Better by the Dozen:)
I’m excited to tell everyone about this week’s topic! My living situation here at ACG is a pretty cool one:) I live with 11 other girls all from different parts of the US. We have a great 12 person apartment that shares a kitchen and a pretty awesome balcony that overlooks the neighborhood! Coming here, I was very nervous about who I’d be living with. We were not notified ahead of time how many girls we’d be grouped with, or any names of the girls we’d be grouped with, so we all came in blind. However, as we slowly arrived it was clear I got very lucky with my group:)
12 girls sounds like quite a bit, but it’s actually a TON of fun! Our dynamic is very friendly and balanced. We love to have “family dinners” where we all eat together or bake something and chat if we have the time. All the girls are also super supportive! If anything is wrong, someone is always there to help in any way they can. We encourage each other to go outside our comfort zones with the knowledge that we won’t be a lone, and as a result, my adjustment time here has been very smooth and I’m so very thankful for each and every one of them.
I was initially also worried that I would never take any trips outside Athens while I was here because I am horribly afraid of going places by myself haha! But the crazy thing is, within 2 weeks of knowing these girls, it’s hard to remember not knowing them. I presently have booked a trip with 6 girls to Italy for Thanksgiving! Things I never thought I’d do, I am doing with their help and it feels amazing to be so blessed. Things also tend to be very spontaneous in our apartment so you might think you’re going to have a boring night and the next thing you know, there are 10 people standing in your door asking if you want to go see live dancing in the square and eat gelato…who’s going to say no to that!?
Another cool thing about living with so many girls, is that while we all come from very different backgrounds, I do share a similar faith with a few of them. It’s nice to get a few reminders of my savior from people close to me while I’m living in such a secular place. I had felt pretty alone in my faith up until getting to know them! We are going to be trying different churches around the area on Sundays for some different experiences as well, so I am excited to see how Greek church services differ from my comfortable small-town WELS ones, and to be able to do it with some friends! God really is good:)
I wish I had a picture of all 12 of us, but I just realized we haven’t taken one yet! So attached are some pictures from a few adventures I’ve gotten to take so far with a couple of my roomies<3
Arrival and Weeks 1 and 2!
So I made it! I actually somehow got off the 9 hour flight and found where I was supposed to be in a confusing airport surrounded by people who were not speaking English. (The first major success of mine). This experience is already so unlike anything I’ve ever done that recalling all of my first impressions is actually proving to be very difficult! If I start from the beginning, I can say that I saw my very first palm trees! They do exist beyond my imagination. I also remember from right after landing that the urban-ness of the area was overwhelming especially mixed with jet lag. But as I regained a sleep schedule I was able to take in the sights around me and appreciate/notice the different things like the sidewalks, for example, which are very classy and made of different kinds of stones that are also uneven in many places (I would know because I trip on them daily). I also have been notified, and noticed myself, that the driving here is different. People are kind of crazy, they just drive wherever they want whenever they want. It’s pretty funny, actually. You could be walking on the sidewalk and a car will pull up onto the sidewalk right in front of you and the driver will park and walk away and you just have to go around the car! Safe to say my own parking skills would not be heavily judged here:)
The food continues to surprise me every time I have a meal. I’m not sure why or how it’s so good, but they have created flavors that America can only dream of I am certain. Although I have wondered if half of why it’s so good is because of the presentation. They make everything look fancy even if it’s not fancy and that just makes it taste better. The other night I went out to dinner with a few friends and we were presented with some barbecue potato chips. Now, it could be that the potato chips in Greece are just different and more flavorful and crunchy here than in the states, OR it could be that they tasted better because they were brought to our table in a delicately painted ceramic bowl! I’ll have to do some research on this in my down time.
What about the real reason I’m here! School! Well classes have been very interesting so far. Some of my professors are hard to understand so I will be an expert lip reader by the end of this experience. I noticed they seem to be more focused on the process and connection of learning as a class than in individual work, because 3 our of my 4 classes have a group project that will count for a big percentage of our grade. The number of individual assignments seems to be way less. Either that, or I am missing something and I will have a lot of catching up to do on Monday. We’ll see how it goes!
