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.