España Escapades: A Journey of Goals and Growth Abroad

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I’m Sarah Hoffe, a junior on the teacher track at Martin Luther College. I’m a Spanish major, so naturally, that is a beautiful excuse to travel the world to learn more about the Spanish language and culture. I am from Nodine, MN, where I have lived my whole life. So, I am excited to branch out and explore the world finally! 

 

As the anticipation for my upcoming study abroad journey to Spain builds, I find myself reflecting on the goals and expectations I have set for myself, the program, and the experiences that lie ahead. Embarking on this adventure is a mix of excitement and nervousness, but I am confident that the challenges will pave the way for personal growth and unforgettable memories.

 

Expectations for Myself: Embracing Change and Adaptability

I anticipate that living in a new country, immersed in a different culture and language, will be a transformative experience. I look forward to becoming more comfortable with change and developing adaptability to navigate unfamiliar situations. My primary concern is grappling with homesickness as I learn to become more comfortable with change. The thought of being away from the familiar faces and comforts of home for an extended period is daunting. However, I recognize this as an opportunity for personal growth and resilience-building. This experience allows me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace the unknown with open arms. I also expect that studying abroad will cultivate respect for other cultures. Being open to diverse perspectives is a priority for me. I pray this experience will broaden my understanding of the world, fostering cultural sensitivity and appreciation. I hope to return home with a more global mindset, enriched by connections with people from various backgrounds.

 

Expectations for the Program: Pushing Comfort Zones and Appreciating the Present

I believe the program’s design will challenge me to step out of my comfort zone as I am encouraged and required to use Spanish in many situations in and outside of school. Whether navigating new cities or interacting with locals in Spanish, I anticipate moments of discomfort that will ultimately contribute to personal and academic growth. Another of my expectations is that this program will teach me to appreciate the things I may take for granted in the United States, many of which I am not aware of yet since I won’t know what I’m missing here until I am abroad. Living abroad provides a unique perspective on life, and I hope to gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and uniqueness of different cultures.

 

Goals for the Program: Improved Spanish Proficiency and Travel

A primary goal for this experience is to enhance my Spanish language skills. I often find myself being concerned that my language skills may not improve as significantly as I hope. Overcoming language barriers is integral to fully immersing myself in the culture, and the fear of stagnation in this aspect lingers in my mind. I aim to increase my comfort level when communicating with native speakers and gain the confidence to express myself effectively in Spanish. Another goal is to travel to a different country on my own. The prospect of navigating a foreign land independently both excites and challenges me. I believe this experience will not only boost my confidence but also encourage me to travel more often. Solo travel is not the highest priority for me; however, I expect I will love traveling with my friends and experiencing new things with other people (old friends and new ones:). 

 

Greatest Challenge:

Undoubtedly, my greatest challenge will be navigating the distance from the people I hold dear. However, I acknowledge that this separation, though difficult, offers a unique opportunity for personal and emotional growth. The support of loved ones will remain a source of strength as I embark on this incredible and exciting adventure.

As the departure date approaches, I look forward to the personal development and all the discoveries that studying abroad in Spain promises. Through embracing change, pushing boundaries, and fostering cultural understanding, I anticipate a journey that will shape not only my academic pursuits but also my perspective on life. Here’s to the unknown and the growth that awaits on the picturesque streets of Spain!

My Goals and Expectations for Studying Abroad in Madrid, Spain

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Hi everyone! My name is Alaina Wiedoff and I am in my junior year at Martin Luther College. It is unbelievable to think that this semester abroad, something I have been planning since the beginning of freshman year, is a couple days away. I am for sure feeling all of the feelings – disbelief, excitement, confusion, anxiousness, gratitude, and more. If I am being honest, I have sat down and attempted to write this blog four different times in the last week, but have gotten overwhelmed with the fact that this once-in-a-lifetime experience is just a few days before me and indeed is very real and not a dream. Here I am now though, after I could not fall asleep due to runaway thoughts of this trip. 

 

For this first blog, I get the opportunity to reflect on my goals and expectations for my semester abroad in Madrid. I have lots of small and large goals for myself during my time abroad. I LOVE setting goals for myself but have done an extremely poor job of consistently following through on these goals. That being said, one of my top goals is to work hard to follow through on my goals! 🙂 

 

Starting with an expectation: I expect that after this program wraps up, I will be more confident in my Spanish speaking abilities. If anyone knows me, you know I am very hard on myself about my abilities in Spanish and feel I should be further along than I am. A goal that goes hand-in-hand with this expectation, is spending time outside of class studying and practicing Spanish concepts that I am not as confident in. This may look like reviewing certain concepts and practicing them in my notebook and then using these concepts in real-life conversations. I do believe that I will feel more confident after spending four months studying and learning the language more! I do expect this program to challenge me and to encourage me to work hard! I believe that through this program I will have exposure to many different cultures and life styles which will broaden my perspective and Lord-willingly contribute to my personal and spiritual growth. 