The most memorable point of my first week was going to the acropolis! First of all, pictures on the internet don’t do it justice, and yes, it also actually exists it’s not imaginary. It’s HUGE. It made me feel very much like watching Hercules and I was so intrigued by all the history seemingly frozen in one place. They are working on some restoration too so it was cool to see what the buildings would have looked like back in their glory days as opposed to what they look like now. I can’t wait to see more!
Overall, I had many first impressions of Athens and I’ll probably have more as the weeks go on because there is SO much to see and do here. I’m excited for all of it!
Flying Away This Weekend!
Well, I leave for Greece in four days! Which is crazy to even think about because I began planning for this trip my freshman year and it was just something exciting I talked about every once in a while and now its actually happening! I have a great mumbo-jumbo mix of emotions flashing through me at different times during these last days, many of them do not even have anything to do with actually being IN Greece, but rather, making sure I have everything I need to get INTO Greece from my flights. The excitement comes and goes. I love fantasizing about what my daily routine might look like, and how different it might be from the one I’m used to. I’ve thought about my daily habits and how those might change in such a different setting. I’ve thought about habits I want to keep, ones I want to break, and new ones I want to try. Re-reading through my goals and expectations sheet again, I was reminded of a few of those goals, but also saw where some of them have changed, or where expectations have already been met! For example, I had big expectations for the ISA program and how well their communication would be during the “don’t freak-out” stage of arriving in a different country and trying to find the rendezvous. But! I have been provided with so many directions and backup directions that I don’t believe even my overthinking brain has been able to come up with a tragic scenario where I don’t know what to do next. So that is very comforting:)
I’ve also gotten the opportunity to chat with a bunch of the other students who are in the ISA program with me! I’ve loved this part because I have already found a few students who are on my flight to Athens, and knowing I can find other people really helps me feel more secure and less alone. It’s also given me an opportunity to realize all the different types of American students I will be with on this trip, which is kind of a cool culture thing of it’s own. My roommate in Athens will be a girl who attends UCLA for example, and MLC is very very not like UCLA I am sure, so it’ll be interesting to see how we both adjust to ACG from our differing experiences at our home universities.
In my free time recently, as I’ve thought more and more about my trip, I’ve really found that my biggest goal is staying in tune with my faith life. It’s the number one most important thing. If I am not grounded in my savior, then I am not grounded at all. While I’m over there, I will not get the opportunity to go to chapel services twice a day, or even regular Sunday services. The friends I make will be encouraging I’m sure, but probably not with the same reminders I’m accustomed to getting from friends of the same faith. In this, there is both a challenge and an opportunity. I will need to challenge myself to stay faithful in my prayers, my devotional life, and worship life. I will need to set aside time to hopefully livestream a chapel service a few times a week or especially on Sundays. The opportunity in this though, is that I can really let my light shine. Maybe I could start a devotional group or even just use my faith to help encourage or comfort others. I feel so blessed in this area also as I realize the kind of history I’ll be able to see. Not only just regular amazing history, but Biblical history! I’m very excited to get to see places I’ve only ever read about, and I’m excited to learn even more than what I already know about those places and the people who live there. I know that if I put myself out there during this trip with the knowledge that Christ is at my back, I will get way more success and experience out of it. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for me and how he will use me according to his will for my life during these next few months!
Adiós España!
Wow, this semester abroad is finally coming to a close. I feel so blessed to have had this experience. Madrid has really become my home 🙂 As I reflect on my time here, there are things I will miss, things I am proud of, things I would do differently, many things I am grateful for, and most of all, so many different ways that I have seen God’s hand in this experience.
I feel incredibly blessed to have been immersed in the rich and vibrant Spanish culture during my time in Madrid. Every day was a new adventure, from savoring traditional dishes like paella to engaging in meaningful conversations with locals such as my roommates. This immersive experience allowed me to deeply understand and appreciate the nuances of Spanish life, from its historical traditions to its contemporary expressions. Studying here has been amazing, broadening my perspective and advancing my language skills beyond what I imagined. I am truly grateful for the unforgettable experiences and the invaluable knowledge I’ve gained from this beautiful country.
