattening), its unfamiliar-to-me 10pm sundown, cheap Turkish durums, my group’s newly discovered love for andalouse sauce, dripping chocolate Belgium waffles, its scenic Grand Place, was my lovely home for 7 weeks. I learned so much about myself. Studying abroad unraveled my curiosity to further expose myself to foreign situations and learn French. It further confirmed my passion in International Relations. I made such great friends.

Till this day, two years later, time has not been an impairment to the friendships I built. Although we are in different parts of the world, the connection we have built is too special and valuable to simply serve as a memory. We all dream about one day when we are all rich and well-off of reuniting in the Grand Place at a table in Delirium just like the good old times :)

~Dedicated to my Venezuelan partner-in-crime otherwise known as French Fries, to the hot blond that taught me the value of relationships, the lovely Frenchie roommate that provided me with her smile and shoulder when I cried, to the sexy Indian that joined me in the AM hours of dancing, to the the crazy Jewish sorority girl that made us all laugh, to the smart Art lover, to the European lawyer-loving fashionista, to the labor unity Socialist follower, to the sexy European Wannabe with his bright colored shirts, to the intelligent Wikipedia and Marlins #1 fan, to the Italian Jew that held every girl’s arm at some point,

And to the rest of our friends in Belgium… I miss you all.

And I can't forget, to my mother. She encouraged me to embark on this journey from the very beginning. Thank YOU!

And so it begins...

In this new age of finding everything online, I could not help but endeavor in the world of blogging. I wish I had created a blog account in the beginning of college so that I could have recorded my adventures studying abroad in Belgium and my personal views on different issues. But without relying too much on the phrase, “it’s better late than never” this first entry will serve as the grand opening into the world of Jeannette in virtual writing form. I hope to share stories of my adventures abroad, to offer my perspective on significant international issues, and to communicate my thoughts and reflections on life. Simply enjoy :)