Fish and Chips and Flexibility

What do you get when you have a Type A event planner who has decided to study abroad?

A very stressed 20 year old girl who is trying to be a travel agent, fiancee, friend, sister, daughter, student, wedding planner, and the list goes on.

My study abroad experience started when I decided I wanted to study in The Netherlands. Well, I went to my study abroad advisor meeting and found that there were no programs available for this to me. That felt like a dead end to me.

After praying and widening my mindset, I decided on London. I went into that advisor meeting and was asked a critical question that has been a turning point for me ever since "How badly do you want to study in London or study abroad in general? There is only one spot for London, but if you are flexible and open to other places, you will be guaranteed to be able to do this."

Was I going to be stubborn and stick with what I thought was best, or choose a program that I knew would have a good outcome?

I ended up choosing the exchange program for many reasons.

1. There was a group of students from ISU going together.

2. My scholarships would all transfer for my tuition.

3. It was a lot more cost effective.

That was my first lesson in not getting frustrated when flexibility was a quality in need. Choosing classes to sign up for that would transfer back to fulfill my degree when I am already a senior was another lesson in flexibility and patience.

Loosing my luggage, my cell phone, and almost getting stranded in the London Gatwick airport were other lessons in flexibility.

During all of these "lessons outside of the classroom" as my mum would say, I found my conscience asking me "Leah, is it really worth having a sour attitude and missing out on this wonderful experience?"

On one day Kaitlin and I were planning on a hiking trip that required getting up at 7 am. We both simultaneously turned off our alarms and slept in until noon. Well, we decided to pick a random location on the map, find the transportation to make it happen, and still have a lovely day. We arrived one minute late for our bus after getting lost in an uphill climb to the station. So we waited an hour and got a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, so I wasn't too salty. We got to Okehampton and decided to try to find the castle we came for. Apparently it required taking a footpath through the woods which we did not know. We eventually found the castle after walking about 3-4 times as much as we needed to. It was beautiful and even more spectacular after our journey. On our way to the bus stop, it started to pour. We realized the bus schedule was different on Saturdays, and that we had two hours to kill. Every restaurant and shop was closed while we stood there in the pouring rain. We found a small pub to escape the rain from temporarily. When the bus indeed picked us up and didn't leave us stranded till morning, we made it back to Exeter. Following the bus ride was a 30 minute trudge through the rain back to our flat. I definitely would have lost my mind if I had the wrong outlook on the situation. Hysterical laughing fits at our misfortune replaced the tears and anxiety that would have been present before my mindset change.

"In my opinion, travel isn't really about finding yourself at all; it's actually more about losing yourself- a self tied to familiar places, people, and patterns. And perhaps this is the real key to being happy with yourself, to liking the picture of yourself, and to feeling like yourself." -Stephanie Park

I didn't come to study abroad to sit in my room and watch New Girl (okay, I do occasionally do this, but who wouldn't?). I came here to put myself in a situation where I need to grow, and change, and learn. I am losing the security and safety and home and making a new connections until I can return again. In its place I am adapting and showing myself that I am indeed enough, I am indeed capable, and I am indeed able to make it in this vast and beautiful world and still remain myself to the core.

Here is my video of the week: our weekend trip to Barcelona. The morning of this touring day, I lost my iPhone on the Metro. Yet, it was still a beautiful and fulfilling day. I just had to be flexible and keep perspective. "It could be better, and it could be worse", another quote by my mum who seems to be ringing in my head more than ever on this European adventure.

xoxo,

Leah Joy