 

I am a very structured person. I love planning out every key detail and having a schedule that I can follow at all times, especially when traveling. Schedules are not always a bad thing, but I have learned that when I focus too heavily on following the schedule or making sure plans go exactly as I expect them to, I find myself more stressed out with change and less content with the experiences before me. After learning more about European culture, one insight I have gained is that the way of life there is more slow going and less rigid. This way of life can be so beautiful. A goal that I will daily be working at is becoming more flexible and adaptable to change and spontaneity. Not only do I want to become more flexible in situations, but I want to find the joys and blessings that come with the unexpected paths I may take. I will, of course, maintain my aspirations and objectives for things I wish to see and achieve, but do so while adapting and embracing the unpredictable experiences that European life may present. 

 

Similarly, I want to learn more about myself and embrace the change and growth that may come with this semester. I tend to get super anxious about both big and small changes and worry about the outcome of those changes. Living in a different country and culture is going to bring about a lot of small and big changes. I not only want to become more flexible and adaptable to these changes, but embrace them and see the beauty that God is working through them. 

 

THIS is another big goal of mine; to trust in the Lord with all of my heart and trust that he is working out His plan in my life no matter what may change or not go the way I expect it to! 

 

Here is the list of some of my more general personal goals this semester, in no particular order!: 

 

  1. Write everyday in my gratitude journal! 
    • (Prayer in the morning and 3 things I am thankful for at the end of the day!) 
  2. Write in my Travel journal 4 times a week! 
  3. Read 3 books! 
  4. Read the book of Psalms in both English and Spanish! 
  5. Sit and try to paint at least 3 times! 
  6. Make new friends! 
  7. Travel to 5 new countries. 
  8. Take a solo trip! 
  9. Exercise 3 times a week! 
  10. Stay connected to my loved ones back home! 
  11. Improve my Spanish speaking and knowledge of the language! 
  12. Learn more of the history of Spain! 

 

Finally, the most important goal for me is to stay rooted in my faith. I would love to daily be in my Bible and spend time with my Father in prayer. I am blessed here at home, to have my church community as well as my MLC community. While I am abroad, I will not physically have this community with me, even though I know you are all rooting for me and praying for me. (Thank you, truly. It means the world!) I would love to find a community abroad that I can worship with and have conversations with about Jesus and His love and ministry. Lord-willingly, when and if I find this community, I would love to create close friendships and maintain these bonds while I am abroad and beyond. 

 

Lately, as I have been preparing to leave for this God-given, amazing opportunity, I have been meditating on these verses that have given me comfort: 

 

Deuteronomy 31:8: 

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

 

And 

 

All of Psalm 23 – The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. 

 

I ask that you please keep my friends and I who are studying abroad in your prayers! Thank you for your support and prayers, it means so much. 

 

God works in beautiful ways and I am so incredibly excited to see His plan for this season of my life! 

 

Thanks for following along! 

Con Amor, (with love) 

 

Alaina Wiedoff

Goals and expectations: goles/objectivos/metas y expectivas/esperanzas

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I figured I might as well start translating my thoughts now, as that will take up a lot of my time soon. The trouble with this is that words don’t translate perfectly. There are often multiple possible translations and ways to interpret a phrase or sentence. 

So yeah, that’s a trouble, but it’s also helpful. In this case, it’s helpful. Each translation of the words helps me define the difference between them and better express each. 

First, a bit about me. My name is Emily Wittig. I’m a junior at MLC on the teacher track. I’m a double major in elementary and secondary Spanish education. I’m from Hartford, WI. Both my parents are teachers. (Yes, it’s a family business at this point.) I’ve been taking Spanish classes at some level since seventh grade. 

I know it’s “goals and expectations,” but I’ll start with expectations. The first translation is “expectivas”, a cognate translation. I don’t necessarily expect adjusting to be easy. Adjusting to a new house, food, school, time zone, culture, and more is only a slightly daunting task. (Okay, maybe more than slightly.) I’m not scared, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I expect this to be a difficult adjustment, but I have support from many people. 

“Expectations” also can be translated to “esperanzas,” which are like “hopes” or “wishes.” I hope to make lots of friends abroad. Through the ISA program, we will have opportunities to go on extra weekend trips to various cities in Spain. Our classes will be with these ISA students, and hopefully some natives, also. We hope to have many experiences with multiple people doing many different things. 

