Written by and republished with permission from:
Jess Cripps, Undergraduate Education student
Originally published on From the SK to the Uk
Wanderlust; the strong, innate desire to rove or travel about
In the beginning I knew that studying abroad would be a chance for me to experience new countries and a chance to experience things that I don’t at home- even the simplest things like living by myself, buying my own groceries, budgeting! What I didn’t expect was to make such amazing lifelong friends, to know people from so many places around the world, and at the risk of sounding like Eat, Pray, Love, I really didn’t expect to learn so much about myself! My exchange advisor kept on telling before I left, “I can’t wait to see how much you’ve changed and grown when you get back!” I really didn’t understand what she meant…but I think I’m starting to get it.
I’m beginning to learn the importance of being spontaneous. Anyone who knows me will know that I LOVE to plan…I make lists like no one else, lists for absolutely every part of my day, lists that drive my family crazy! (I think my friends here are beginning to learn that side of me…) I always thought that I was just being super organized. Epiphany numero uno: not only do I need to relax, but part of being here is just letting things happen! I am so far out of my comfort zone already, what’s a few more degrees of change going to do to me? Answer: A whole lot of good.
My sister has been trying to tell me this for ages! It really sunk in when she told me something the other night. It’s a legend about a man in pursuit of the meaning of happiness. The man was told to go and consult this healer in a castle. After hearing the man’s request, the healer sends him around the castle with a spoon full of oil and tells the man not to spill it. Upon the man’s return, the healer notices the spoon is still full of oil. He asks if the man noticed the tapestries, the Great Hall, or the library. To every question the man replies that he did not see it. The healer nods silently and sends the man around the castle once again with a spoon full of oil, this time with the instruction to actually look at the castle. When the man returns, the healer asks him the same questions and to each one the man exclaims “Yes! Yes, it was so beautiful”. The healer nods and notices that the spoon is now empty. “You see,” he says, “the true meaning of happiness is to let go of the little things to experience and to realize what beauty is around you”.
A priority for me on this exchange is the opportunity I have to travel both the UK and parts of Europe. My chance to see this part of the world has and is going to become a reality- how lucky am I! Next weekend I am off to Bath, England to see the Roman baths and the home of Jane Austen! Then, I will be traveling to the land of Guinness, Shamrocks, and Leprechauns (Ireland:) in February for a weekend with Katie, one of my friends from the USA who is also here on exchange. And…the grand finale is to happen during our 3 week spring break when I take on France, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain!! My travel bug is in overdrive.
I can’t tell you what it means to me to hear everyone say how proud they are of me for doing this. It is a huge adventure and knowing that I have people supporting me and encouraging me makes embracing this opportunity so much more exciting.
