Three weeks, two continents, one trip!
Henry David Thoreau once said, “You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave and find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”
Arizona State University is an island of opportunities. The Walton Global Sustainability Studies Program creates an enormous opportunity that was too generous for me to pass up. I encourage anyone who is reading this that is also studying sustainability and has not traveled abroad yet to go and study in another country, as it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Spain and Morocco program caught my interest because of the emphasis on sustainable development and energy, particularly solar, but I am venturing on this trip for more than just the sustainability aspects. I want to experience other cultures, try new foods, make new friends and explore the sites and scenery of a different continent. I have never been to any other countries besides Mexico so I thought long and hard about my decision on where to study abroad. Out of all the phenomenal places the 2015 study abroad programs had to offer, I thought I would appreciate Spain and Morocco the most. I love art as well as architecture and Spain in particular is especially known for these. I also thought it would be incredible to go on a trip in which I explore two continents (Africa and Europe). I also took a couple years of Spanish in high school and college so I thought Spain would be easier to communicate in. Additionally, we end the program in Europe, so I organized an extended trip with some fellow friends and classmates to travel to Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen and Amsterdam! I am beyond excited to travel to all of these places as well as how much I will learn, experience and develop along the way.
In preparation, I have been gathering supplies and recently picked up a new backpacking pack so I won’t have to lug around a duffle bag or deal with the lack of support school backpacks have. I hope to bring home some souvenirs in this backpack from the various places I go. I cannot even imagine what I’ll bring back. I am counting down the days as we grow near departure and I cannot be more ecstatic/anxious of what the future entails. I am curious as to how I will adapt to the different cultures I encounter, specifically Morocco. I have never had Moroccan food before but I love Mediterranean food and trying new things so I’m sure it will be delicious.
Well, I could ramble on and on about what I am going to do and where I am going, but you would probably rather just hear the actual stories and experiences themselves instead of just speculation. I fly into Casablanca in just under a week so I am just sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to leave.