December 18th, 2003 | The lowdown by Marion Wise

Four Months Too Short

I have only one month left in this precious country, and I honestly don’t know what I will do when I have to leave. I know this for sure: I will not want to leave.

I chose to study abroad for only a semester (four months) because there are so many things that I love about my university at home and I thought that a semester would be an acceptable amount of time in Spain.

Well, I was right and I was wrong. Yes, in some ways a semester is enough time – it’s enough time for me to learn that I love this country, and it’s enough time for me to realize that I want to continue improving my Spanish. It’s enough time for me to see many parts of the country, and it’s enough time for me to begin to understand the customs and sentiments of this wonderful culture.

But, it isn’t enough time for me to see everything I’d like to… that would be impossible. And it is just enough time for me to start feeling comfortable right when I need to leave, to be making Spanish friends one month before I have to go.

Nevertheless, you can add me to the list of people you know who have said: “Studying abroad was the best decision I made in college.” Studying abroad, living abroad, traveling…they are all amazing ways to open your eyes, experience new cultures first-hand, make sense of all that gibberish you learned in school, begin to understand an outsider’s view of America, gain a new life perspective.

It is an incredible learning experience that you can only get by doing just that – experiencing life abroad. You can read all the books in the world or take every class your university offers, but nothing will compare to the knowledge you gain from traveling, whether from seeing historical sights or interacting with people from a different culture and background.

Therefore, in the words of one of Robin William’s greatest characters, Professor Keating: “Aproveché la día.” Carpe diem. Seize the day. If you have even the slightest opportunity to travel, whether in the states or especially abroad, take it. I guarantee you won’t regret it.