“Goals” can be translated to “goles,” which is primarily used in the context of sports. Like in futbol (I should probably call it that instead of soccer), the scores are goals. We have a goal to go to a futbol game in Spain, a way to immerse ourselves in a significant cultural aspect of the country. (I need to learn more about how futbol works first!) Another goal is to stay active. Incorporating activity into my routine will give me a sense of accomplishment and homeiness. The gym we have in mind offers some workout classes, which can be another way to bond with others from the area. I would also love to find a way to play basketball while I’m abroad, but that could be tougher. 

“Objectivos” is another translation for “goals.” This word is a cognate, so it’s often used to refer to objectives. As a future teacher, I know all about objectives: what they are, how to write them, why they’re necessary, etc. Basically, the purpose. The purpose of this semester abroad is to learn the Spanish language and immerse myself in its culture. Easy enough, right? I’m taking classes at the university, so I’ll be learning the language. I’m living there, so I’m immersed in the culture. However, objectives should be measurable. How can I say I “learned the language” or was “immersed in the culture”? In regards to learning the language, my classes will be a large part of measuring this. Although daily homework is rare in Europe, I will still have a test or two or three along the way, and the classes I’m taking are designed to improve my use of the language (especially the one focusing on complex grammar topics). I will also be able to gauge the easiness of conversing with native speakers and other language learners throughout the semester. It’s more challenging to measure the cultural aspect. It’s possible to be in a country and not even try to be part of the culture. I will consciously make an effort to do this, and I’ll self-check my progress through these blogs. Apparently, “objectivo” also refers to the lens on a camera (I just learned this). I want to take many pictures while I’m in Spain and all the other places we will visit. But I also have a personal goal to live in the moment. Time is very laid-back in Europe, including Spain (just look up their “siesta”). This will be a challenge for me, mainly because I’m a huge planner, so I want to be more of a go-with-the-flow type of person and be more spontaneous. 

Finally, “meta” is the third translation for “goal.” Along with basically every other connotation for “goal” that I’ve included, “meta” also signifies the finish line. I think of two verses from the New Testament: 2 Timothy 4:7 (I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith) and Hebrews 12:1-2 (let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith). Staying in the Word may be a challenge while we’re abroad. We won’t have chapel services twice a day and a variety of church services to choose from each weekend. Because of this, I want to do daily devotions and a personal bible study at least once a week. We’re also looking for potential groups at school to find more opportunities to be in the Word, as this is the most important part of everything we do.

A Tale of Two Countries

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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

This is one of the most iconic opening lines in literature. Charles Dickens opens his famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities, with this quote. The novel compares two contrasting cities, London and Paris, during the dreadful time of the French Revolution. Readers worldwide have connected with this story and used this quote to describe situations that are made up of both good and bad aspects. 

Instead of comparing two cities, I will compare two different countries: the United States and England. These two countries have many similarities, the most obvious one being that they speak the same language. Other similarities I have noticed is in body language, having a monochronic schedule, and most notably, their love for American music (particularly Lady Gaga!). At every restaurant and pub I have been to so far, at least one or more Lady Gaga songs will play while I’m sitting there!

Despite these numerous similarities, many differences also come into play. While I was leaving Heathrow Airport I immediately got my first look at the city. This was automatically paired with my realization of the opposite flow of traffic. I knew beforehand that countries in Europe drove on the left side of the road, but it is completely different when you experience it in front of you. Since I have gotten here, I have ridden the bus almost every day. Mixing the opposite flow of traffic with fast-paced city driving was an initial shock. However, I am now more comfortable and confident when taking public transportation into the city. 

Being a study abroad student puts me in the weird in-between phase of being a typical “tourist” and being a “Londoner.” Right now, I am leaning more toward the tourist side of the spectrum. I’m still learning the layout of the city and how to get from one place to another. Luckily, there is this amazing app called CityMapper. It’s similar to Google Maps, but it tells me the exact bus or tube route to take so I don’t accidentally take the wrong one. It has been a lifesaver this first week! 

Another “tourist” moment I had was at a restaurant. I was with a group of friends, and we were waiting to get our check and leave. Our first mistake was that we assumed that our waiter would come up to our table and hand us our check. We waited and waited as our waiter walked past our table multiple times without stopping to ask us if we were ready for the check. We were trying not to be impatient, rude Americans by flagging him down, but we learned quickly that that is actually what is expected over here. Waiters don’t just come up to the dinner table multiple times to check on the food because they view it here as rude to interrupt dinner conversation, whereas in America that is normal and viewed as polite customer service. Lesson learned. 

Every experience is not one-dimensional. Instead, it is a two-sided coin. One side of the coin consists of the joys, beautiful moments, and happy memories from the experience, while the other side consists of the trials, hardships, and sadness from the experience. Both sides are still a part of the same coin and are essential to growing from an experience. 

