Studying Abroad Produces Good Stories

Studying abroad for the first time (with the prioritization of safety) gave me opportunities to learn through my mistakes and laugh it off in the end. I flew off my raft while descending the temperamental Pacuare River. I laughed it off, and I even voluntarily got out of the raft again to go swimming! I went out to enjoy the nightlife with friends even though plenty of homework was waiting for me when I got home, and the work got done. I lost my prescription glasses on the beach on the very first weekend, and I'm never getting them back. Good thing I had another pair. All of these make for great stories that I've enjoyed sharing with my friends and family, because I would want nothing less than to give them at least a small piece of the amazing fun and adventure I experienced in my time abroad. My peers from my program, my host family, and my site directors were all wonderful people I could rely on as a support system. The truth is, what you take back from your trip abroad should reflect exactly what you put into it, and for that reason, I am very glad that I made the most of it all.