Today was my first real complete day of classes in Valparaíso (or Valpo as locals call it). My thoughts?
1) Boy is public transportation here both necessary and cheap. Thank Poseidon those two things coincide.
2) Completos are delish. It's a hot dog with mayo, avocado, and tomatoes. So much of all of those things. And the mayo here is homemade so it's just vinegar-y egg mush. Which takes so good! (And it's good for you, too right?)
3) I'm not at home. At all.
4) Not sure if I've been venturing out enough. But here's more about that...
It's easy to imagine studying abroad being a constant walking, moving, hiking journey across beautiful landscapes, eating fresh food, meeting glorious strangers and drinking tons of locally brewed spirits.
But it's not always so glamorous. Sometimes you have to run to catch a 20-min bus across town in your 10-minute break between classes. Sometimes you're too tired to walk 30 minutes to the beach after a full day of classes. Sometimes taking little steps out of the bubble is really all you can do.
I've been doing this new thing where I don't blame myself for not accomplishing everything. So I'm trying one or two new things every day. Taking a new street, using a new word or phrase, taking a different way home.
Most importantly, I'm putting all of my heart into that time-tested, vaguely Taoist saying "que será será." Going with the wind. Like when I stood at the metro today and my card blew out of my hands and under the platform. Luckily a friend met up with me and she paid a little extra to get me through the other side.
In return? We're going out for drinks. Que será será. In reference to the title of this post, I wanted to meditate on desiring comfort and safety is not necessarily an obstruction to learning. Yes, I'll push myself outside of my comfort as often as possible. But today I remember that sometimes I like to stay in, recharge, look at photos of my friends, and remember where I'm from.
As long as I'm learning I'm content. My values, my attitudes, my habits--they're all being put to the test here. The classroom is no longer the prime arena for my growth. Now it's the world.
1) Boy is public transportation here both necessary and cheap. Thank Poseidon those two things coincide.
2) Completos are delish. It's a hot dog with mayo, avocado, and tomatoes. So much of all of those things. And the mayo here is homemade so it's just vinegar-y egg mush. Which takes so good! (And it's good for you, too right?)
3) I'm not at home. At all.
4) Not sure if I've been venturing out enough. But here's more about that...
It's easy to imagine studying abroad being a constant walking, moving, hiking journey across beautiful landscapes, eating fresh food, meeting glorious strangers and drinking tons of locally brewed spirits.
But it's not always so glamorous. Sometimes you have to run to catch a 20-min bus across town in your 10-minute break between classes. Sometimes you're too tired to walk 30 minutes to the beach after a full day of classes. Sometimes taking little steps out of the bubble is really all you can do.
I've been doing this new thing where I don't blame myself for not accomplishing everything. So I'm trying one or two new things every day. Taking a new street, using a new word or phrase, taking a different way home.
Most importantly, I'm putting all of my heart into that time-tested, vaguely Taoist saying "que será será." Going with the wind. Like when I stood at the metro today and my card blew out of my hands and under the platform. Luckily a friend met up with me and she paid a little extra to get me through the other side.
In return? We're going out for drinks. Que será será. In reference to the title of this post, I wanted to meditate on desiring comfort and safety is not necessarily an obstruction to learning. Yes, I'll push myself outside of my comfort as often as possible. But today I remember that sometimes I like to stay in, recharge, look at photos of my friends, and remember where I'm from.
As long as I'm learning I'm content. My values, my attitudes, my habits--they're all being put to the test here. The classroom is no longer the prime arena for my growth. Now it's the world.