This two-sided coin model best describes my initial week while abroad. Going abroad consists of an array of emotions that are nearly impossible to describe unless you have experienced it firsthand. Every day feels like the greatest day ever mixed with feelings of loneliness and confusion. Every morning, I wake up and pinch myself because I am still processing the fact that I am living in a different country! Some of the friends I have met here are also American study abroad students. We have created a unique bond because we are all in the exact same boat. We are going through similar joys and trials at the same time. One of my biggest fears coming into this experience was trying to find friends and meet people. These friendships have helped me adjust tremendously going into this first week because a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. 

The hardest part so far is when I am in my room alone. I am no longer surrounded by the exciting scenes around me or friends to laugh and talk with. This is when the voice in my head begins to question or doubt everything. I ask myself “What am I doing here?”, “Am I making a horrible life decision?”, or “Am I capable enough to live in a different country?” These questions also mix with feelings of loneliness or FOMO (fear of missing out) on things back home. What I have been doing to get myself out of that slump is I find ways to distract myself. I will either write in my journal, read a book, or even watch a TV show to feel more comfortable and back in the right mindset. 

The most important thing I do is pray. I have been keeping a prayer and gratitude journal. I write down my prayers every day and three things I am grateful for. It helps me put my life into perspective. Even though difficult things may come into my path while I’m here, I still have so much to be thankful for. Pain and hardships are only temporary in this lifetime. Even when I feel uncomfortable or sad at times here, I force myself to go and talk to others and see some magnificent sights. It almost always makes me feel better and makes me appreciate studying over here. God’s creation is amazing. It has been incredible to see some beautiful parks and stunning architecture so far in London. I cannot wait to see what other awe-inspiring views this country has to offer!

Highlights of my first week in London:

  • Walked around Oxford and Baker Street
  • Walked around Westminster
  • River Thames boat tour
  • Visited the Tower of London and Natural History Museum
  • Walked around Kensington
  • Started classes at the University of Roehampton

 

Friends (L-R Andrea, Shaan, and Sophia) at the Natural History Museum

Classic Telephone Booth

Study Abroad Friends in front of Buckingham Palace (L-R Kelly, Sarah, Sarah, Shaan, Grace, Sophia, Me, Margaret)

Tea at The Muffin Man in Kensington

Till we meet again,

Alison Foxen

London: There and Back Again

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J.R.R. Tolkien wrote this famous quote, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” This quote is from one of my favorite book series, The Lord of the Rings. At the beginning of the series, Frodo finds out he must go on a dangerous journey to save Middle Earth. Frodo responds as most individuals would to this news… with fear and doubt. Gandolf, Frodo’s wise wizard friend, reminds him that even though we cannot control the events around us, we can control how we respond to them. 

This quote popped into my mind when preparing for the upcoming semester. Now, I understand that traveling from Wisconsin to London isn’t the same life-risking journey Frodo took. Frodo also didn’t choose to have this task on his shoulders, whereas I have chosen to take on this adventure. However, the similarity lies with learning and accepting the journey before me. J.R.R. Tolkien’s quote reminds me to make the most of every opportunity and to use my gifts along the way. 

As I get closer to studying abroad, I feel like I am in a type of dream sequence. I have dreamt of traveling the world ever since I was younger; the first occupation I ever wanted was in first grade. It was to be a “teacher around the world.” Fourteen years later, I am on the path to becoming a teacher, and now the traveling around the world part will finally come true. I am excited to fly across the ocean to explore new people, food, and cultures. However, I won’t believe this is actually happening until I get on the plane. 😉

Right now, I am in this in-between phase of studying abroad. I am not in London yet, so there is this anxious anticipation in its place. I am planning and getting excited for the upcoming months. I also realize that everyone around me, including my friends and family, will continue their lives while I’m away. There is this bittersweet feeling of being happy to go abroad but also sad to miss out on things back in the States. 

This semester, I will take Tolkien’s advice and make the most of the time given to me. I am a fairly independent person, but this experience will help me gain independence in more specific areas, such as figuring out how to cook for myself or learning public transportation. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am also an organized planner. I like to be aware of what is happening around me and have a sense of control in most situations. Through this experience, I hope to slightly relax my need to plan everything out and learn to go-with-the-flow more frequently. 

Going into this semester, I have created a list of things I want to explore. Some main themes on my list include:

  • learning more about famous British authors, such as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, and Jane Austen
  • discovering the hidden beauty of nature through hikes (especially in Lake District Park!)
  • finding out the fascinating history behind many customs and traditions in England
  • uncovering new foods to enjoy (like haggis, toffee pudding, and most importantly…TEA!)

