Vara ready to be challenged, changed, inspired

Waiting to hear back about my acceptance seemed like the LONGEST week and a half. The days I spent waiting were filled with feelings of excitement and reflection on the whole application process. Throughout the time I was waiting, I kept thinking back to the symposium where presenters said the key words “world turned upside-down.” Ever since hearing that phrase, I began thinking of how much I wanted to explore a life other than the mundane one I live in Connecticut. I wanted a completely new experience learning about a different culture. Each day I waited, I grew more and more excited to hear back about the decision. Yet knowing that many students applied for the program only made me more nervous. I thought a lot about my interview and how I could have answered the bus question differently. I kept thinking of the amazing internship possibilities Vernon mentioned. I kept asking around if anyone had heard any news on the decision and I eagerly waited for Tuesday, decision day, to come.

Tuesday morning finally came around and I immediately raced to my computer the second my morning alarm went off. When I saw the email about my acceptance, I screamed. Not like how people say they scream and they actually don’t. I really screamed and woke up my roommate. I was so overjoyed and excited to learn what came next. For the entire day, the only thing I could think about was who I may meet, what I would eat, what class would be like, what cool extra activities I would sign up for, what my first day of my internship would be like... and even what I might do if I was on a crowded bus of people who don’t speak my language. As the reality of going abroad sunk in, I realized that I had so many questions. Meeting up all together and asking questions that following Thursday really helped me grasp a better understanding of what is expected of me and how I will conduct my life abroad. But there are no promises of what my experience will be like. That is entirely up to me. I plan to make it worth 3 months of my life. Better yet, I want to make it the most memorable and life changing 3 months of life learning about what really is going on in South Africa and not just what the media portrays. I look forward to being challenged, changed, and even out of my comfort zone but mostly I look to be inspired. Being accepted into this program is only the first step of the journey. I plan to make this trip one I will always remember.