Good vs. Bad

The most exciting part about going someplace new is going back to your roots and hometown. When you are away from home for a long time you appreciate having it when you return. The idea here: something good always comes out of everything you do. For every bad experience there has to be a good outcome, otherwise there would be no point in having lived that. It may sound cliché but it's all part of the balance of life.

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When I talk about something "bad" happening it doesn't mean that going to a different country is bad, on the contrary, it gives you the experience you will eventually need for something in your life. I always believe that everything happens for a reason, when something doesn't work out it's because it wasn't meant to be.

Life does go on no matter what happens, the days go by slowly for some, faster for others. But no matter what happens, the day only has 24 hours, which eventually go by relatively quickly. I never thought I would end up where I am today, there was no way of knowing ten years ago I would be graduating from GMU with a major in communication, life just happens and most of it is going along with the flow. Even with each bad moment, there will always be a good outcome because one way or another it will be a lesson that will help some way or another.

No manual??

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Do you ever feel that in some situations you would have liked someone to tell you how to confront it? I know that for living in a new country it would be easier if there was a manual for survival, but the reality is there are no set rules on how to live or what choices to make. It's all up to us to figure out what we want to do. Of course it does become much easier to learn from other's experiences.

After living 18 years in Ecuador, but in the meantime visiting the US every summer would seem the transition would no be difficult to make at all. Turns out it was. As many Latinos may know, family is one of the most important part in a person's life, this is actually true in any culture. But it's one thing if you live in a small city where each family member, including extended family, live only five minutes away. It's a completely other story not being able to see them for long periods of time. Studying in a country that is not my hometown has, however, taught me the importance of valuing what you have when you have it, instead of regretting the loss after its gone. Advice #1: appreciate what you have at the moment, and living every moment as if it were the last.

Building friendships is important in every person's life, and to have friends at a certain place gives assurance that you feel comfortable going to that place. I know when I first came to study at GMU I didn't know who to be friends with, eventually if you get yourself out there and go to events you meet all sorts of people. Advice #2: don't lock yourself in your, room. Get out, even if it is just to get to know the location you never know what could happen.

If the main purpose of going to another place is to study, focus on that but also have fun along the way. Too much studying is never good, balance things out. Being focused on studies, however, will let you fill time and it becomes much easier to deal with feeling homesick (like I already talked about in a previous entry). Advice #3: Balance out studying with fun activities, it's healthy not only physically but also mentally.

Eventually after a few weeks you are established and become feeling comfortable with your surroundings. Each place is different, it's just a matter of time and personal will to enjoy what is given to you, the more you will be able to make the most of it.

Becoming independent

There are a few things one can learn from being alone, it's part of the package of growing up and becoming an adult. It's all part of becoming independent and getting a life of our own, not always depending on our parents financially or even to make decisions. Making decisions is a big part of becoming independent, but it seems much easier when those choices are made with someone beside you. There may come times where you think you are the only person going through it, but is most likely will not be the case.

For instance, moving to a different country, having to make new friends in a place you don't call home, and having to live basically on your own can be hard to deal with. No worries though, if you are a Hispanic/ Latino in the US you are not alone. If you check out this website you will find there are millions of other Hispanic students that study in US colleges and universities.

http://www.hacu.net/hacu/Data,_Statistics,_and_Research_EN.asp

Knowing there are others that share your values, beliefs, and language can be of comfort in an unknown place. It is much easier to transition and blend in a new place and meet new people if those people make you feel welcome and are those that can give you advice on how things work at the place.

At the beginning I thought culture shock was not possible just because I travelled back and forth every summer, but one thing is going for vacation, another completely different situation is actually living in a different country.

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Something to always consider, don't shut yourself only to those that are similar to you, branch out to other cultures, you never know who you might meet or connections you might make. Just remember that it is more than likely there are others that are going through the same transitions you are.