I want to spend a decent amount of time abroad focusing on London and England. I want to immerse myself in their culture and find nontypical touristy things to do. I want to get comfortable enough to travel within London or nearby areas alone. That being said, one of my goals is to travel to at least three countries besides England while I am there. I also want to gain more confidence in witnessing or talking about my faith in front of others outside my “WELS bubble.” 

In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo makes his journey despite the fear and uncertainty he has along the way. I feel anxious and uncertain going into this semester. I’m nervous about whether I will get along with my flatmates and am afraid I will somehow end up lost in the big city. But I also feel joy and excitement toward learning about new cultures and seeing the world through a larger lens. Most importantly, I know God will be by my side the entire journey. He will be there during my happiest experiences and moments of sadness. 

Lately, I have been reading through the Psalms. One Psalm I read recently that has comforted me about my upcoming travels is Psalm 91. My favorite verses from this Psalm are verses 9-12.

“If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’

    and you make the Most High your dwelling,

no harm will overtake you,

    no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

    to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,

    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

I might not know exactly what I will discover overseas in the upcoming months, but I know with confidence that God loves me and will always be with me no matter what comes my way. 

 

Till we meet again,

Alison Foxen

A Rainbow, Great Food, Agnosticism, and Homesickness

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Hi.

I was given little instruction on what I needed to include in this blog other than to outline my initial impressions of Ireland and my study abroad experience. So, I’ll use that as an excuse to exercise creative freedom concerning how I’ll address my initial impressions. However, I believe this blog ought to start with a quick recounting of my departure from home and arrival in Ireland. The trip was uneventful, which is a great thing when traveling. I sat beside an old lady on my flight from Sioux Falls to Chicago, and we talked briefly. She was very excited to hear that I was studying abroad and studying to serve in the gospel ministry. I include this because I’m always appreciative when someone encourages me to continue training for public ministry, especially strangers.

After a lengthy layover in Chicago, I boarded my flight to London and got a grand total of three hours of sleep on the flight. I can’t complain too much because that’s excellent for an airplane. It also allowed me to watch the sun slowly rise over London as the plane came close to landing. I find it interesting to watch how European cities and streets snake in violent directions compared to the uniform grids of cities in the US. Once safely in London, I had to go through security again and boarded my final flight to Shannon Airport. It was brief, and I landed without any problems. In fact, once I retrieved my checked bag, it was the fifth bag that appeared at baggage claim– a miracle!

I met up with the group I am studying abroad with through ISA (International Studies Abroad), and we took a taxi to our housing. On the drive over, it suddenly started raining but stopped a couple of minutes later. After the rain stopped, the sun came out, and a rainbow appeared in the sky! It had been forever since I had seen one and it was a great reminder of God’s promise to never flood the world again! Once we arrived, our group leader, Karen, took us to buy bedding and other basic amenities. After that, I spent time getting unpacked and trying to stay awake to adjust my circadian rhythms to my new environment.

—

As a student of MLC, I was required to take a class called Fit for Life. Although I don’t remember much from the class, I do remember learning about the six different types of health: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Social, Environmental, and Spiritual. I think these six health aspects are a perfect starting place for reflecting on my initial experience.

  1. Physical

Physically speaking, besides a minor cold I’ve developed in the past day, I feel healthy. One of my fears before arriving in Ireland was being unable to locate food that I would be able to eat due to my intolerance to gluten and lactose. I had nothing to fear. I have many options for buying healthy, nourishing food within one mile of my housing. Eating out has been a little tricky because many of the staple dishes of Irish restaurants include dairy and gluten.

Nonetheless, I love cooking for myself because it’s easy to control portions and ensure that I won’t contaminate my food with allergens. I’ve also had the privilege to buy a pass for the school’s gym, which has everything I could want and more. So far, I’ve consistently gone to the gym three days a week and lifted weights. This has been great, but what amazes me is how much I walk everywhere. I live about one mile from my University, so I’ve easily walked an average of 15,100 steps per day (about 8 miles per day).

  1. Mental

When it comes to my mental health, I know I’m doing well because I’m able to think clearly and keep a level head. I’ve been getting plenty of sleep here (about 8 hours per night), which has helped.

  1. Emotional

Emotionally speaking, I’ve had some successes and failures. The most significant success I’ve noticed is my ability to remain calm despite the uncertainty regarding the academic registration process here in Ireland. In Ireland, they only have you register for classes once you arrive on-site, and even then, classes start before your registration process is complete. When I started the registration process on Friday the 5th, I quickly discovered that I couldn’t take two of the four classes I had been approved to take by MLC before I left for Ireland. However, I was able to explain the situation to Dean Clemons at MLC, and he was able to provide me with alternative options. I want to give a huge thanks to both him and Professor Grubbs for quickly helping me resolve the issue!