Beyond the beautiful experiences I have gained, I would approach a few things differently if given another chance. For instance, I wish I had made a greater effort to get to know my roommates earlier. At the beginning of the semester, I felt intimidated by their exclusive use of Spanish. Over the past several weeks, I have formed a stronger connection with them and now realize how much I will miss them. It would have been wonderful to be close to them throughout the entire semester, but I am still grateful for the bond we share now. Another aspect I would change is my approach to journaling. Although I am not typically inclined towards journaling, I know I will appreciate looking back on these memories. Sometimes I fell behind by a week or two, making it difficult to catch up. However, I am still proud of my commitment to keeping a journal for the first time, consistently documenting my experiences even if I occasionally fell behind.
Another aspect of this experience that I am particularly proud of is consistently maintaining my personal devotions. I have written about this in previous blogs, sharing how beneficial it has been for my spiritual growth. This habit has become an integral part of my daily routine, and I look forward to continuing it when I return home in just one week. Additionally, I take pride in navigating the emotional challenges throughout this study abroad experience. Being away from home, family, and friends at MLC was significantly out of my comfort zone. Before leaving for Madrid, I anticipated a rollercoaster of emotions, expecting extreme highs and lows due to homesickness or missing the familiar comforts of the United States. However, I am grateful to have experienced consistent contentment and joy. Despite occasional moments of missing loved ones, I never felt overwhelmed by the distance. This inner peace and resilience are gifts from God, for which I am deeply thankful. His strength enabled me to embrace each moment and find happiness in every circumstance, making this semester an incredibly fulfilling experience.
Throughout my semester in Madrid, God’s hand has been remarkably evident in my travels, keeping me safe, providing everything I need, and blessing me immensely. Each trip I undertook was met with His protection, ensuring my well-being and allowing me to explore the beauty and richness of Spain and other countries without fear. His provision was constant, from the practical necessities like accommodation and sustenance to the emotional and spiritual support that sustained me during moments of homesickness and uncertainty. I have been blessed with opportunities to grow, learn, and connect with incredible people, all of which have deepened my faith and appreciation for His unwavering presence and care in my life.
During my time in Madrid, I have been inspired by numerous aspects of Spanish culture that I am excited to incorporate into my life back home in Minnesota. The emphasis on a slower, more deliberate pace of life has taught me the value of enjoying each moment, something I plan to embrace more fully. The vibrant social scene, with its focus on communal meals and lively conversations, has shown me the importance of nurturing relationships and making time for friends and family. The diverse culinary experiences sparked my passion for trying new recipes and incorporating more Spanish flavors into my cooking. I have also learned to navigate new environments with greater confidence and adaptability, skills that will undoubtedly benefit me in various aspects of my life. Overall, my experiences abroad have widened my perspective and will continue to influence my daily routines and interactions back home.
If any of you are considering studying abroad, here is a little advice that I have for you 🙂 Fully embrace every moment and opportunity that comes your way. Step out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in the culture, even if it initially feels intimidating. Make an effort to connect with locals and fellow students who may be in your program—it’s through these relationships that you will gain the most rewarding experiences, especially if they are locals from the country that you choose to study in. Keep a journal to document your journey; you’ll appreciate having a detailed record of your memories! Stay organized and proactive with your studies, but also allow yourself the freedom to explore and travel the world since this is the perfect opportunity to do it. Lastly, trust in God and remain open to growth because this experience will challenge and change you in many ways. You will learn so much about yourself! Basically, if you are thinking of studying abroad, DO IT! You won’t regret it 🙂
Alaina’s Adventures Abroad – Coming to an End 🙁
Hi everyone <3
How am I already writing my final blog??! It feels as if just yesterday I was writing my pre-departure blog a week before I left for this incredible semester. This week I have a full week of classes and exams the following half week. It is kind of odd to say we only have a week and a half left. Sarah and I were recalling when we were in London with our other study-abroad friends and David said, “I only have 2 weeks left.” We both remember at that moment saying how we could not imagine that feeling since we had “so much time left.” Well, it is safe to say, I am feeling all of the emotions of realizing my time in my beloved Madrid is almost up.
