I usually say that I hate change. This summer time, nevertheless, I spotted that this isn’t completely true — I simply hate goodbyes. My final week in Copenhagen flew by faster than I might count on, and Friday night time (my closing night time) felt prefer it arrived solely two days after I did. With so many goodbyes looming, I made a decision to shift my mindset to a “goodbye,” one thing I discover it a lot simpler to come back to phrases with. My summer time with DIS could also be ending, however my time in Scandinavia, my friendships, and my reminiscences usually are not.
My time in Stockholm and Copenhagen inspired me to problem myself — my methods of considering, my views of the world, and my views of myself. I can firmly say that after lower than two months, I really feel extra assured in myself and my independence. Leaving the States an introverted lady with some dependency points, I used to be terrified to be utterly by myself in two new international locations. I knew nobody in and nothing about Scandinavia earlier than boarding my eleven hour flight to Stockholm in mid-June, however coming residence, not solely have I met lifelong pals and realized about my host international locations, I’ve additionally realized about myself.
I at all times mentioned I hated change, however what I actually hated was the worry of shedding what’s necessary to me. Coming residence, after all I’m unhappy to be leaving the buddies and program I grew so keen on up to now six weeks, however I’m studying that I’m not shedding them in any respect, they’ve grow to be part of me. My pals taught me to embrace new experiences, profit from my time in new locations, and be assured in who I already am. My applications have taught me to make my very own choices, problem myself and my notion of the world, and discover outdoors of my consolation zone. Leaving Scandinavia doesn’t imply leaving this stuff behind, it means carrying them with me as I face my subsequent new expertise. So, as I depart Copenhagen and head again residence to the States, listed here are my high three classes I realized overseas.
- Embrace Change
Crucial factor I realized whereas overseas was to embrace every change. If I allowed myself to remain frightened of modifications, I wouldn’t have had the braveness to spend my summer time in two utterly new international locations within the first place. I wouldn’t have allowed myself to step outdoors of my consolation zone and make new pals, kind new concepts, and have new experiences.
- Discover New Views
Secondly, whereas spending time in Scandinavia, I used to be challenged to suppose critically about completely different views and my very own private biases. By means of my lessons, I used to be launched to other ways of considering, whether or not a brand new approach to expertise a overseas nation or a unique outlook on a rustic’s instructional system. I realized that there isn’t any proper approach to make insurance policies which are finest for everybody, every little thing is a stability. The best way each nation, society, and tradition operates has its personal priorities. We should perceive one another’s views to work in the direction of essentially the most profitable stability of concepts and priorities.
- Broaden Horizons
Going overseas, I used to be scared to expertise so many new issues by myself. I informed myself that whereas, sure, I used to be learning overseas to do this — research — I used to be largely taking up this new expertise to work on my confidence and independence. And that’s precisely what I did. Coming residence, I really feel safer in myself, my means to make my very own selections, and attempting new adventures by myself. I’m extremely grateful for this expertise because it helped me not solely problem my views of the world, it helped me problem my views of MY world.