Additionally, this uncertainty has already led to me missing a class (in my mind, a grievous sin) simply because I couldn’t access adequate information to know where the class would take place. I’ve discovered that the first week of classes is considered optional, so it’s not a big deal, but I still don’t like missing out on information, especially at the start of a semester. Despite the turmoil, I’ve stayed calm and gone with the flow. I should also note that the Irish education system cares less about class time and more about independent learning. This is a struggle for me to adjust to, but the benefit is that I don’t have any class on Fridays!

While this has been ideal, the biggest challenge that I’ve been facing so far is homesickness. For the most part, I feel great during the daytime (when the sun is out), but at night, once I run out of things to do and stay busy, I start to feel the sadness creep in. As embarrassing as this is, I’ve also been experiencing random bouts of missing my home and family during the daytime that drive me to tears. I seldom cry, but I’ve cried more in the past week than in the past three years combined. This has been the most homesickness I’ve ever dealt with, even more than when I left home for the first time for high school and college. I think it’s because I’ve developed a greater appreciation for my family and friends in the past year. I miss my parents, sister, and roommates, Rees and Adam. This is the first time in my life that I’ve been able to confidently say that I feel like I belong in a friend group, so leaving them has been very hard on me. In fact, I’m tearing up a little bit as I write this right now. I’m just so thankful for them, and even though I’m missing out on a semester with them, I know I’ll appreciate the time I spend with them when I return even more than I would’ve before. However, one of the blessings of the homesickness is that it’s caused me to read my Bible and pray more (more on that in a bit).

  1. Social

My social life has actually been going better than I expected. When I arrived, I met a group of students from all over the US because we are all studying abroad through the same company. This group of people has been super lovely, and despite our differences, we’ve bonded over the fact that we are all studying abroad and struggling with similar things. In the first week that I’ve been here, we’ve all gone out together numerous times for dinner or drinks. This is an interesting comparison point between the US and Ireland cultures. Generally speaking, in the US, when you refer to going out for drinks, you’re going out for 1-3 drinks. In Ireland, when someone says they’re going out for drinks, they’re going out for 5-8 drinks. I honestly don’t understand how they do it! The drink prices are ridiculously expensive (almost 6 USD for a pint of beer and 10 USD for mixed drinks), so I’ve avoided drinking beyond 1 or 2.

It is effortless to meet people here as long as you’re willing to be the person to speak first. From my (very limited) experience, people rarely will address you first, but if you smile and greet them and ask how they’re doing, they’ll happily respond. I’ve met several people this way, either in orientation or in classes. I have started forming a friendship with a Canadian named Josh (from Winnipeg), and the pleasure of getting to know him has been that he is very curious about God. He’s admitted to me that he’s jealous that I can have faith in God, so I’ve used this as an opportunity to share the gospel message a couple of times. He was also curious about why and how Lutherans differ from Catholics, so I got to teach him about the Reformation! Thanks be to God for allowing me to share the good news about Jesus!

  1. Environmental

The environmental aspect (my surroundings) has probably been one of my most eye-opening and culturally shocking experiences. I am definitely outside of the WELS bubble. This isn’t necessarily bad, but I think it contributes to my homesickness. I was quickly reminded of this Bible passage from 1 Peter 2:11, “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” Obviously, I am a foreigner here in Ireland, but I am also a foreigner of this world, simply on a journey toward my heavenly home. It’s easy for me to forget that I am a foreigner on earth when I’m at home. Being in Ireland (and especially experiencing homesickness) has caused me to remember where my true home is. The reason that I was reminded of this verse is because of the experiences I’ve had living in the “post-Christian” society that is Ireland. I have already heard several malicious quips made about either the Catholic church or Christianity as a whole….

At my orientation, we had a “sexologist” come and speak to us about consent, but with very vulgar descriptions and sayings that I honestly can’t repeat. It felt like I was the only person who wasn’t laughing. When I walk around campus, I constantly hear people swearing. I’m generally not that sensitive to swearing, but because I’ve been used to walking around MLC’s campus and not hearing it carelessly used, it’s taken me by surprise. Several of the guys my age that I’ve met have bragged about their sexual exploits, others have bragged about how much they can drink, and the list could go on and on with all of the sins that I am surrounded with.

All of this has not caused me to get angry, but it’s caused me great grief. I am constantly reminded of Jesus’ words on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV). It could be my own ignorance, but it feels as though the people around me are unaware of their constant sin. I feel horrible for them, and I wish that they would come to recognize their sins and that Jesus is their savior. At the same time, what I’ve discovered is that (almost) everyone seems to be very curious about the idea of God– I’m surrounded by agnostics. This has been incredibly encouraging. 1) I see the great need for the gospel, and 2) people have open ears and want to learn. I pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit, I can be a tool that can be used to share the gospel with those who need it. After all, that’s what I’ve been spending all my time at MLC for, right?