With my last week and a half, I will be attending school and prepping for exams along with spending my other time in all of my favorite places in Madrid. A very close friend is visiting this week as well, so she will get to see many of my favorite places for the first time, as I am seeing them for the last. ): My family is also visiting me after my program finishes and we are going to travel in Spain. I am SO excited to give them the biggest hug and show them around this city and country that I love dearly.
We were given a number of prompts to respond to, which I appreciate, otherwise, I would have written on and on about all of the blessings, lessons, and experiences of this semester. (Not always a bad thing…but for the sake of keeping this relatively short…)
- What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of how I have learned to go with the flow and let things happen as they are intended to, within reason, of course. I am someone who plans ahead and likes to have a solid plan when I am traveling somewhere, or even for my day to day life. Sometimes when I do this, I stress my self out more than I think I realize in the moment. It has been really nice to just see where the day takes me or what “plan” works best for our schedule and budget. I am also very proud of the time I have taken to spend alone. I am incredibly thankful for Emily and Sarah, but I did enjoy spending time with myself. This is something I think needs to be done more often because in my opinion, you can learn more about who you are as an individual. I have learned so much about myself here and I am so grateful for that.
- What would you do differently if you could?
I am really appreciative of the way this semester has gone, but if I were to do something differently, I would have not taken so much time the first couple weeks of the semester and before it even started, “planning” trips and everything I wanted to accomplish. I learned to just go with the flow here and be thankful for the plans that were made, even if they were very different than what I had expected months ago. I think I would’ve also made smaller goals in some areas. I have learned that when I set goals and do not meet them, I beat myself up about it a lot and instead of working towards the goal, I run further away because I feel like it is “too late.” I would have set smaller goals so I would feel more motivated that I could reach the goals. This is something I want to work on when I get home. If there was one travel thing I would have done differently is travel to the north of Spain. I was really hoping to get there, but I did not plan enough time. I will hopefully get there one day. 🙂
- What will you incorporate into your life back home?
One habit I have really loved growing into is journaling. I have kept a daily journal and a prayer journal and have been consistent in writing in them. There was a time when I thought I lost my prayer journal, but it turned up! (I am so thankful it did.) I am so excited to finish my journals and to have them as a keepsake from this incredible time, as well as to look back at all of my answered prayers and unanswered prayers and praise God for how He has guided me and watched out for me during this time. I will also incorporate being more curious about what goes on in the world, but more specifically in my home town and state. It can be very easy to get into routine at home but there are so many places and things I have not experienced in my home town. I want to go to more markets and more events that are held around the area. I would love to try new restaurants and cafes. It is so easy to get comfortable going to my 2-3 places that I rely on and love, but being here has taught me that pushing myself out of my comfort zone and trying new things always brings unexpected blessings and meaningful experiences.
- What are you most grateful for?
I am SO grateful for this opportunity to study abroad and to see this magnificent world that our God created. Truly, this experience of seeing parts of Europe and more of Spain has been a dream.
God has blessed me with so many wonderful support systems and I am so thankful for them. My parents have encouraged me to go out and see the world, while studying the language I love, even though they had to send their “not-so-little-girl” away for 4 months!!!! That is a long time. (At least for me.) My parents are some of my biggest role models and truly, they are my best friends. They lead me to Christ daily and encourage me to go out into the world being a light for our loving God. I am so grateful for them.
I also want to include how thankful I am for my boyfriend, Dylan. Dylan and I have been dating for about over 4 years and most of that time has been distanced. This study abroad time was a LONG time to go without seeing each other. We did have the one week in March and that was such a wonderful time and I am so grateful for the time we did have. Still, for us, this has been a long time of different time zones, communicating over the phone, and missing one another. Dylan has supported me and encouraged me throughout this entire process and I am so thankful to be loved by him and to love him.
