Anticipation and Preparation!

Latino Language, Pedagogy and Culture Immersion Institute in Puerto Rico

I am excited. Excited for the adventure, excited for the experience, excited for the value of the knowledge about to be gained. This is my first trip since returning from student teaching in Spain for four months. The knowledge gained from that experience has changed almost all areas of my life and I cannot wait to grow even more as an individual. My only regret so far from all of my traveling adventures is that in my undergraduate studies, I did study abroad for a longer length of time.

Preparation. No matter how much time you take to ensure you have everything you need packed in the right bag (you don't want to leave your favorite bottle of lotion in your carry on, anything above 3 oz is a no no, one of the many lessons I learned from my own experience, ) you never truly feel prepared. One of the many lessons previously learned, pack lightly! You really only need one item of each, excluding underwear and socks, the necessities. Forgetting simple items is a blessing in disguise. There is an adventure to be made in looking for a toothbrush in a brand new environment. It is scary when we take a step out of our element, but that is where lifelong growth and learning occur.

I am anticipating the adventure! I look forward to bettering my Spanish, experiencing my first Rain forest, and engaging in their education system. From the food, to the people, to the language, to the preparation and return, I love the anticipation that is lingering and growing inside. As the days get closer, that feeling takes over until my first step in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Until then, the vigorous task of preparation!

posted by Jerika at 4:54 PM