  1. Spiritual

A few months ago, I attended a morning chapel service at MLC, where Professor Waldschmidt preached a sermon about God’s deliverance in times of need. He said (more or less) this: “I don’t know about you, but I need to be saved from something every day.” I don’t know why this statement sticks out, but I remember pondering it as I sat in chapel that day. As Christians, we know that we perpetually need God’s redeeming grace. But at the same time, Professor Waldschmidt also talked about how there are things in our everyday lives that we need God’s help. This is something (perhaps because of my self-reliant nature) that I have come to understand and realize in the past week.

As someone from a very independent society that recognizes self-reliance as the pinnacle of human accomplishment, I struggle with knowing that every good thing I do is from God and that without his power, I can do nothing. I cannot do everything on my own. It’s hard to see when you’re accomplishing everyday, ordinary tasks. I mention this because I have been struggling with adjusting to living abroad. Because of this, I find myself praying and asking for God’s help with the simplest things. Here are some real prayers I’ve had in the past couple of days: “Dear Lord, please keep me safe when I cross through traffic to go buy groceries. Amen.” “Dear Lord, help me remember where I have class. Amen.” “Dear Lord, give me the grace to not burn my food as I cook it. Amen.”

It’s an excellent reminder for me (and possibly you) that we must constantly rely on the Lord. And while I’ve been relying on God for the minuscule things, I’ve also been relying on him for the gigantic things. When I feel lonely, depressed, miss my family, or on the verge of tears for no apparent reason, I call out to God and ask for him to take away my pain. God has answered, not always right away, but I can trust that things will get better. In fact, when I visited the University of Galway’s chapel yesterday, I found two prayer cards in the lobby. I’ve attached a photo of them because I’ve been praying these prayers constantly and felt God was speaking to me with the line, “Give me the hope to believe that things will work out and that all will be well again. Amen.” I can confidently say God will make everything work out in the end (Romans 8:28), even if it’s hard to see amid my struggles.

Also, a quick note: I’ve kept up with my daily Bible reading plan, worshipped at the local Presbyterian church on Sunday morning, and attended morning mass with the Catholics twice. Both have benefited me, even if they aren’t WELS churches. I pray that God will continue to use both as a blessing to strengthen and keep me in the faith. Amen.

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Thanks for reading my blog; I hope you enjoyed it. I know it was long, and there’s so much more I could have talked about, but this was the most relevant. Please continue to pray for me as I study abroad.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.” Philippians 4:7

Here’s a description for each photo attached below:

  1. The rainbow I saw right after I landed in Ireland.
  2. The prayer cards I’ve been praying (almost without ceasing)!
  3. The inside of the Galway cathedral where I’ve gone to Catholic mass.
  4. The outside of the Galway cathedral.
  5. A random alley near the city center that capture the spirit of Galway.
  6. A photo taken on a foggy morning walk to class.
  7. The inside of the campus pub. Perhaps MLC should team up with Schell’s to have it’s own campus bar??
  8. “American-style” peanut butter– tastes just like Jif, but without all of the added sugar!

My Goals and Expectations for Studying Abroad in Galway, Ireland

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Hello. My name is David Fenske. I am a Junior at Martin Luther College, double majoring in secondary English and Spanish Education. If you’ve never met me before, here’s a quick biography of who I am:

I was born and raised in Brookings, South Dakota. I attended Great Plains Lutheran High School, and after I graduated, I studied Agricultural Business at Iowa State University for one semester. After a change of heart (and a calculus class), I realized I needed to change my path. I decided to transfer to MLC at the start of the Spring 2022 semester. Since then, I’ve loved my experience at MLC and developing the skills to become a called worker. Here’s a not-so-brief list of my interests (in no particular order): Reading, writing, literary criticism, exegesis, weightlifting, discovering obscure music, fishing (if they’re biting), baking, snowmobiling, target shooting, good conversation, telling stories, studying, learning Spanish, being in nature, teaching, and philosophy.

That said, am I scared about my study abroad experience in Ireland?

No.

Am I nervous about my study abroad experience in Ireland?

Yes.

I should expound on this. Essentially, I have no fear when it comes to studying abroad; I studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the summer of 2023. I also know that God will guide and protect me on this journey (read Romans 8:28, Isaiah 41:13, Jeremiah 29:11, etc.). The combination of these two things gives me confidence that I am capable of studying abroad and eliminates my fears. But that doesn’t mean I’m not apprehensive about certain aspects of my upcoming experience. Although I’ve studied abroad before, I’m stepping into a completely new world and culture. I will be far away from anyone I know (my nearest friends are about 500 miles away from me in London). I’m also celiac and lactose intolerant, making locating food that I can eat somewhat tricky at times. However, I am contemplating beginning a carnivore diet, and the idea of that is alluring because it would make my life much simpler and reduce the risk of me accidentally becoming sick from eating something.