I also want to include how grateful I am for our “study abroad squad.” Mrs. Kassuelke has taught us over the last year through classes at MLC more about culture and more about ourselves as individuals. (We love you, Mrs. Kassuelke, you are the best!!) Included in these classes were David Fenske, Alison Foxen, Emily Wittig, Sarah Hoffe, and myself. Being with Emily and Sarah in Spain has been wonderful and I am so thankful to have them here and to share this beautiful experience with them. Even though Alison and David were living their study abroad experience in London and Ireland, I still felt close to them. Our friendships all grew over this last year and I am so grateful for the role they have all played and for an amazing support system. I could go on and on about everything I am grateful for here, but the most important is that I am grateful for my God and how He has shown me the blessings of this season of my life.
- How have you seen God’s hand in your experience abroad? What unexpected blessings or provision have you seen?
There have been many evident experiences during this semester where I have seen God’s hand. I would say one of the most obvious ones is all of the beauty I have seen. I have always been a small town girl at heart because it is all I’ve known, at least for living. Even though I still would consider myself a small town girl, I have a new found appreciation for big cities and have seen so much beauty here. When we have traveled around Spain and Europe, I have gotten to see more of the beauty of this creation. Some specific places that really had me saying, “Wow God”, were the cliffs at the furthest point in Europe in Portugal, the crystal clear waters in Tenerife and Mallorca, and the hiking trails and fishing villages in the Cinque Terre, Italy. Of course, there were many more of these moments in my other travels, but these are some that greatly stick out. I have also seen God’s hand in our travels when we were accidentally in unsafe areas or were barely making a couple flights and a layover. God has kept me safe and has gotten me where I had hoped without TOO much stress, which is an incredible blessing. I have seen God’s hand in the friendships I have, both here in Spain and back home. God has blessed me with such wonderful friends and I am so thankful. An unexpected blessing for me has been learning more about myself through many experiences this semester. I have learned more about who I am, what I appreciate in a friend, why I have the morals I do, what I need to work on, and where in my life I am so blessed. This time away has presented me with lots of time to think and reflect on who I am and why, and that has been a very unexpected blessing.
- What advice would you give future semester abroad students?
I am so proud of you for choosing to leave the life you are comfortable with and know well in order to experience something so beautifully different! It can be so scary sometimes to take a leap like this, but let me tell you that God is with you every step of the way! Take my advice when I say that everything does work out in the best way possible, according to God’s plan. I do think it is perfectly fine to look into the things you’d like to do and the places you would like to travel and everything you want to see, but keep in mind that those ideas and expectations may change and that is perfectly okay. You will love your abroad experience no matter what!
Reach out to those around you that you do not know! Get to know others from different states and countries and ask, politely and with curiosity, about cultures you are not familiar with! I have had some of the most interesting conversations and have not regretted going outside my comfort zone to have them one bit. While you should 100% get to know others and reach out to new friends, remember to be true to who you are. There may be times that you feel a bit uncomfortable or that something isn’t for you, I have felt this way! Stay true to who you are and your morals, this in itself is shining your light for your Lord.
Keep a journal!!!!! Some days it has felt like a task and some weeks I have even had to catch up on a couple entries because life does get busy here, but you will not regret this keepsake. I am so excited to keep my travel journal so I can look back at it when I am reminiscing about my abroad times and show those I love, perhaps even my own children one day. Write down your prayers! It has been so special to see all of my prayers and how God has answered them.
Travel! I know traveling can be overwhelming and expensive, but please, take this opportunity while you are young to see this beautiful world! Every place I have been has never failed to leave me in some sort of wonder at the creativity of our God. Make sure to travel around your home country, and outside of it! Stay in your own city for some weekends! I have loved the weekends I have spent in Madrid. There is always so much to do and I love feeling like I actually live here. Give some love to your home (abroad) city.
Do not be afraid to reach out to those who love you! You are not in this experience alone, even though sometimes it may feel like it because of the distance. It is completely normal to feel tired or homesick, let yourself feel these things and talk to God about it!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart! He will get you through anything and has such greater plans than we could ever imagine.
What a blessing it is to study in such a beautiful country with such beautiful people and culture. This world is so incredible and the last four months have continued to be a testament of how amazing our God is.
Thank you so much for following along my study abroad journey! I appreciate all your love, prayers, and support. Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have! 🙂 I would love to share more if anyone is interested.
All my love,
Alaina Wiedoff
