Planes, Trains, and Automobiles [oh my!]

Why?

When deciding to study abroad, I had many reasons to why I wanted to when I entertained the idea in my mind the fall of my freshman year at Iowa State. I lived in Friley, and walked past a study abroad poster every day on my way to class. After glancing at it every day, I researched programs, possible classes, and semesters I could take the plunge during before I brought up the possibilites to my family and friends. My fiance (boyfriend at the time) hated whenever I would bring up the idea of me studying in a different country for a couple of months. My mother was worried about my lack of traveling solo, but my dad was completely jazzed at the idea. My best friend proclaimed that she would be studying abroad in Ireland her sophomore year in the spring, and after seeing her put her plan in motion I knew it was what I needed to do.

Background:

I am from a town of 10,000 people and my graduating class was 62 students. Pella, a conservative Dutch town, was where I called home for the first 18 years of my life. Iowa State is only an hour drive away and Ames became to feel like home in no time. I have found that I learn the most when I am pushed out of my comfort zone and need to learn things on my own without other influences. My high school best friend goes to Iowa State, my fiance goes to Iowa State, and my family only lives an hour away so I was happy yet comfortable in Ames. I felt the need to explore and see more in the world.

Left: My best friend and her family with me during our local Tulip Time festival celebrating our Dutch heritage in our hometown of Pella, Iowa.

Previous Experience:

The only time I have traveled out of the country was for Spring Break with my family to Mexico. International traveling is a huge learning experience both as a person and a professional. I have learned that no one who has studied abroad has regretted going. In contrast, anyone who never took the plunge to study abroad always reminisce on how they wish they would have just gone for it. I want to be the kind of person who never has "what ifs" when looking back on my college days. Right: My sister and I taking a picture with Mayan warriors in authentic dress in Riviera de Maya, Mexico. Please don't judge the 2011 photo editing phase I went through :)

On family vacations I am known as the event planner. I am constantly looking up new sights and experience and my family and future in laws know this about me. I love learning about new cultures. New food, entertainment, people, the list goes on. Throughout the process of setting up my trip, I have learned how to manage my money and stay organized. Right: Times Square in New York City with my older sister before seeing Newsies on Broadway.

This past week I learned at the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute that out of all 50 states, Iowa has the least amount of women entrepreneurs. Debbie Durham, an advocate for women entrepreneurs in the future, gave one big push for young professional women in college who want to own a business: studying abroad. She said that soaking in as much as you can from other perspectives and learning how to be able to take care of yourself in a new environment is huge for having a successful business. Below: The Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute 2016 Iowa State Students.

Social Butterfly

I will be using my social media to keep track of the big and the small happenings that go on during my time in Europe. Small, seemingly insignificant moments, are easily forgotten and are very important to document. I also want to be a social media intern to show how studying abroad can enhance students' experience at Iowa State. Weirdly enough, social media is kind of my guilty pleasure. After an adventurous trip, or exciting event, it makes me giddy thinking about editing, posting, and captioning the photos from my DSLR camera, GoPro, and phone to Facebook and Instagram. In fact I found myself posting three times a day on my last vacation with my best friend (oops). For the past two summers, I have interned at my local museum because I have a passion for preserving and sharing history with the younger generation to inspire them. These past two years I have increased Facebook and social media likes and traffic immensely through my internship. I hope to bring attention to all of the possibilities that can be experienced when studying abroad by using visuals (pictures, videos, etc) and personal stories to entice others to follow my journey and plan their own! I believe that I have a unique writing style and artistic eye to capture images and bring them to life to others who did not experience it in first person.

Follow me [I won't find it creepy, I promise]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leah.blankespoor

Instagram: @c.leah.patra

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-blankespoor-790865a2?trk=hp-identity-name

VSCO: cleahpatra

Twitter: @LeahBlankespoor

GoaLs:

You learn the most about someone when you travel with them. One of the reasons I knew my fiance was the one, why I love my family so much, and how my best friend and my friendship is so strong is because we have one thing in common: we have taken trips and traveled together. Traveling requires compromise, patience, coordination, and many other qualities. But in the end, the memories are well worth the price tag of the souvenirs and plane tickets. I hope to document this journey and make my planning, coordination, patience, and investment in planes, trains, and automobiles accessible to others so that they can grow with me on this journey as well.

Right: Lucas Rozendaal (my fiance) and I before snorkeling at Egmont Key Island off the coast of Florida.