Life Reflection

Today has been a surreal day for me. I have been feeling a mix of different emotions throughout the day. It´s unfortunate that it takes events, such as, to put your life in perspective.

Ben Wieler, another student in my program, passed away a couple of days ago. Unfortunately, I never got the opportunity to meet him. I have heard nothing but good things about him, though. We all received an email about a week ago saying that he was hospitalized, so we all assumed it was something serious. They found out that he had a brain tumor and within three days, he had passed away. It´s just one of those surreal moments, because you are here in another country studying abroad and death is usually the last thing that comes to mind. Dealing with that sort of thing proves to be much more difficult abroad, given our circumstances. To think that he was just another student out to have an unforgettable four months is really tough for me. It could´ve been any of us. Even though I never met him, I feel as though I did. IES, my study abroad program, has handled the situation very well. They have kept us constantly updated and it was a topic that was discussed in the beginning of all five of my classes. Our afternoon classes were cancelled today, so that everyone had the opportunity to attend his service. It´s such a tragic event. Definitely has me in an odd state of mind. A day of reflection is the best way I can put it. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.


On a lighter note, I have a really exciting week ahead. I just picked up tickets for the Barcelona v. Dynamo Kiev game tonight. That will definitely be a memorable event. Then, I have my salsa and hip hop classes (yes, I decided to sign up) tomorrow night. Finally, a group of us head out to ROME on Thursday night and we will come back Sunday. I am incredibly grateful to have parents who have allowed me and helped me do this trip. I remember thinking back in January if this is really what I wanted to do. I had Teach for America as an idea, moving to New York, returning home, applying straight to grad school, etc.

There´s just so much out there and having the pressures of finding a job or applying to grad school can help you forget that at times. The value of life over here is just absolutely incredible. It shows in so many different ways. I definitely made the best choice and couldn´t think of a better plan after graduation. After Spain, I plan on traveling much more and exploring a lot of different countries. I am 22 years old and have the rest of my life ahead of me. Thanks Mom and Dad. Without you, this wouldn´t even be an option for me.

Much Love...