Additionally, I won’t have the luxury of being able to worship in a WELS church on Sunday mornings or go to daily chapel services. In fact, there’s only one Lutheran church on the entire island of Ireland (located in Dublin), and they still have their church services in German! This means I will have to be much more disciplined in my relationship with God, a challenge I’m ready to face head-on (more on that later). Finally, I am nervous about my host university’s class structure and style. It’s no secret that MLC gives an exorbitant amount of homework compared to other colleges in the US. However, I don’t mind the homework too much because it keeps me on track and engaged with my classes. According to my research, they hardly have any homework in Ireland, and learning is a much more independent process. This challenge makes me uneasy because I must be much more disciplined to ensure I study enough and stay engaged with my courses. Consequently, I will have to be more of an active learner than a passive one.

I have been asked to write about my goals and expectations for my study abroad experience in Galway. Before I get into that, I should address two things.

  1. What is my overarching philosophy towards studying abroad?
    • I am a firm believer in the idea of continuous improvement, especially concerning the self. I desire to improve myself each day that God gives me on earth. My philosophy towards studying abroad embraces this idea of self-improvement. I will continue the things I do for self-improvement, simply in a new location. This is contrasted with the (in my opinion, weaker) thought that I should study abroad to become a better person. I know there will be tremendous benefits and blessings that flow from my study abroad experience, but rather than try to define or describe exactly what those will be, I’d rather take them as they come. I believe that it would be a floccinaucinihilipilification to try to definitively predict what benefits I will gain from studying abroad before I’ve experienced anything. I will focus on the things I know I can control to improve myself and simultaneously reap the (currently unknown to me) blessings of studying abroad in Ireland. I’m excited to live with the ambiguity of not knowing what lies ahead.
  2. How do I define “goals” vs. “expectations”?
    • In seventh grade, I was asked to write goals for the first time. My homeroom teacher, Mr. Kirchner, taught me the concept of SMART goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Writing SMART goals is hard, but it distinguishes between wishing and doing. Therefore, this is the definition I use for goals.
    • In my opinion, expectations are different from goals simply based on specificity– expectations are my vague desires of what I want to occur in my study abroad experience. Unlike goals, I cannot predict or naturally attach quantifiable requirements to expectations.

Now I feel I am ready to disclose my goals and expectations for Ireland and their explanations.

Previously, I mentioned “the things that I do for self-improvement.” These are relevant daily expectations I have for myself, regardless of whether I’m studying abroad or at home. They include journaling, voluntary reading (i.e., reading for fun), reading my Bible, prayer at the start and end of the day, basic hygiene, physical exercise (weightlifting three days a week & walks), and intentional conversation with others. All of these help me keep my sanity and give me a sense of purpose, even if other things in my life are awry.

What are my goals for myself during my study abroad experience?

  1. By the end of my time in Ireland, I will receive an A (or the equivalent grade) in all of my classes.
  2. By the end of my time in Ireland, I will be able to bench press 70 kilos for 5 reps, back squat 90 kilos for 5 reps, and RDL 115 kilos for 5 reps.
  3. By the end of my time in Ireland, I will have made at least two friends from a country outside of the US.
  4. By the end of my time in Ireland, I will have traveled to at least four European countries.
  5. By the end of my time in Ireland, I will have read at least 8 books for fun (see my reading list at the bottom of the blog).

What are my expectations for myself during my study abroad experience?

  1. I will become more resilient and adaptable to complex situations with various elements out of my control.
  2. I will become more self-aware and strengthen my ability to self-reflect.
  3. I will become better at both inter- and intra-personal communication.
  4. I will learn how I could potentially integrate elements of the Irish educational system into my future classroom.
  5. I will learn more about the history and culture of Ireland, potentially altering my worldview and the way I think.
  6. I will be ready to witness my Christian faith to those with whom I develop relationships within Ireland.

All in all, I am incredibly excited about my opportunity to study abroad. I cannot wait to gain new experiences and add new stories to my repertoire. May God grant me the strength to live each day for him. Please pray for me and others studying abroad this semester.

One final musing for you to ponder: If something won’t make a great story someday, is it worth doing?

As promised, here’s my personal reading list for the semester:

  • Extreme Ownership, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
  • On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King
  • For Whom The Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway
  • Pastoral Song: A Farmer’s Journey, James Rebanks
  • Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
  • Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry
  • Wise Blood, Flannery O’Connor
  • One Child, Mei Fong